I think the RANSOM is pretty simple in scope. The following scriptures teach that Jesus’ ransom will save all from death.
"I will RANSOM them (all mankind) from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction!" - Hosea 13:14
"Our saviour…will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who have Himself A RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time." - 1 Timothy 2:3-6
"And He will destroy…the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces." (Isaiah 25:7-8) "…and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)
God’s justice does not mean "just-us." Yet, many teach that only Christians will ever be saved. If this is true, then 95% of the human race is doomed to everlasting death (or worse)—merely because they never heard the name of Jesus. This includes the billions of Asians, Africans, and all who lived before Jesus.
Did Jesus die on the cross merely to save comparatively few Christians? Those who would believe in him before his second advent? The Bible tells us: NO! Christ died "the propitiation (satisfaction) for our (the Christians’) sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole (presently unbelieving) world." 1 John 2:2
The Father lovingly provided His only-begotten Son to die "for all" while all were still in sin. (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). God’s plan will provide all—even non-believers—with a full opportunity to benefit from Jesus’ sacrifice. (Hebrews 2:9)
After being raised from the dead, each person will be taught about Christ and righteousness. Past crimes will be punished but with mercy based on repentance. God will pour out His holy influence on all people through Christ, providing an opportunity for each person to reach mental and moral perfection. (Joel 2:28) Only those who consistently refuse to make progress will be destroyed. (Acts 3:22-23; Ezekiel 18:20-22)
CONSIDER the logic of God’s Plan to save all men from evil and death: Father Adam, perfect, sinned. The penalty of death passed upon him and the prospective human race yet in his loins. Deliverance from death required the payment of a corresponding price, the death of a perfect man. No member of the sinful (imperfect) human race could pay this price. (Psalm 49:7) Only Jesus, who was "holy, harmless, and separate from sinners" could. (Hebrews 7:26) The perfect man Jesus died for Adam’s sin, taking his place in death, thereby redeeming Adam and all his offspring—the human race—from death.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins; the just (Jesus) for the unjust (Adam), that he might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18
"…by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men…Therefore, as by the offence of one (Adam) came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." Romans 5:12,18
The ransom given by Jesus guarantees restitution for the entire human race. This restoration to the perfection lost in Eden is the main purpose of Jesus’ return.
"And He shall send Jesus…Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things…" Acts 3:20,21
"The purpose which He has cherished in His own mind of restoring the whole creation to find its one Head in Christ; yes, things in heaven and things on earth." Ephesians 1:10 (Weymouth)
During Christ’s 1,000 year earthly kingdom (the Day of Judgment), "ALL that are in the graves shall hear" Jesus’ voice, and will "come forth." (John 5:28, RSV) This "Resurrection of the dead" will be in two parts: "the just and the unjust." (Acts 24:15)
The "just" are Christ’s faithful followers. They receive special salvation now, ahead of the "unjust" non-believing masses. (1 Timothy 4:10; 2 Corinthians 6:2). The "just" will become the heavenly "Bride" of Christ and reign with Jesus over his earthly kingdom. (Revelation 20:4; 21:2). The "unjust" masses will be saved when Jesus and his Bride resurrect and rehabilitate them. The unjust will learn righteousness by merciful judgment and punishment according to past guilt. (Isaiah 26:9; Matthew 16:27; Luke 12:48; Micah 4:1-3) Jesus and his Bride will offer the water of life to the repentant unjust masses (Revelation 22:17) who will walk up the "Highway" leading to holiness and everlasting life on perfected earth. (Isaiah 35:8) Any who then refuse to have God’s law written in their hearts will be sentenced to eternal extinction, the "second death." (Jeremiah 31:33-34; Revelation 21:8) The desert shall blossom, making plenty of room for resurrected mankind. The willing and obedient will live for endless ages on earth in peace and happiness. Mankind will glorify God, saying: "this is our God! We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation!" (Isaiah 25:9)
A Perfect Life…for a Perfect Life. "…for as in ADAM all die, even so in CHRIST shall all be made alive." 1 Corinthians 15:22
The RANSOM is the means by which God could justly release Adam (and all mankind) from the death sentence of Eden. The word RANSOM is translated from the Greek word "Antilutron," meaning "an equivalent, corresponding price." This concept of the corresponding price is a fixed law of God’s universe. It is expressed in Israel’s Law Covenant: "Thou shalt give LIFE for LIFE, eye for eye, tooth for tooth." Exodus 21:23-24
The Corresponding Price
ADAM:
1. A Perfect Man—with the right to live forever, as long as he obeyed God.
2. Sinned through disobedience.
3. Condemned to death. "In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die"…Genesis 2:17; "For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23; "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezekiel 18:4
4. All of Adam’s children (the entire human race) inherit Adam’s sin and sentence of death. Romans 5:12, 17-18; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
5. Adam and all mankind would be condemned to eternal death and dying—unless another perfect man offered to give his life as a ransom in Adam’s place.
JESUS:
1. A Perfect Man. (Not of Adamic descent…born of a virgin by God’s power.)
2. Obeyed God perfectly.
3. Had the right to live forever, because obedient. "If a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right…he shall surely live, saith the Lord God." Ezekiel 18:5,9; "Walk in His ways…that thou mayest live." Deuteronomy 30:16
4. If Jesus had fathered children, his descendants would inherit his perfection, and if obedient, live forever.
5. Jesus gave up his own perfect human life to die as a ransom in place of Adam, thereby releasing the death sentence upon Adam and all his posterity!
Jesus’ Ransom for Adam satisfies Justice. It permits Adam and all mankind to be brought back to life! "For since by a man (Adam) came death, by a man (Jesus) came also the resurrection of the dead." 1 Corinthians 15:21 (NAS)
RR
