Reference: Exodus 6:1-13
I was once invited to experience a simulator of a B-1 bomber. It didn’t work out, and I always regretted it. As I understand it, a simulator gives a realistic experience of flying without being real. It vividly demonstrates what it would be like to actually fly the plane.
In much the same way, there are numerous stories in the Old Testament which do not provide salvation, but demonstrate salvation in an outward way, pointing to the real work of salvation accomplished in the New Testament. Exodus records the greatest of these. In this account, Pharaoh represents Satan and Egypt his kingdom. Moses is a type of Christ; the slaughtered lamb, whose blood smeared the door posts, also points to Christ. The children of Israel, enslaved in Egypt, represent the people of God imprisoned by Satan. The work of bringing them out from Egypt is God’s work of salvation.
For this specific occasion, we use the word redemption. Redemption may be used with fairly broad connotations. Basically, it means rescue from a hopeless situation of bondage, and it involves some payment or sacrifice.
As we have carefully worked our way through the phrases in the catechism, we noted Christ’s blood serves as payment and satisfies the judgment of God. Today we will consider the results of that payment made. We’ll examine this statement: “…redeemed me from all the power of the Devil.” Let us consider the significance of that concept.
In bondage as Satan’s slave
The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. They were forced into hard labor without any means to rectify their situation. Whatever the Egyptian taskmasters demanded, they had no choice but to do. They were truly in bondage to Pharaoh and Egypt.
Today’s statement from the catechism explains that apart from redemption by Christ, everyone is in bondage to Satan. Previously, we examined the phrase “I am not my own,” noting that if you do not belong Jesus, the only other available option is bondage to Satan.
Understanding the need for true salvation is a basic concept. For what purpose does anyone need Jesus? In reformed theology, we speak of original sin. This doctrine explains that when Adam sinned, he and Eve did not act as individuals disobeying the will of God. Rather, in the sin of Adam, all mankind came under the influence of evil. And even more, all mankind came under the control of evil. With Adam’s sin, all mankind fell; man’s natural heart condition changed to fallen. Sin and only sin comes from the fallen heart.
Under Satan’s control
In his confrontation with the Pharisees, Jesus told them they were of their father the Devil, and they wanted to do the desire of Satan (Jn. 8:41). This scene provides helpful insight on sin and the connection between disobedience and Satan. Satan’s rebellion is over a kingdom; many demons with him are a kingdom in opposition to God’s kingdom. Man was created to be like God, to follow in the goodness and holiness of God. In rejecting that, mankind (through Adam) switched sides and placed themselves under the control of the kingdom of Satan.
In acknowledging his sin, King David wrote in Ps. 51:5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me.” In confessing his sin with Bathsheba, he acknowledges that the sin he committed came from a fallen condition. He goes on in vs. 10: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” He recognized his natural position is enslavement to sin, and he called upon God to put a new heart in him.
From Satan’s lie to Eve, when he sought to convince her she need not submit to God but could decide for herself, we can understand that in rejecting God, she (in reality Adam) would not be freeing herself. Rather, she placed herself under the bondage of Satan. Satan tried to make Christ do the same thing: bow down and acknowledge submission to him. Jesus, as our Savior, did not fall to that temptation, but remained in submission to God.
Like the children of Israel in Egypt, being under the bandage of Satan means being under his total control.
Evil’s influence
In emphasizing bondage to Satan and his absolute influence of evil, we need to be very careful not to conclude man is not responsible for his sin. In his confession of sin in Ps. 51, David did not say, “Well, I am not responsible, after all — Satan made me do it.” Instead he said, “Cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” He took full responsibility for his sinful actions. Though evil’s influence is powerful, God holds each of us totally responsible for our every sin against Him. We will do that which is according to the evil in our hearts, but we will do it.
Living in this bondage entails living in constant misery and death. We need to understand that this is true bondage. Turning from sin and working yourself out of a state of rebellion into right relationship with God is as impossible as it would have been for the Israelites in Egypt to relieve themselves from the bondage of Egypt.
That burden, impossible for us to shift on our own, is what the confession refers to in the statement, “freed from all the power of the Devil.”
Before we can appreciate our redemption, we need to know what the depth of bondage truly was.
Blog post content taken from a sermon series delivered by Dr. Maynard Koerner, President and Professor of Ministerial Studies at Heidelberg Theological Seminary.