The Redemption

The Redemption relates to the purification and healing of Humanity. It is usually interpreted to mean that by the death of the Master there was something accomplished for humanity which had as its resultant the Forgiveness of Sin. For He is believed to have wrought out Salvation for the race, delivering all Souls from the just judgements of the Divine Righteousness by satisfying something in the Divine Nature, thus reconciling the race to GOD. The basis of the doctrine of the Redemption that is so greatly emphasized is this, and it is summed up in the often quoted words, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”. As it affects humanity the Redemption is, therefore, only efficacious when the Messenger is believed in.

But the true Redemption is something much more substantial than anything acquired by mere belief in any Messenger. It is a belief in the true doctrine of Life as propounded by the Messenger, and the reduction of that belief into concrete form. The Redemption is the process of redeeming back the entire Being to a state of purity, goodness and love. It is no hypothetical redemption accomplished by any process of intellectual or metaphysical reasoning, but that which is most practical. It relates to all the desires, feelings, affections, judgements and ambitions of life. It purifies the body of every wrong desire and the mind of every ignoble thought and false ambition. It changes the heart’s love and devotion in their expression, bringing them to be both impersonal and selfless. It exalts the will in its choice, until it chooses the path that leads to the most exalted Life and becomes beautiful in its willinghood that only the Divine Will should be wrought out in the Life. For the Redemption is the healing of all the attributes of man. It is the process of the Forgiveness of Sin.

And its relation to the Sin-offering is only incidental. If the human race had retraced its steps ere the last great descent took place which carried humanity once more below the Human Kingdom, there would not have been any need for the tragic sorrow by which the Karmic Burden of this world had to be blotted out. For the Redemption could have been accomplished without it. But the conditions had become too great against Humanity. The Karma written was overwhelming. To change the conditions which were so inimical to spiritual growth, and make the Redemption possible, the burden of the Sin-offering was borne. And now, as the fruit of that tragic burden-bearing the Redemption is not only possible, but it is actually taking place. It may be witnessed proceeding in and through all the enlightened, purifying movements which have for their objective the advancement and upliftment of Humanity. Purity in diet, humaneness towards all the creatures, compassion for all who have known misfortune, justice for the oppressed, truer and nobler thoughts concerning social questions, more reverence for womanhood and parenthood, greater desire to reach out unto the realization of loftier manhood and womanhood, and so to live and to serve for the blessing of all. These are a few of the outer signs of the coming of the Redemption.

And there are many other manifestations of a more inward nature. The religious life and outlook of men and. women are changing. They are seeking for the spiritual. The truly Mystic questions are finding more earnest disciples. Many are finding true healing in body and mind and heart. The claims of the Unseen Realm are receiving more sincere attention, and to many that realm is becoming the most real world of all. And there are those who now know the full meaning of the Redemption, and who have found even the Divine World of Being.

The Redemption has relation to Life; it is Divine Healing. And they who have entered into the glorious meaning of it are the Redeemed.


From Life’s Mysteries Unveiled by John Todd Ferrier, pp. 121-123.
© The Order of the Cross

See also "What is a Christian?"

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