Why Jesus did NOT pay our sin debt rather our ransom

Jesus “gave himself for us” on the cross but for what purpose? Was is to pay our debt or our ransom and why does that matter? These are the question I want to answer today.

Titus 2:14

Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works.

Redeem means liberation procured by the payment of a ransom

There is no mention in the bible of Jesus paying our debt but there are several verses suggesting he paid our ransom.

Let me prove that to you.

Here are all the verses in the NT that include the word “debt”.

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

Matthew 18:27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

You’ll notice that none of them say Jesus paid our debt. In fact the parable of the unmerciful servant teaches directly against that notion. 

In this parable the servant owed a huge debt to the king but did anyone pay it? Did the king beat up his son to balance the books? No.

The servant showed such remorse that the king was moved with compassion and simply forgave the debt. Mind you he reinstated it later when the servant failed to forgive his own servant.

Similarly, God freely forgives us our sin on the condition that we “go and sin no more”, not because anyone paid our debt.

Here are the verses in the NT that include the word ransom. 

Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1 Timothy 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Also verses that include the words redeem or redemption (payment of a ransom):

Luke 1:68 Galatians 3:13 Titus 2:14 1 Peter 1:18 Revelation 5:9 14:3&4 

Romans 3:24 Ephesians 1:7 Colossians 1:14 Hebrews 9:12&15

You may think “isn’t a ransom and a debt the same thing?” NO, they are not.

The notion that Jesus was punished in our place to pay our debt thus fulfil God’s wrath or satisfy his need for justice, came from the teachings of Anselem and John Calvin.

Over hundreds of years their teachings have been mixed with the teachings of the bible, causing much confusion.

Having one’s ransom paid implies that one has been released from slavery, the result of which is a transformed life.

Having one’d debt paid has nothing to do with release from slavery, it’s a legal adjustment by which God’s wrath is appeased or his honour upheld.

Acts 20:28

…the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood.

In paying our ransom Christ “purchased” us from slavery but what were we slaves to? 

Romans 6:16&22

Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; wether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.

But now being made free from sin and become servants to God ye have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life.

Sinners are servants of sin but when purchased by Christ’s blood they are not only freed from sin but they become servants to God.

Since we’re in Romans lets continue to 7:2&4

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him that is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

Redemption takes effect when we follow Christ’s example and die to ourselves through repentance.

Romans 6:7

For he that is dead is freed from sin

In repentance we are “loosed” from sin and thereby free to marry Christ through the Spirit. As a result of this marriage we bring forth “fruit” unto holiness.

It’s all about love

Rom. 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God commends or offers his love to sinners through Christ’s death, hence his death is a wedding invitation. 

It invites sinners to enter a love relationship with him, which they can only enter by sacrificing themselves, that is forsaking all known sin.

In “laying down his life” and “pouring out his soul unto death” Christ showed sinners “the way” to be free from sin. Freedom is found in denying oneself.

While Jesus had to die physically to release the Spirit, we have to die to our “flesh” to receive the Spirit and is through the Spirit that we are joined to Christ.

1 Cor. 6:16,17,19&20

What? Know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two saith he shall be one flesh. 

But he that is joined unto the Lord is ONE SPIRIT.

What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your Spirit which are God’s.

Jesus indeed paid a heavy price in order to be joined to the church but he didn’t “do it all” for us.

A successful marriage is never one-sided, rather reciprocal. 

A covenant is an agreement between two parties.

The popular teaching that Jesus paid, not only for our past but present and future sins, is like saying we can be ONE with Christ while committing spiritual adultery.

Just as adultery nullifies a physical marriage we cannot be ONE with Christ while committing wilful sin hence salvation requires ongoing faithfulness and fidelity towards God.

Let us each work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, God bless.