Delivered from the Present Evil Age
Understanding the Purpose of Jesus' Sacrifice
Why did Jesus die?
The answer goes beyond the redemption of individual souls to encompass a dramatic deliverance from the systemic evil that permeates our world. This concept is seen in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Galatians, particularly in Galatians 1:3–5.
May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
The Purpose of Jesus' Sacrifice
Paul begins his letter with a greeting that swiftly transitions into a theological declaration, saying that our Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age. Here, Paul highlights the purpose of Jesus' death—to rescue humanity from the grasp of an inherently evil age.
Salvation as Deliverance
The salvation offered through Christ is about more than just our individual salvation. It is pictured here as a deliverance from the current world's moral and spiritual corruption. This understanding implies that the world's allure should diminish for those saved. While Paul is not advocating for complete withdrawal from the world, he calls for us to live within it in a way that glorifies God, recognizing the world's temporary nature.
The Significance of "Rescue"
Focusing on verse 4 of Galatians 1, Paul uses a powerful term to describe Jesus' act on the cross: "rescue" (or "delivered"). This term often describes physical deliverance from imminent danger. So, in this light, Paul elevates Jesus' sacrifice as a divine intervention that delivers us from the pervasive evil of the current age.
What is “This Present Evil Age?”
The "age" Paul refers to is not merely a period in time but signifies a system or era defined by evil—something that traces its origins back to Eden and continues to manifest until the present day. This era is characterized by deceit, lies, and the agenda of Satan. It is temporal, material, and ultimately destined for destruction.
The Temporal vs. The Eternal
Acknowledging that our world is fleeting and fundamentally flawed should not lead to despair but hope. This hope is rooted in the knowledge that through Jesus Christ, God has provided a way out—a rescue operation of epic proportions. This world's physical and temporal pleasures and powers pale compared to the eternal inheritance promised to those in Christ.
Living in the Light of Deliverance
Understanding that Jesus died to deliver us from this present evil age fundamentally shifts our perspective on life. It challenges us to reevaluate our attachments, pursuits, and how we engage with the world around us. As recipients of this divine rescue, our lives must reflect a different set of values—one that prioritizes the eternal over the temporal, the spiritual over the material.
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth (Colossians 3:1-2).
Paul's writing offers us hope in a world engulfed in darkness. It reminds us that the victory has already been won and that, through Christ, we have been delivered from the clutches of evil. Our challenge is to live as people of the light, embodying hope and transformation from being rescued by Jesus and eagerly anticipating the full realization of God's kingdom, where evil has no place.