The Italian Memorandum

“In him we have redemption”

(Ephesians 1:7)

The story is told of a young boy who made a boat, sailed it down a stream, and subsequently lost it. Sometime afterwards he was walking among the local shops, when, to his surprise and delight, he spied in the window of one of the shops the very boat which he had lost. He entered the shop and made his case that the boat belonged to him. “That may be,” said the man, “but you’ll not have it until you’ve paid the price.” So, the boy scratched together the monies necessary to acquire the boat. And, as he carried it back home, he said to the boat, “Now you’re twice mine: first, I made you; and then I bought you!”

The story of the boy and his beloved boat points out a fundamental concept about Biblical Redemption. Redemption is about economics. The price paid underscores the price due. Leon Morris wrote, “All these words [synonyms of redemption] go back ultimately to lutron, and in all there is to be discerned the fundamental idea of a process involving release by payment of a ransom price.” The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (p. 10). The term redemption, from lutron, goes back to the verb luo, to loose. “The –tron suffix denotes basically the means whereby an action is performed” (Morris, p. 9). The idea of redemption involves a purchase-price, stemming from such passages as: Numbers 3:51 and Jeremiah 32:6-15.

But, a fascinating feature about the redemption under Christ Jesus comes from Isaiah 52:3, “…you shall be redeemed without money” (See Eph. 1:7,14; 1 Pet. 1:18; Rev. 5:9). The power to deliver (Isa. 50:2) resides with God (Isa. 60:16). Yes, the Christian is “twice mine:” once by the Creation, and second, by the Redemption which is in Christ. “Let the redeemed say so” (Ps. 107:2!).

-Robert M. Housby

banal – commonplace; trivial; trite; hackneyed.

(Webster’s New Universal Dictionary, Unabridged, p. 145)

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High / Possessor of heaven and earth; and bless God Most High…”

(Genesis 14:19,20)

On the subject of blessings, David wrote: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, Bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…Bless the Lord, all his work, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:1,2,22). Blessings are meant to be acknowledged:

1. Theologically – “Bless the LORD” (Ps. 103:1)

2. Personally – “my soul” (Ps. 103:1,2)

3. Emotionally – “O my soul” (Ps. 103:1,2,22)

4. Completely – “and all that is within me” (Ps. 103:1)

5. Invitational – “in all places of his dominion” (Ps. 103:22)

In Genesis 12:1-3, we find The Seven Blessings of Abram. Notice the phrase: “I will…” throughout this passage. This is the God of Abram; and these “I will” statements are the avowed course of action of this God. And, the greatest of these is the gospel interjection: “In you shall all the nations be blessed” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith” (Galatians 3:8,9,26).

There is no banality in the gospel. Dismiss your slang blahs today!

-Robert M. Housby

“…dip… the living bird in the blood…

and let the living bird loose in the open field”

(Leviticus 14:6,7, NKJV)

“[Jesus] who was delivered up for our trespasses

and was raised for our justification”

(Romans 4:25, ASV)

The Bible explains human sin by associating it with the terrible skin disease of leprosy; including, possibly, Hansen’s disease, caused by the microorganism, Mycobacterium leprae. In Leviticus 13, the Bible outlines diagnostics for identification and procedural guidelines for the treatment of leprosy. These hygienic measures are in agreement with modern concepts of communicable disease control: especially running water and isolation of the patient. Lepers were required to live outside the camp or city (Lev. 13:46). They were also required to warn passers-by by crying out: “Unclean, Unclean!” (Lev. 13:45).

“The Law of the Leper” (Lev. 14:1; Lk. 5:14; 24:44) involved the Jewish priest; two birds; and, a plan. One bird would be killed in fresh water (Lev. 13:5). The other bird would be dipped in the blood of the dead bird (Lev. 13:6). The leper would be sprinkled seven times with this blood, cedar-wood, scarlet and hyssop (Lev. 13:7). Then, the bird would be set free in the open country (Lev. 13:7b).

“In Christ,” the red-bird is set free! And, “in Christ,” Christians are cleansed and loosed (Rom. 4:25; 6:3-11; 8:2; Rev. 1:5; Gen. 1:20)!

– Robert M. Housby

How Samson Prefigures Christ

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

(Philippians 4:13)

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice …”

(Hebrews 11:32,33)

The Hebrew scholar, Dr. John Willis, entitles Judges 13-16, “The True Source of Strength” (The Message of Old Testament History, Vol. 2, p. 81). This is the story of Samson. While Samson does not prefigure Christ in all ways, there are some remarkable Messianic similarities:

1. Both were men of faith (Hebrews 3:2,5; 11:32,33).
2. Both received angelic birth announcements (Judg. 13:3,6,7; Lk. 1:30,31).
3. Both men were empowered by “the Spirit of the Lord” (13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14; Matt. 3:16).
4. Both men were deliverers (Judg. 13:5; Matt. 1:21).
5. Both men were mocked in their last hours (Judg. 16:23,25,27; Lk. 18:32; 23:35-38).
6. Both men died between two verticals, left and right (Judg. 16:25; Lk. 23:32, 33).
7. Both men died in victory (Judg. 16:28-30; Col. 2:15).

The story of Samson, as the story of Christ, mingles tragedy with triumph.

-Robert M. Housby