When we talk about redemption—the work that frees us from sin and reconciles us with God—it’s important to understand who brought it about and how. The Bible shows us that all three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are involved. However, each has a unique role in carrying out this incredible plan.
Let’s start with the Father, who is the main initiator of redemption. Everything begins with his will and purpose. The Son carries out the work of redemption, and the Spirit applies it to us. Together, they bring salvation to life in a unified way.
Now, the Bible specifically highlights two things the Father does in redemption:
The Father sent the Son into the world.
God the Father is the one who sent Jesus. This wasn’t a random decision; it was part of a perfect plan that God formed long before the world was created. The Father, out of his love for us, decided to send Jesus as the Savior. The Son willingly obeyed, agreeing to take on human nature and fulfill this mission.
The Father placed our sins on the Son.
Another thing the Father did was lay the weight of our sins on Jesus. This means he treated Jesus as if he were guilty of the sins we committed. The Father’s justice demanded punishment for sin, but instead of punishing us, he directed that punishment onto Christ. By doing this, he made a way for us to be forgiven without compromising his justice.
The Father’s Role in Redemption Explained
These two key actions—sending the Son and placing our sins on him—help us understand the Father’s specific part in the plan of salvation. Let’s look at them more closely.
The Father Sent the Son
The Father’s act of sending the Son shows his great love and care for humanity. This wasn’t an afterthought or a reaction to something unexpected. God knew, even before creation, that humanity would fall into sin and need a Savior. Out of his wisdom and love, he planned to send his only Son to rescue us.
The Bible is clear about this. In John 3:16, we see that God “so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” The Father’s sending of Jesus demonstrates both his immense love for humanity and his desire to save us from the destruction that sin brings.
Now, when we say the Father “sent” the Son, it doesn’t mean the Son was forced or unwilling. The sending here is about the Father appointing Jesus for a specific mission and Jesus willingly agreeing to fulfill it. In John 10:36, Jesus explains that the Father “sanctified and sent him into the world,” showing that this mission was part of the eternal relationship between the Father and the Son.
The Father Placed Our Sins on the Son
The second significant role the Father played in redemption was placing the burden of our sins on Jesus. This is a concept often referred to as “imputation.” It means that our sins were counted as if they belonged to Christ, even though he had no sin of his own.
This is described clearly in Isaiah 53:6: “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Father, in his justice, required that the penalty for sin be paid. But in his mercy, he allowed Jesus to take that penalty for us.
Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 5:21, where he writes: “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” The Father didn’t make Jesus sinful, but he treated him as if he were, so that justice could be satisfied and we could be freed from the consequences of our sins.
The Unity of the Trinity in Redemption
While we’ve been focusing on the Father’s role, it’s important to remember that this was a unified work of the entire Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit worked together seamlessly to accomplish redemption. The Father planned and initiated it, the Son executed it through his life, death, and resurrection, and the Spirit applies it to our hearts, transforming us and drawing us into a relationship with God.
Each person of the Trinity played a distinct role, but they were all united in their purpose to redeem a fallen humanity. This unity is a reflection of God’s perfect nature and his commitment to bringing us back to himself.
The Father’s Sovereignty in Redemption
One thing we must recognize is that everything about redemption is rooted in the Father’s sovereign will. He didn’t create this plan in response to our actions or because of something we deserved. It was entirely his initiative, flowing from his love, wisdom, and justice.
The Apostle Paul explains this beautifully in Ephesians 1:4-6: “He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace.”
This means that God’s decision to redeem us wasn’t an afterthought. It was a deliberate and eternal choice to bring glory to himself by saving a people for his own possession.
Redemption as a Reflection of the Father’s Character
Redemption also shows us the Father’s character—his holiness, love, and justice. Let’s break this down:
Holiness
The Father’s holiness means that he cannot tolerate sin. This is why the penalty for sin had to be paid. The cross shows us just how serious sin is—it required nothing less than the sacrifice of God’s Son.
Love
While God’s holiness demanded justice, his love provided the solution. In sending his Son to bear our punishment, the Father demonstrated the depth of his love for us. Romans 5:8 says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Justice
The Father’s justice is evident in the way he dealt with sin. He didn’t ignore it or sweep it under the rug. Instead, he addressed it fully and fairly by placing the punishment on Jesus. This shows us that God is both just and the justifier of those who have faith in Jesus (Romans 3:26).
The Father’s Role in Christ’s Sacrifice
While the Son willingly gave himself up, it was the Father who ordained and directed this sacrifice. This wasn’t an act of divine cruelty but an expression of divine love and justice.
Acts 2:23 explains it like this: “This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” In other words, the Father orchestrated the events that led to the crucifixion, using even the evil actions of humans to accomplish his redemptive purposes.
This plan wasn’t forced on Jesus. He willingly laid down his life, as he himself said in John 10:17-18: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Application: What This Means for Us
Understanding the Father’s role in redemption has practical implications for our faith:
It Assures Us of God’s Love
If the Father was willing to send his Son for our sake, how much more can we trust him with everything else in our lives? As Paul says in Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?”
It Reminds Us of God’s Sovereignty
Redemption is entirely God’s work. He initiated it, planned it, and brought it to completion. This should humble us and lead us to worship, knowing that our salvation is not something we could achieve on our own.
It Calls Us to Respond with Gratitude and Obedience
If God has gone to such great lengths to redeem us, our response should be one of gratitude and a desire to live for him. As Paul urges in Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”
A Modern English translation of Book 1, Chapter 3 of John Owen’s The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
Leave a comment