deliverance
Deliverance is God’s act of rescuing people from danger, oppression, enemies, sin, and judgment. In Scripture, the fullest deliverance is found in Jesus Christ, who saves sinners and will finally free His people from all evil.
At a Glance
Deliverance is God’s act of rescuing people from danger, oppression, enemies, sin, and judgment. In Scripture, the fullest deliverance is found in Jesus Christ, who saves sinners and will finally free His people from all evil.
Description
Deliverance in Scripture is a broad theological term for God’s rescue of people from distress, bondage, enemies, sin, death, and coming judgment. In the Old Testament, God repeatedly delivers His people in concrete historical settings, most notably in the exodus and in many acts of rescue described in the Psalms and the prophets. In the New Testament, deliverance reaches its fullest meaning in the saving work of Jesus Christ, who delivers believers from the domain of darkness, from the wrath to come, and ultimately from every evil in the consummation of God’s kingdom. The term can also be used in relation to liberation from demonic influence, but this should be handled carefully and kept within clear biblical categories, avoiding sensational or speculative claims. The safest summary is that deliverance is God’s gracious rescue, supremely accomplished in Christ and applied to His people both now and finally.