The word “deliver” means: to bring or transport to the proper place – to set free, as from misery, peril, or evil – to produce or achieve what is desired – to express in words – to give birth. Each of those definitions reflect a part of what Jesus Christ has done to deliver God’s children. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Mankind, in the Garden of Eden, believed the lie and hid from God (see Genesis 3). At the mountain, the elders of Israel refused to hear the words of God from His own mouth and wanted a man as priest (see Deuteronomy 5:23-27). The elders of Israel asked Samuel for a king to rule over them, rejecting God as their king (see 1 Samuel 8).

Jesus came to deliver mankind. Let’s look at first definition of deliver, “to bring or transport to the proper place.” “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13). “And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever” (2 Timothy 4:18). “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14-15). Jesus came to take mankind from where we are into the kingdom of God; reestablishing God as King and High Priest. Jesus came to bring us back into our proper place.

The second definition of deliver, “to set free, as from misery, peril, or evil,” is the most common way we refer to the deliverance provided by Jesus Christ. “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever” (Galatians 1:3-5). This deliverance would include casting out demons and healing the sick. “When evening had come, they brought to Him (Jesus) many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick” (Matthew 8:16).

The third definition, “to produce or achieve what is desired,” is what some may call prosperity ministry. It is in the scripture. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:4-5). “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7). If we delight in the Lord, have ways that are committed to the Him, trust Him, and abide in Him; Jesus will produce what is desired.

That brings us to the forth definition, “to express in words.” “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). That is our testimony to the word of God. But God also testifies to us. “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26). Was Jesus only talking to those that saw Him and heard Him when He walked on the earth? “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26). What need does one that witnessed an event have of another to testify? Those of us that did not witness the Lord’s first coming need the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Praise God!

The last definition of deliver for us to examine is, “to give birth.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Where does the new birth come from? “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23). New birth comes through the word of God, Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

Jesus came to deliver to us life that we might live more abundantly (see John 10:10). “The oath which He swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life” (Luke 1:73-75). “But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:23-25). Jesus came to deliver God’s children back into the hands of the Father. But how are we delivered? We are delivered to the Father by Jesus Christ (the Word – King – High Priest) and we are delivered as the kingdom of God.

© 2006, 2017 Tim D. Coulter Sr.