Redemption
REDEMPTION
Author: Jim Fox
Redemption is defined as deliverance by paying a ransom (propitiation). Sinners are ransomed by the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who died in the place of all. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Gal 3:13) “Who (Jesus) gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:6). “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us.” (Eph 1:7,8)
How do we recieve this redemption? Because of God’s grace (Eph 1:7,8) all we have to do is to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” (Eph 2:8).
You may have noticed that we have been redeemed by Christ’s blood, listen to a description of that blood by the Apostle Peter, ” Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Pet 1:18,19)
So for how long is this redemption good for? Once we have been redeemed, for how long will that redemptive power be good for? For all of ETERNITY!
“And not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the Holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption…. how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Heb 9:12,14) Notice that the redemptive work of Christ was done ONE time.
Listen to the reason Paul gives to Titus as to why we have been redeemed. “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possesion, zealous for good deeds.” (Tit 2:14) God redeemed us so that we can be a people for Himself. Isn’t it amazing just how much God loves us? That he gave His only Son for us, that we might recieve a newness of life. What is that newness of life? To be possesed by God!
The doctrine of redemption has a parallel in the old Roman law. If a person who had been captured in war, was later released through the payment of a ransom by another Roman citizen, the redeemed person was obligated to his ransomer until the time that the redemptive price had been repaid.
You and I have been ransomed (redeemed) at an immeasurable cost, and if we accept that ransom, then we are indebted to God forever, and must surrender ourselves to Him. “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Rom 6:16-18)
Sources:
The Open Bible (NASB)
Youngs Analytical Concordance
Vines Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words Richards Expository Dictionary of Bible Words Naves Topical Bible
Basic Bible Doctines by Day
Christian Theology by Bancroft
The Zondevan Pictorial Dictionary