Redemption is an important word in the Bible and an important concept for Christians. It is related to the word ransom. Today when we think of a ransom we think of somebody being kidnapped and the perpetrators asking for a ransom price that must be paid if the person is to be returned safety. We have a narrow focus of these words. But in the times of the Bible, the terms redemption and ransom were more common. Back then when nations were at war against each other, the conquering nation would take prisoners and those prisoners could be bought back by the losing nation at a negotiated ransom price. Also, back then, slavery was everywhere and ancient laws made it possible to buy a slave’s freedom from an owner. If a family had money they could pay the ransom price and redeem their relative, setting him or her free.
The Bible picks up these terms and uses them in the spiritual realm. The term “redeem” is used in various ways, such as God redeeming the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 6:6), a person redeeming a piece of land from a relative (Ruth 4:4) or God delivering a person from trouble and death (Job 5:20). In the New Testament, the word can be used of God redeeming our bodies at Christ’s return (Romans 8:23). But the most powerful concept in the Bible and which concept we will focus on is Christ redeeming believers from their sins. For example, Ephesians 1:7 tells us, In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. 1 Peter 1:18-19 confirms, 18 That you were not redeemed with perishable things…19 but with precious blood of Christ. Matthew 20:28 states, The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. 1 Corinthians 7:23 uses another word (bought) conveying the same idea, You were bought at a price. Each one of these verses uses a different Greek word conveying the same concept. We have been redeemed by Christ when He died on the cross.
Before God redeemed believers they were slaves of sin by nature (John 8:34). In that state of slavery to sin, God had every right to hold them guilty (Romans 1:20-32). However, the Lord Jesus Christ provided the ransom price in His substitutionary atonement to liberate His people from the penalty of sin (Romans 3:24-25). Christ paid the ransom price to God the Father in His life’s blood. The Father could not overlook sin, that would make Him unjust so the price had to be paid. When Christ went to the cross He accomplished the work of redemption, satisfying the justice of God and setting His people free from the curse of the Law (Galatians 3:13). Christ bought the church in His own blood out of every nation (Acts 20:28; Revelation 5:9). Christ redeemed us from our former life which was aimlessly headed to hell without any hope; totally lost in rebellion. Now, by God’s grace through repentant faith in Christ, a person can be redeemed from the consequences of their sins with the precious blood of Christ! God buys us back from the slave market of sin and now we are His possession (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This is a powerful reminder that we belong to God and our new aspirations are to please Him in all we do. Remembering this often will increase our love for God and give us purpose to live for Him.
Scripture Reference
“Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
“So I thought to 1inform you, saying, ‘Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.’ ” And he said, “I will redeem it.”
“In famine He will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His 1life a ransom for many.”
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not 1honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and 1crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, amen with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit 1to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
24 being justified as a gift aby His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;
25 whom God displayed publicly as aa propitiation bin His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
And they sang a anew song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
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