What it means to be
redeemed
What is Christian redemption?
Redemption is a biblical word
that means "a purchase" or "a ransom."
Historically, redemption was used in
reference to the purchase of a slave's freedom. A slave was
"redeemed" when the price was paid for his freedom.
God spoke of
Israel's deliverance from slavery in Egypt in this way: "I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of
the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem
you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment" (Exodus 6:6).
The use of redemption in the New
Testament includes this same idea.
Every person is a slave to sin; only through
the price Jesus paid on the cross is a sinful person redeemed from sin and
death.
In Scripture, it
is clear every person stands in need of redemption.
Why? Because every
person has sinned (Romans 3:23).
The following
verse then reveals we are "justified
by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"
(Romans 3:24).
Hebrews 9:15 says that Jesus "is the mediator of a new covenant . .
. since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions
committed under the first covenant."
Redemption
provides several benefits for the believer:
- eternal life (Redemption 5:9-10),
- forgiveness of
sin (Ephesians 1:7),
- a right
relationship with God (Romans 5:17),
- peace with God (Colossians
1:18-20),
- the Holy Spirit
to live within (1 Corinthians
6:19-20), and
- adoption into
God's family (Galatians 4:5).
Titus 2:13-14 says Jesus "gave himself for us to redeem us from
all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own
possession."
When we are
redeemed, we become different people. When God redeemed Israel from slavery in
Egypt, He made them a new nation and gave them a new land.
Likewise, the
Christian has a new identity in Christ. No longer is the Christian a captive to
sin and death. Instead, he has become a citizen of God's kingdom.
Christians now
live in anticipation of our eternal home with our heavenly Father.
God wants us to
see Him as the One who redeems (Isaiah 43:14; 44:6;
24; 49:7).
Just as Boaz was
the kinsman-redeemer of Ruth (Ruth 3:9), Jesus redeems us (Galatians 3:13).
Jesus paid a high
price for our redemption, the ultimate sacrifice of His own life to free us
from sin.
Why not accept God's gift of salvation
and become His child?
Open your heart and say this
prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have
separated me from You.
RELATED
POSTS:
compellingtruth.org
No comments:
Post a Comment