Every person desires to be free. The question is, be freed from what? From debt? from poverty? from slavery? from religion? Christ’s sacrifice answers our greatest need, He freed His people from the slavery of sin. Jesus is the Redeemer.
According to Paul Wells in his book Cross Words, redemption, along with righteousness and reconciliation, is one of the ‘three R’s’ as the precise way to describe the results of salvation. In relation to Christ, He is the redeemer who provides freedom.
The word “redeem” is derived from the Latin verb redimere [ re = again + emere = to buy]. To redeem someone is to buy them back after they have been sold into slavery or taken captive. A redeemer is someone who takes it upon himself to redeem another. A ransom refers to the payment that is made. Redemption refers to the liberation that has been purchased. In the Scriptures, Christ is the Redeemer who has purchased redemption for His people through the offering of His own life as a ransom.
Christ alone is the Redeemer of His people, and His very life was the ransom that He paid.
Its Nature: It refers to the price paid for redeeming a slave or captive. The ransom that Christ paid for His people’s redemption was His very own life.
Matthew 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. NASB
The word λυτρον is used by the Septuagint for the Hebrew פדיו, pidion, the ransom paid for a man’s life (see Exo 21:30).
I Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
Here, the word ransom is from the Greek word Antilutron (αντιλυτρον) the ransom which consists in the exchange of one person for another, or the redemption of life by life.
Its Necessity: Men are slaves of sin and Satan (John 8:34, 2 Tim. 2:26). This the reality in the Scripture that should make us see the need to be redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ alone.
Its Manner: In Acts 20:28, we see that the church is …purchased with His own blood. It means “to acquire or gain anything; to make it ours.” Christ redeemed the church by His own blood for Himself.
Its Author: This is obvious. None but Christ alone is the one who purchased His people, hence the worth of His blood is infinite. Hebrews 9:12 is clear that by means of his own blood, He secured an eternal redemption for His people.
1Pe 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ESV
Its Value: Consequently, we see the value of Christ’s redemption. Our redemption is eternal since we are purchased by Him who is of infinite value and worth.
Colossians 2:14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
Its Legality: Sin has its wages, which is death (Rom 6:23). Christ wiped out or erased all our debt to God and His law.
Its perfection: Galatians 3:10, 13 has the phrase…redeemed from the curse of the law. Every man has broken the law of God and is exposed to its penalty or curse. Jesus Christ redeemed His people from the curse of the law by paying its penalty with His own life.
The law requires perfect obedience. Paul uses the words “abide” and “perform” to emphasize that the law requires continuous, perfect, and practical obedience. The slightest deviation brings man under the curse of the law.
Its Accomplishment: In John 19:30, Christ cried, “It is finished!” According to A.W. Pink, It was the declaration on the part of the divine Redeemer that all for which He came from heaven to earth to do, was now done; that all that was needed to reveal the full character of God had now been accomplished; that all that was required by the Law before sinners could be saved, had now been performed—that the full price of our redemption was now paid. (A.W. Pink)
Its Effect: Again Hebrews 9:12 …having secured eternal redemption. This means that none can take it away from the church, her redemption is not temporary, but eternal and immutable.
Its Application: In light of 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, we ask, How should we live our lives in the light of Christ’s work of redemption? As the Christian is thus purchased, ransomed, redeemed, he is bound to devote himself to God only, and to keep his commands, and to flee from a licentious life. (Albert Barnes)
Have you been freed from sin? Is this the kind of freedom that you are ultimately looking for?
Without Christ, you cannot have true and lasting freedom, you are a slave of sin. You need Christ to be free at last! So we praise Him because He accomplished His redemptive work. He redeemed His people perfectly and completely.
Praise him, praise him! Jesus, our blessed redeemer!
For our sins, he suffered, and bled, and died.
He our rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
hail him, hail him! Jesus, the crucified.
Sound his praises, Jesus who bore our sorrows,
love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong.
SOLI DEO GLORIA!
Note: This lesson is from our weekly Youth Bible Study Based on Paul Washer’s Discovering the Glorious Gospel.
Cover photo by Schäferle from Pixabay.com
References:
- Wells, Paul. Cross Words : The Biblical Doctrine of the Atonement. Fearn, Ross-Shire, Scotland, Christian Focus, 2006.
- “1 Corinthians 6 Barnes’ Notes.” Biblehub.com, biblehub.com/commentaries/barnes/1_corinthians/6.htm.
- Pink, Arthur W. Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross. Bottom Of The Hill Publis, 2011.
HERALD OF GRACE COVENANT BIBLE CHURCH OF CAVITE 