Redeem

<<exchange, buy back>>

Something or someone is redeemed by the payment of a ransom, thus securing its release or freedom.

Through Adam we all became sinners but in Christ everyone can be made alive, freed from the clutches of Satan and come back into relationship with God (1 Cor 15:22).

The main theme of the Bible is the love of God for humanity – shown by Christ (the Redeemer) paying the ransom demanded by God to free us from sin and its penalty. In the OT God required animal sacrifices to provide a temporary covering of sins and to foreshadow the perfect and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Lev 4:35, 5:10, 17:11). Animal sacrifice is an important theme found throughout Scripture because “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” with, its death symbolically providing a substitute for the sinner (Ex 12:28-30; Heb 9:22). However, this only covered, but did not cleanse the sin (Heb 10:4). In the NT Jesus gave His life as a ransom (the price required to release a slave) for all humanity. This once-only sacrifice “the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” brought total salvation or redemption to all who will avail themselves of Christ’s substitution, which fully met God’s demand (Jn 1:29; Rom 8:1-4; Heb 9:25-28). "You have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet 1:18,19). “God made Him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21). Through faith in what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross, we can receive forgiveness.

We can’t buy or earn redemption (it is beyond our ability). It is offered as a gift, for by grace we are saved (Eph 2:8,9). God desires all people to be saved and the offer is to “Whosoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life”, yet He will not override

Thank God for your redemption

anyone's free choice or will (Jn 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4; Rev 22:17). Redemption secures the release or freedom for the condemned sinner, purchased through Christ’s death on the cross (Eph 1:7). He paid a huge price to purchase us – as believers therefore, we are not free to do as we please, for we are His blood-bought possession, we have an obligation to Him (Rom 8:12; 2 Cor 5:15). We should be so grateful for being rescued from eternal damnation that we quickly and fully obey Him, and can't stop sharing the great things He has done for us (Mk 5:19; Lk 8:39; Jn 14:15).

‘Redeeming the time’ is to make the most of every opportunity to live for God (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5).