Redeemed

We read in Hebrews 9.12-14— “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The obvious question is: What does it mean to Redeem?

It comes from three greek words: Agoradzo— to buy in the market; Exagoradzo— to buy out of the market, to purchase and remove from further sale; and Lutroo— signifies the actual deliverance, the setting at liberty — the actual setting free of the slave. All together, they describe someone who ‘buys out’, to ‘ransom’, to ‘rescue from loss’. We have been redeemed. We have been bought out, rescued from loss, and ransomed from slavery to sin and Satan’s strangle-hold. In each usage, Greeks would use the words we will look into in reference of purchasing a slave for his freedom. We should be overcome with thanks and allegiance to the Redeemer. 

The word ‘purchased’ also means “redeemed” from Acts 20.28— “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”

The word ‘ransom’ also means “redeemed” from Mark 10.45— “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

He Himself was the ransom.”

Redemption is to deliver someone (me) by paying a price (blood). In Romans 3.24 it states— “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Christ is the one who paid the price. The Holy Spirit makes the deliverance actual, in experience. The death of Christ and His blood are stated as the means of redemption. What a price to be paid! We have our freedom due to His redemptive act of love.

Think about this also— We have forgiveness because of redemption. Paul said in Ephesians 1.7— “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Peter echoed this in 1 Peter 1.18-19— “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” Thank you Jesus for what you have done, not only in my soul, but also in my life! 

This grace continues to extend. In Galatians 3.13 Paul explains the replacement Jesus took for me. I was a cursed slave, yet see what Jesus did instead, for me— “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” This was for your’s and my redemption, as Paul explains further in chapter 4 verse 5— “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” He became cursed, for me, so that I would not only no longer be cursed, but now adopted as a child of the living God. 

Interestingly, there is also a correlation between ‘the redeemed’ and the singing out of new songs (Revelation 5.9, Revelation 14.3,4). In Psalm 107.2 David wrote— “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Let them say it…let us say it! 

I have been set free! I have been rescued! He indeed loves me! Shout it! Don’t be ashamed to tell it and tell it often. The liberty we have been granted is due to our redemption. (Galatians 5.1, Romans 8.21, 2 Corinthians 3.17, James 1.25). He set me free, and I am free indeed! Then why do saints live like they are eating lemons for snacks?  

Fact of matter is… The Devil would like nothing more than for you to think that you are chained to the way you are now, forever. It is simply not true. His desire is for you to think you cannot help but be bound by bad habits and sin forever. He wants you to believe the lie that you are just simply this way and it’s the way you were raised or somehow predetermined. His goal is for you to feel unworthy and disconnect from God. Satan is a liar!

I am redeemed. I am set free. I am free indeed. I am no longer a slave to sin or the habits of it. Nope… I am God’s child, adopted, bought and paid for. Are you? If you are… shout about it. Tell everyone you can. Live an unashamed life before everyone. We have a Redeemer of love and grace. Amen!