REDEMPTION

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“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  (Romans 3:23-24)

The Bible’s theme is redemption.

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Biblical redemption centers on God.  God is the ultimate redeemer, saving His chosen elect from sin, evil, bondage to Satan, and death.

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Redemption is an act of God’s grace, by which He rescues and restores His people from slavery to sin back into His possession.  It is the common thread woven throughout much of the New Testament.

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Through sin, man had lost his birthright of eternal union with God—eternal happiness in Heaven. The Son of God gave that birthright back to us, by offering Himself to His heavenly Father as a victim for our redemption. The Old Testament sacrifices were only symbols of the new sacrifice of the Lamb—the Lamb of God—Who was sacrificed to give worthy honor and reparation to His Father. That is why He is called the Redeemer and why His work is called the work of redemption.

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“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us.”  (Galatians 3:13)

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Redemption always involves going “from” something “to” something else.  In this case, it is Christ freeing us from the bondage of the Law and Satan to freedom in a new life in Him.

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Jesus Christ died to provide redemption, which means He died to pay the price required to ransom sinners.  By paying the penalty of their sin through His death and resurrection, Jesus can free people from their bondage and transfer His righteousness to those who believe in Him.

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On the basis of Christ’s righteousness alone, believers can approach God’s throne with confidence and praise.  Through God’s initiative, they have been restored to a new and proper relationship with Him for eternity.

Additional references:  Ephesians 1:7-8, Titus 2:14, Colossians 1:13-14