“In Him we have redemption…”
Ephesians 1:7
In the New Testament, the doctrine of redemption is built upon three words.
The first is a simple word that means “to buy,” “to purchase,” or “to pay the price” for something. It is used, for instance, with this ordinary, everyday meaning in the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, which motivated the man to buy (redeem) the field (Matthew 13:44). In connection with our salvation, the word means to pay the price that sin demanded so that we could be redeemed. We see in Revelation 5:9 that the Lamb is worshiped because it was His blood that redeemed us to God. In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, we are reminded that “you were bought (redeemed) at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
The second word is the same basic word with a preposition added as a prefix, intensifying its meaning. This gives the word the thought of “buying out of.” This word reminds us that Christ’s death not only paid the price for sin but also removed us from the marketplace of sin, giving us full assurance that we will never be returned to the bondage and penalties of sin. This truth is elaborated upon in the book of Galatians. There, Paul tells us that Christ’s death was to “redeem those who were under the law” (Gal. 4:5). He also says that “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). We were “in bondage under the elements (principles) of the world” (Gal. 4:3). This second usage of the word redemption reminds us that believers are brought into a new position in Christ in relation to the law and to this world.
The third word often used for redemption means “to loose” or “to set free by paying a price.” The means of this release is the substitutionary work of Christ. This is what Paul declared when he wrote, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5–6). The foundation, or basis, of our redemption is the blood of Christ. Hebrews 9:12 reminds us that we have obtained eternal redemption through His blood. Peter declares, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18–19).
Anchor For Today:
Christ’s death and our redemption ought to have a moral effect on the way we live here. Paul challenges us to remember “Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).