Redemption
Another word that’s used to describe what happened on the cross is the word redemption, which gives us a different look at Christ’s redeeming work and a deeper appreciation for his sacrifice.
The word redemption in the Bible always carries with it the notion of a debt being paid, a record being cleared.
Why is being specific with the definition important?
Because the debt that we owed God wasn’t cancelled. A cancelled debt is one where the creditor just says “never mind”. A cancelled debt is a debt that you can’t pay THAT NEVER GETS PAID. A creditor who says “ah, forget it, don’t worry about it” may be a merciful creditor.
But that’s not a just creditor.
Expiation, the forgiveness of our sins, without redemption, the debt being paid, completely leaves God’s justice out of the picture.
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It’s the price that must be paid for something.
Specifically, a life.
Exodus 21:28-30
“When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable. But if the ox has been accustomed to gore in the past, and its owner has been warned but has not kept it in, and it kills a man or a woman, the ox shall be stoned, and its owner also shall be put to death. If a ransom is imposed on him, then he shall give for the redemption of his life whatever is imposed on him.
Numbers 35:30-31
“If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.
Matthew 20:26-28
But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Christ’s understanding of his life was that he would die. And that his death would save mankind. It would redeem them from their sins.
Hebrews 9:11-12
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
The redemption accomplished through Christ’s sacrifice is eternal, once and for all.
Ephesians 1:7-10
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
We’ve already read this passage once in reference to our forgiveness, but it’s worth looking at again with an eye on the bigger picture, including the theme of redemption.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
This passage gives us the idea of redemption (ransom) and introduces us to another theme, the theme of a mediator or intercessor.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
Galatians 4:4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
When we have a deeper understanding of these different attributes of God’s character…..
1—The notion that God’s wrath was satisfied through the propitiation of Christ.
2—That God’s mercy extended complete forgiveness to us.
3—That God’s justice was satisfied by Christ paying our debt.
When we understand all of that we can have a deeper appreciation for God’s word.
Can you think of any passages that show these different attributes, below the surface?
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 is about God’s love, because his love MOTIVATED God to send Jesus.
But it was God’s wrath and justice that made the sacrifice necessary.
It was God’s holiness that could not be reunited with man until the sacrifice was made.
After this class Paul is going to teach on Man’s Response To God’s Plan and then Young Travis will teach on The Christian Walk. I don’t want to get too far into Travis’ class, but I’ll quickly note the specific references in these last few passages.
Holiness can’t happen without redemption. And redemption is so that we can be holy.
Romans 6:1-12
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
We have been raised to walk a new life. We are instruments of righteousness.
Sin won’t have dominion over us. We will no longer be slaves to sin…. But then who and what will rule over us?
Titus 2:11-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
We have been redeemed to live with self control and to be zealous for good works.
1 Peter 1:13-19
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 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.
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