Redemption

Today’s $5 word: Redemption 

Our $5 words this week are major themes of the Gospel words! R.C. Trench, in his Synonyms of the New Testament, lists them as synonyms, all dealing with the cross of Christ. He says,

“Propitiation is linked with all the words and images which speak of Christ as a sacrifice, an offering, as the Lamb of God, as the Lamb slain.

With reconciliation is connected all that language of Scripture which describes sin as a state of enmity with God, and sinners as enemies to Him and alienated from Him; which sets forth Christ on the cross as the Peace, and the maker of peace between God and man

Redemption is linked with all those statements of Scripture which speak of sin as slavery, and of sinners as slaves; of deliverance from sin as freedom, or cessation of bondage.”

There is a family of words used in the Greek for redemption which paint a wonderful picture of the salvation of the Lord. Let’s look at each word in this family.

λύτρωσις (lutrosis)  Redemption, deliverance from the penalty of sin.

Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

λυτρόω (lutroo) To release on receipt of ransom; liberate by payment of ransom

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

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.

We were slaves to sin and Jesus bought us with his precious blood.

ἀντίλυτρον (antilutron) What is given in exchange for another as the price of his redemption

1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

This is the word ransom but you can see that it is in the family. It refers specifically to the price paid. Jesus gave himself as the ransom for us. His blood, his life was the payment for our deliverance from sin.

Reconciliation speaks of our participation in sin: we were alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works; Christ made peace by the cross so we could be restored to God. Redemption speaks of our condition in sin: we were slaves, unable to free ourselves; Jesus paid the ransom so we could be freed.

There are two potential issues here. One, people today might find this talk of slavery distasteful, “You mean to tell me God approves of slavery? Worse, he’s in the slave trade?” We have to understand, this is a word picture. Slavery, both the owning and selling of slaves, was an everyday part of life in the first century. This is a metaphor they all understood right away: slavery to sin is bad; Jesus bought us and rescued us from this deplorable condition; that’s good!

Second, ransom, a price paid. There has been a lot of discussion, debate, and disagreement in the past concerning this – Who did Jesus pay? We were slaves to sin and Satan, did Jesus pay the devil? Unthinkable! This discussion also misses the point. This is a picture attempting to explain our plight and rescue. As captives are freed by payment of a ransom, so we were held captive by the devil and Jesus paid the ransom for our freedom. His death on the cross was the price he paid for our deliverance. The wages of sin is death, we couldn’t afford to pay our own ransom, so Jesus paid it for us, he died our death, took our sins on himself and paid the price. Now he offers forgiveness and life. That’s redemption!

Believe it or not, it gets even better!

ἀπολύτρωσις apolutrosis - a releasing effected by payment of ransom

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

This is Paul’s favorite word for redemption. The picture here is, well, let’s let John Chrysostom, 4th Century Archbishop of Constantinople and a native Greek speaker, explain it, “And he does not say barely λυτρώσεως, but ἀπολυτρώσεως, entire redemption, to show that we should come no more into such slavery.” Amen! Hallelujah!

Actually, let’s take a look at the complete sentence in Romans 3:21-26

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Wow! Righteousness, justification, redemption, propitiation, forgiveness all in one sentence! All together part of God’s salvation through Christ. Christ is our righteousness; he is our propitiation; he is our redeemer!

Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace

Through his blood. Redemption is through the blood of Christ. Reconciliation, propitiation, sanctification, justification are all through the blood. The cross of Christ is central to our salvation. Jesus Christ and him crucified is our faith and message.

And notice, redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. How important is the forgiveness of sins? Well, it is linked to redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, sanctification, justification. Through faith in his blood we are forgiven. Our sins are forgiven, we are justified. Our sins are forgiven, we are reconciled to God. Our sins are forgiven, we are redeemed. Precious blood of Christ indeed!

Jesus Christ gave himself a ransom for all. Have you been redeemed?