UNDERSTANDING: Redemption

Examining this “wonderful story”…..

Although Richard the Lionheart was king of England from 1189 to 1199 he spent all but six months of his reign abroad. On his return home from the Holy Land he was captured by a treacherous enemy in Austria and thrown into prison. There was only one way in which he could be released: an enormous ransom had to be paid. The people of England willingly submitted to heavy taxes, and many rich nobles contributed vast sums of money. Eventually the king was set free in 1194. The term “a king’s ransom” came to be used for an enormous sum of money.

In a similar incident the well-known Crusader, Sir Grimbald Pauncefort, was captured by the Saracens. To redeem him from death his beautiful wife, Lady Sybil Pauncefort, lovingly paid the awful ransom price demanded by the Turkish prince – the cutting off of her lily-white right hand.

Redemption is costly. We read in Psalm 49:6-8, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (for the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever)” (KJV).

From time to time we can encounter the concept of redemption in everyday life. The word redemption means “to buy back”. You may be given a coupon for a certain product which will entitle you to save money when you purchase it. In paying for the item you hand the coupon to the retailer who accepts it and informs the producer of the transaction. The producer will then redeem the coupon (buy it back) from the retailer. Such an illustration may help us to understand the meaning of redemption in Scripture.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF REDEMPTION

An interesting scene is presented in Exodus 13:13 where we read that a firstborn donkey had to be redeemed with a lamb. If a lamb was not presented for sacrifice in its place, the Law demanded that the young donkey’s neck must be broken. There was no alternative.

Suppose the owner of the baby donkey was poor and unable to offer a lamb. No mercy could be shown by the priest: the law of God required the death of the donkey. However, if another individual appeared at that time and provided the poor man with a perfect lamb, its life could be offered in place of the donkey. The death of the lamb would result in the release of the little donkey, one life being laid down in place of another.

This Old Testament scene describes perfectly what has happened for us. Under the sentence of death on account of our sin, we had no hope before God. A substitute was needed to take our place. The Old Testament sacrifices all anticipated a time of fulfilment when “redemption … in Christ Jesus” (Rom.3:24) would be provided.

THE APPROPRIATION OF REDEMPTION

In Romans 3 we read Paul’s explanation of the transaction which took place at Calvary. God’s righteousness had been made clear in “the law and the prophets” (Rom.3:21). We are all unrighteous, guilty sinners, yet God’s righteousness is offered to us “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (v.24). The word translated redemption in this verse literally means “to ransom in full”. Nothing more is necessary! God is righteous and yet merciful at the same time. He is also “the justifier” of those who believe in Jesus (v.26). In other words He can justly declare us as righteous because Jesus Christ paid redemption’s price in His own blood which was shed. In Christ “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph.1:7).

Another word translated as “redemption” is used in the New Testament. It is the Greek exagorazo which literally means to buy out of the market place. The word implies freedom. As we were “under the law” and needed to be redeemed, Christ entered this world in human form and was “made under the law” to deliver us from the law’s curse (Gal.4:4,5). Through His death on the cross we are “redeemed … from the curse of the law” because Christ Himself experienced the full weight of its curse when He hung upon the tree (Gal.3:13). Believers have been redeemed – not with anything of monetary value but with the precious blood of Christ, the spotless Lamb of God (1 Pet.1:18,19).

THE ANTICIPATION OF REDEMPTION

There is a future aspect of redemption which must not be missed. To His disciples who already stood on redemption ground, Jesus spoke of signs to come which would indicate that their redemption was drawing nigh (Lk.21:28). The Lord was promising them that He would deliver them from all their troubles – a deliverance to be understood in terms of a redemption.

This theme is taken up in Romans 8. At the present time we groan and are troubled as we await “the redemption of our body” (Rom.8:23) which will occur when Christ returns from heaven. Believers are “sealed” with the Holy Spirit who lives within them until “the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph.1:13,14). This Scripture teaches that although we are already purchased through Christ’s sacrifice and now belong to God, we are still awaiting the moment when our bodies will be delivered (redeemed) from this world of sin and corruption.

THE APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION

The Bible teaches that we are liberated or delivered from sin and its consequences. Through Christ, God “hath visited and redeemed His people” (Lk.1:68) and we are “free indeed” (Jn.8:36). We have been “bought with a price” and are no longer our own (1 Cor.6:19,20). We now belong to Christ and should live for Him and not for ourselves.

Our “redemption” is found in Christ Himself (1 Cor.1:30). Through His sacrifice at Calvary “eternal redemption” has been obtained (Heb.9:12). We should rejoice in what He has done and seek to live in the good of it. In the words of Samuel Sayford it is indeed a “wonderful story” and a “glad message” to proclaim to those who are lost. The love of God and of Christ shine out in their brightness as we ponder this great transaction.

Redemption! oh, wonderful story—
Glad message for you and for me:
That Jesus has purchased our pardon,
And paid all the debt on the tree.

Believe it, O sinner, believe it;
Receive the glad message—’tis true;
Trust now in the crucified Saviour,
Salvation He offers to you.

S. Sayford