Establishing Foundations: Redemption

Redemption means deliverance from some evil by payment of a price. Salvation is the event of accepting the provision. Redemption is the name given to the process of walking out our salvation. It is more than simple deliverance. Christ's death may be regarded as 'a ransom for many' (Mk. 10:45).

Usages of redemption in the Old Testament provide for the redemption of property, etc. Common to them all is the idea of freedom secured by payment of a price. The cross of Christ is seen against this background. It is the price paid to release the slaves, to let the condemned go free.

Where redemption occurs, there is the thought of effort. Yahweh redeems 'with a stretched out arm'. He makes known his strength. Because he loves his people, He redeems them at cost to Himself. His effort is regarded as the 'price'. This is the whole point of using the redemption terminology.

Redemption means deliverance on payment of a price, and that price is the atoning death of the Savior. When we read of 'redemption through his blood' (Eph. 1:7), the blood of Christ is clearly being regarded as the price of redemption. It is not otherwise with Rom. 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Redemption is linked with Christ's death also in Heb. 9:15. Christ bought men at the price of his blood. In Gal. 3:13 the price of redemption is given thus: 'having become a curse for us'. Christ redeemed us by taking our place, by bearing our curse. This points us to the substitutional truth of redemption. Redemption not only looks back to Calvary, but forward to the freedom in which the redeemed stand. 'You were bought with a price, ' Paul can say, 'so glorify God in your body' (1 Cor. 6:20). We have been released and are exhorted to 'stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free' (Gal. 5:1).