And if ye call on the Heavenly Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 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: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 1 Peter 1:17-21
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb.9:12
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Rev.5:9
1. Redemption is the theme of the Bible.
Job 19:25-27 Ps.49:15 Lk.1:68 2:38 24:21 Ro.3:24 8:23 1Cor.1:30 Gal.3:13 4:5 Eph.1:7,14 Col.2:14 Tit.2:14 Heb.9:11-15 1Pet 1:18-20 Rev.5:9
2. The only and all wise God has chosen a variety of terms to give us the full picture of salvation.
3. Includes terms, like pardon or sanctification, ransom, redeem, purchased, bought, reconciled, forgiven
2. Definition of Redemption
A. The economic or financial transaction of buying something or someone back from another that has a legitimate and binding claim against it.
1. Redeem. To buy back (a thing formerly possessed); to make payment for (a thing held or claimed by another). To free (mortgaged property), to recover (a person or thing put in pledge), by payment of the amount due, or by fulfilling some obligation. To ransom, liberate, free (a person) from bondage, captivity, or punishment; to save (one’s life) by paying a ransom.
2. God redeemed Israel out of Egypt by buying them back from their masters through plagues and death and confiscation of their wealth by His mighty arm. Ex.6:6 15:13 Deut.7:8 9:26; 13:5 15:15 21:8; 24:18 2Sam.7:23 1Chr.17:21 Neh.1:10 Ps.74:2 77:15 106:10 107:2 111:9 Isaiah 63:9 Hosea 7:13 Micah 6:4
3. Redeeming time, which is to recover or increase that scarce resource, is by giving up things that foolishly consume time. Eph.5:16 Col.4:5
B. Firstborns were to be God’s, but lambs redeemed asses. Ex.13:12-16 Nu.18:15-17
1. Asses were unclean, since God did not like them, yet all firstborn males were His.
2. Can you imagine the profanity of offering an ass as a sacrifice on the altar of God?
3. You had two choices when a male ass was born – break its neck or offer a lamb.
4. A lamb was acceptable to God and could be offered religiously to God on an altar.
5. Grasp the illustration of redemption: you are the ass, unclean and unacceptable to God, so He killed His Son as the Lamb to redeem you from breaking your neck.
C. A maidservant wife could be redeemed from her unhappy master. Ex.21:8; Le.19:20
1. Fathers could get in such desperate financial situations they sold their daughters.
2. God knew such a situation would result in “marriage,” though only a concubine.
3. If a master did not like a girl after having her a while, she could then be redeemed.
4. Imagine twin sisters being sold this way, and they could not pay their redemption.
5. Imagine a rich bachelor buying and marrying one and another adopting the other.
6. Think that you sold yourself to the devil and Christ has married and adopted you!
D. Levites redeemed Israel’s firstborn, except 273 extra by five shekels Nu.3:39-51
1. After Egypt, all firstborn males were the Lord’s, either in sacrifice or redeemed.
2. The firstborn males older than a month of all Israel were a total of 22,273 firstborn.
3. The firstborn males older than a month of the tribe of Levi were a total of 22,000.
4. God accepted the males of Levi as the redemption for the males of the other tribes.
5. The 273 males of the tribes that outnumbered Levi were redeemed for five shekels.
E. There are many other examples of redemption under the Law of God given through Moses.
1. Redemption of land bought it back from buyer. Lev.25:23-28 Ru.4:3-10 Jer.32:7-8
2. Redemption of indentured servants in Israel meant to buy them back.
Lev.25:47-55
3. God gave values to redeem persons. Lev.27:1-8 Ne.5:5,8 beasts Lev.27:9-13, houses Lev 27:14-15 25:29-34 fields Lev.27:16-25 sundry Lev.27:26-34
F. Redemption for Israel was by God’s mercy to forgive their iniquities. Psa.130:7-8
G. Patriarchs knew God as Redeemer – delivering from trouble. Ge.48:16 Isa.29:22
H. Job and his three friends also knew God as a redeemer from trouble.
Job 5:20 6:23
I. David knew God as redeemer – able to deliver from evil.
2Sam.4:9 1Ki.1:29 Ps.19:14 25:22 26:11 31:5 34:22 44:26 29:18 71:23 72:14 78:35 103:4 136:24
J. God was Israel’s redeemer – delivering from Babylon and sending Christ. Neh.1:10 Psa.107:2 Isaiah 1:27 35:9 41:14 43:1,14 44:6,22-24 47:4 48:17,20 49:7,26 50:2 51:11 52:3,9 54:5,8 59:20 60:16 62:12 63:4,16 Jer.15:21 31:11 50:34 Lam.3:58 Micah 4:10 Zec.10:8
K. God is a redeemer for His ability to deliver the fatherless from oppressors. Pr.23:11
L. Destruction of Jerusalem and enemies of Christians was a form of redemption. Lu.21:28
3. Need of Redemption
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. He.2:14-15
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Ti. 2:6
A. We are under the claim of another, and payment must be made to buy our freedom.
B. Adam’s original sin is imputed unto all men therefore all men are condemned to death. Ro.5:12-19
C. The law of God through Moses condemns us whether in stone or conscience. Ro.5:20-21 Gal.4:5
D. The wages of sin is death, and God paid a debt He did not owe for those who had a debt they could not pay. Ro.6:23
E. What is the claim against us? Who holds it? What did He demand for the payment?
1. The wages of sins death – The three manifestations of death are spiritual, physical, and eternal.
F. No man can by any means redeem his brother regardless of great wealth. Ps.49:6-9
G. The need for redemption from sin moved men.
Lk.1:68 2:38 24:21 Job 19:25-27
4. Source of Redemption
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Hosea 13:14
A. The Almighty God has the claims of sin against us, so redemption is His great work.
1. He has the claim and right of our damnation, so He must redeem us from Himself!
2. The entire creation and universe is to display His glory. Pro.16:4 Ro.9:21-24
3. An offence against the infinite God created an infinite charge and claim against us.
4. He cannot acquit or clear without payment, so redemptive buyback is necessary.
5. We are not redeemed from the devil; it is mainly God that has a claim against us.
6. Satan had a role in our condemnation, so redemption includes his ruin. Heb.2:14
B. God made Jesus our redemption two ways for His glory and only His. 1Cor.1:29-31
C. Redemption is by God’s sovereign grace and prudent wisdom. Ro.5:15-21 Eph.1:7-8
D. Jesus entered God’s presence and obtained eternal redemption for us. Heb.9:11-15
1. It required one presentation of His blood, the evidence of death, to Almighty God.
2. The holy of holies on earth was only an obscure figure of the presence of God.
3. The offering crucial for our salvation is Jesus Christ’s offering to God, not to us.
4. Jesus the Lamb did not have a spot of sin or any other blemish to taint redemption.
5. The comparison here to the Day of Atonement in context is valuable.
Heb.9:1-10
6. It was by means of death – the bloody death of the cross – we were redeemed.
E. There is only one Redeemer (no plural in the Bible), and He only should be exalted.
1. There is only one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.
1Tim.2:5
5. Price of Redemption
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: 1 Peter 1:18-19
A. To satisfy infinite and perfect justice, God sent a perfect, innocent, obedient Substitute to make payment.
1. Jesus was the Last Adam with great superiority to the first Adam. Ro.5:15-19
2. Jesus hung on a cross to redeem mankind from the curse of the Law. Ro.5:20-21 Gal.3:13
3. Jesus was slain so that His blood could redeem us from the earth to God. Rev.5:9
B. It is declared often to be by Christ’s blood, and that by God’s decree.
1Pet.1:18-20
1. Redemption here, like ransom for a captured or kidnapped family, is usually cash.
2. Corruptible things, all that exists in the world, are insufficient for an immortal soul.
3. No man can by any means give God a ransom for his or another’s soul.
Ps.49:6-9
4. A similar word was earlier, where incorruptible described eternal inheritance. 1Pet.1:4
5. The infinite, eternal Spirit of Jehovah is not bought by anything you have known.
6. His holy and righteous nature requires much more than anything you can imagine.
7. Jesus redeemed us from claims of God’s law by payment of His precious blood.
C. The life is in the blood, therefore Jesus Christ’s living blood represents the death of Jesus, for the life of a man.
1. The important relation between blood and life of the body is revealed. Lev.17:11
2. Avoid separating the blood of Jesus or His cross from His death, for death is key. 1Cor.1:17-18 Gal.5:11 6:12,14 Eph.2:16 Phil.3:18 Col.1:20 2:14 He.12:2
D. The Bible is at great odds against all religions – because it is the gospel of redemption by the blood of a perfect man who is the Son of God.
1. God became a man in order to die for the sins of enemies to adopt them into His Heavenly family. That is incredible and beyond our imagination!
2. The gods of religion required they sacrifice their sons; God killed His only Son for us. Isa.53:4
3. The doctrine of substitutionary atonement must never be compromised in any way.
E. Compare redemption by His blood to missionary efforts to save by raising money.
1. What happens to many redeemed by Christ’s blood without the preaching of the gospel?
2. Did Jesus obtain eternal redemption or not? Did God accept the payment or not? Eph.2:15 2Cor.5:19
3. God and Jesus guaranteed redemption. Jn.6:37-39 10:26-29 17:2-3 Ro.8:28-39
4. Jesus redeemed all God gave to Him. Jn.17:12
6. Benefits of Redemption
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Ephesians 1:7
And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us. 1 John 3:24
A. Forgiveness of our sins is by the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ. Eph.1:7 Col.1:14
B. God hates all workers of iniquity but Jesus redeemed us. Tit.2:14 Ps 5:5; Mt.7:23
C. The Law cursed us but Jesus redeemed us from the curse. Gal.3:13 Ro.5:20-21 Ga.3:10
D. Eternal redemption and our eternal inheritance were by Christ’s blood. Heb.9:12-15
E. Justification – declared righteous – is free due to Christ’s redemption. Ro.3:24
F. Adoption – declared God’s sons – is on the basis of Christ’s redemption. Gal.4:4-5
7. Future Redemption
But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you. Romans 8:11
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His Kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7
A. God’s grace in Christ’s blood has more privileges – even glorifying your body. Ro.8:23
B. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit as an earnest of this redemption. Eph.1:13-14
C. We must divide scripture into phases, in order to allow a future redemption. Eph.4:30
D. David knew about this redemption and wrote of it light of human vanity. Psa.49:15
E. Hosea knew about this redemption and wrote of it regarding the grave. Hosea 13:14
8. The Purchase of Redemption
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1Cor.6:20 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 1Cor.7:23
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood. Acts 20:28
A. God bought us, so we are His property for pleasure and praise.
1Cor.6:19-20 7:23
B. God purchased us with His own blood, so we are His by a great price.
Acts 20:28
C. The ransom of souls is precious, for the ransom amount was Christ’s life and His precious blood. Mt.20:28
9. Results of Redemption
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Cor.15:55
A. If you were redeemed from death by money, you would greatly honor your redeemer.
B. You were bought with a price; you are not your own; so glorify God.
1Cor.6:19-20
C. It is good to consider we are twice His – He made us, and He bought (redeemed) us.
D. Break forth into praise as they do in heaven for Christ’s redemption.
Rev.5:9 14:3-4
E. Since our redemption was costly far beyond natural things, we surely owe our Heavenly Father.
1. What Return on investment do you give God? He invested His Son’s blood on your behalf!
2. What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us … to adopt as His own sons!
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22
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: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:18-23
Conclusion:
1. Redemption has already been paid for by Christ and accepted by God; condemnation was lifted from those in the beloved. Eph.1:3-6 We don’t deserve redemption and we can’t earn redemption through good works. Redemption becomes real the moment we receive Christ in our hearts.
2. You can trust in God’s mercy and walk in fellowship with God by faith knowing redemption was paid for you. Mt.7:21-23 Mk.16:15-16 Ro.8:1-9 1Tim.6:17-19 Heb.5:9 2Pet.1:5-11 1Jn.5:18-19
3. Is your conscience so moved by His blood redemption that you will serve Him. Heb.9:14 2Pet.1:8-9
4. Are you thankful God took matters into His own hands to ransom you from death. Hosea 13:14
5. Are you thankful for the Ransom Himself and committed to living by Him and in service to Him. 2Cor.5:14-15
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