What is Redemption?

by Mr. Whitney V. Myers

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(c) Can Stock Photo / ginosphotos

Redemption at the Cross of Jesus - Ephesians 1:7 - Can Stock Photo - Used under license

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ..."  (Ephesians 1:7)

This lesson explains the biblical definition of redemption, that Jesus Christ has paid the price for our redemption, and that our redemption is a free gift from God.

     Consider.  Think for a moment.  How would you define redemption in your own words?  How would you explain your redemption through Christ to an inquisitive unbeliever or a new Christian?

1. Redemption is the action of buying back or repurchasing what was previously forfeited or lost.

     The transliteration of the Greek word for redemption in Ephesians 1:7 is apolutrosis (ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis) (Ref. 1).  HELPS Word-studies states that apolutrosis (redemption) literally means buying back from, repurchasing what was previously forfeited (or lost) (Ref. 1).  Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). 

In the New Testament, the primary idea in redemption is deliverance from bondage, specifically the bondage of sin (John 8:34-36, Ref. 2).  "Into that bondage man has plunged himself; God’s mercy redeems him from it at an unspeakable price" (John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:17-19, Ref. 2).

2. Redemption is effected by the payment of ransom. Jesus Christ has paid the ransom price -- his blood -- for our redemption.

     The Strong's Concordance definition of apolutrosis (redemption) is a release effected by payment of ransom (Ref. 1).  The transliteration of the Greek word for ransom is lutron (loo'-tron), which literally is the ransom money (price) to free a slave (Ref. 3, HELPS Word-studies).  Jesus Christ has paid the lutron, the ultimate "liberty price" -- the blood of Christ -- to purchase (ransom) believers, freeing them (us) from all slavery (bondage) to sin (Ref. 3).  Jesus said, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Consider these cross references:

1 Peter 1:18-19 -- "Know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish."

Hebrews 9:11-12 -- "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things having come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made by hands, that is, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all time, having obtained eternal redemption."

3. According to Ephesians 1:7, we (believers in Christ) have redemption through the blood of Christ and the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of God's grace.

     Strong's Concordance defines grace as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ (Ref. 4).  Thus, our redemption by Jesus Christ is a free gift from God to us, believers in Christ, according to the riches [abundance] of God's grace (Ephesians 1:7, Ref. 5). 

Even though God's grace-full gift of redemption to us was free, that free gift of redemption was immensely costly to God (John 3:16, 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Summary - the Main Principles in this Lesson:

1.  Redemption is the action of buying back or repurchasing what was previously forfeited or lost. 

2.  Redemption is effected by payment of ransom.  Jesus Christ has paid the ransom price -- his blood -- for our redemption. 

3.  We (believers in Christ) have redemption through the precious blood of Christ and the forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of God's grace.  Redemption is a free gift from God to us.

4.  Although our redemption by God is a free gift from God to us, that free gift was immensely costly to God -- it cost the precious blood of God's only Son, Jesus Christ.

      Apply.  How will you purpose to live today and each day in light of your redemption by Jesus Christ, God's Son?  Give thanks for God's gracious gift of redemption.

References
1.  https://biblehub.com/greek/629.htm
2.  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/ephesians/1.htm
3.  https://biblehub.com/greek/3083.htm
4.  https://biblehub.com/greek/5485.htm
5.  https://biblehub.com/greek/4149.htm