Redeemed 2

Redeemed 2

“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)

There are millions of captive in prison systems today who would welcome with shouts of appreciation, thanks and exuberance the word from one having authority over them “you are redeemed. We have set you free!” Oh what joy and excitement that would bring to them and their family. Guilty as charged and confined behind walls of rock and steel, they are suffering the penalty for their transgressions of man’s laws. When the shock wore off and the realization of self dependency became real, some would seek a legal path to follow. The vast majority would return to their self serving and illegal ways. It’s just a pattern people have adhered to since Adam.

It’s shameful how superciliously people use the terms redeemed, redemption, and ransom. Do they understand spiritually what these terms really mean, and more importantly, what did Christ’s act of redemption mean? What was the cross of Calvary all about?

We discover three Greek words whose derivations are used in our New Testament to illustrate and define various aspects of the truth. In our text, “redeemed” comes from lutroo, which means to set free, buy back, or ransom. Christ’s innocent blood, sacrificed for us, bought us back. “By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12).

Redeemed from what? From slavery to sin and the rules of the Devil. Jesus taught, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:34). Thankfully, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13). The Greek word here is exagorazo, meaning to buy up, to ransom from the market place (i.e., agora), which could be called “the slave market of sin.” Jesus ransomed us, He redeemed us from the horrors of slavery to sin by His death on the cross. He broke down the walls of death, decay and depravity for all human kind. He opened the gates of hell for all who would walk out through them in love and thankfulness; believing Jesus was the true way have eternal freedom from sin. 

The final word is apolutrosis, “to ransom in full.” He has paid the full penalty! “It is finished” (John 19:30), He uttered as He died he hung his head in death on the cross at Calvary over 2000 years ago. In Him alone “we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

There are none who are not jailed behind bars of sin save the faithful anchored in Christ Jesus. These few are the redeemed They have been set free from sin and Satan’s bondage. If you are redeemed let it show. Each of us needs show that appropriate His plan, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).Those who are wandering out there in sin strugling to make ends meet and lost to the power of the devil. Turn to God’s Word and talk to Jesus. Know God, know peace 04-19-2019 BLL