The preachers quoted here define redemption as deliverance from bondage by the payment of a price, which was the sacrifice of Christ. They add that it is not only rescue from something but being redeemed to God himself, and they call it a treasure beyond valuing.
To redeem is to buy back. The chief New Testament word, apolutrosis, means release on payment of a ransom.1 The Old Testament uses gaal, the act of the kinsman who buys back a relative or his land,2 and the Bible dictionaries trace both ideas through Scripture.3 John Owen put it simply: "Redemption is delivering anyone from bondage or captivity, and from the miseries that attend it."4
The pattern is the Exodus. God told Israel in Egypt, "I will redeem you with a stretched out arm" (Exodus 6:6). The law made a man's nearest kinsman responsible to redeem him from slavery or debt (Leviticus 25:47-49), and the book of Ruth shows Boaz doing it.
The New Testament says Christ is that redeemer and names the price. "The Son of man came ... to give his life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Ephesians 1:7). "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold ... but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19).
It states what people are redeemed from and for. From "the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13) and "from all iniquity" (Titus 2:14); and to God: "thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood" (Revelation 5:9). The consequence is ownership: "ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
The idea of a price paid belongs to the New Testament words themselves and cannot be reduced to a general notion of deliverance. Scripture does not say to whom the price was paid, and the older theory that it was paid to the devil has been generally set aside.
Redemption also has a future. Believers wait for "the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:23) and are sealed "unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). What Christ bought at the cross he will take full possession of when he returns. Thomas Watson made the same distinction: "Redemption is either incohata or plena; i.e. begun redemption or perfect redemption."5
- Strong's Greek 629, apolýtrōsis: "(the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation".
- Strong's Hebrew 1350, gâʼal: "to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)".
- "Redemption," in Theological Dictionary and Biblical and Theological Dictionary (with 14 other reference works).
- John Owen, 10. Of Communion with God, "Chapter 6. Communion with Christ in purchased grace –".
- Thomas Watson, A Body Of Divinity, "Christ The Redeemer".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Redemption means to redeem, or deliver from bondage by sacrifice.
William Booth
in The Doctrines of the Salvation Army by the General
Read in context
So redemption is not simply deliverance, but it's deliverance by a payment of a ransom or a price.
Eli Brayley
in Redemption, Forgiveness, and the Riches of His Grace
Listen at 16:09
Redemption is too often looked at from its negative side as deliverance from but its real glory is the positive element of being redeemed unto himself.
B.H. Clendennen
in Holiness and Redemption
Listen at 24:08
Redemption is the first great reason why the Lamb of God was slain for man.
G.W. North
in The Lamb of God - the Firstborn
Read in context
Redemption is a rich mine, containing a mass of treasure which cannot be valued.
Thomas Brooks
in Redeemed
Read in context
Redemption is completed and perfected in Christ, but redemption began with Abraham.
Watchman Nee
in The Starting-Point of Recovery
Read in context
What Scripture says
- Ephesians 1:7 redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 redeemed not with silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ
- Mark 10:45 the Son of man came to give his life a ransom for many
- Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law
- 1 Corinthians 6:20 ye are bought with a price
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