Redemption

          Redemption is the act of God that frees sinners from the bondage of
     sin and the curse of the law, through Jesus Christ, and His death on the cross.

          All who have received Jesus Christ as Savior are set free by His offering
     of Himself as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of His people.


          "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
     Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of Life set me free
     from the law of sin and death.  For what the law was powerless to do in that
     it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending His own Son in the
     likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."  Romans 8:1-3a


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          "The Greek word translated 'redeemed' was often used to speak of buying
     a slave's or debtor's freedom.  Christ's death, because it was a death of substi-
     tution for sin, satisfied God's justice and exhausted His wrath toward his elect,
     so that Christ actually purchased believers from slavery to sin and from the
     sentence of eternal death."   John MacArthur

          Redemption delivers us from the punishment we deserve for our sinfulness.


          "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -
     for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree' - so that in Christ
     Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might
     receive the promised Spirit through faith." 
          "... And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according
     to promise."   Galatians 3:13-14, 29

          We are adopted as His children through Jesus' act of redemption.

          "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of
     woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we
     might receive adoption as sons."   Galatians 4:4-5


           God promised to send His Spirit to His chosen people.

          "And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit
    upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God."  Ezekiel 39:29


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          Redemption comes through Jesus Christ.

          "....for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by
     His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put
     forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith."  Romans 3:23-25a

          God declares us, His people, legally righteous (justification) through Jesus' death
     on the cross.

          God delivers us from Satan's kingdom, and forgives our sins through Jesus'
     atoning work at Calvary.

          "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the
     kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
     Colossians 1:13-14

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          We belong to God, because His Son has paid the price for our redemption through
     His blood.

          "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom
     you have from God?  You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So
     glorify God in your body."  1 Corinthians 6:19-20


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          RANSOM

          Jesus paid the ransom to obtain the freedom of His people.

          "...even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life
     as a ransom for many."   Matthew 20:28

          Many receive eternal life because of the ransom paid by Jesus.
          The ransom was paid to God the Father, (not Satan, as some have taught), to satisfy
     His wrath against us for our sins.


          Jesus ransomed people for God from all over the world.

          "...'Worthy are you to take the scroll, and to open its seals, for you were slain, and
     by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people
     and nation ..."   Revelation 5:9


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          J.I. Packer, theologian commented on redemption.

          "Redemption is Christ's actual substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the
     place of certain specified sinners, through which God was reconciled to them, their
     liability to punishment was forever destroyed, and a title to eternal life was secured
     for them."

          "In consequence of this, they now have in God's sight, a right to the gift of faith, as the
     means of entry to the enjoyment of their inheritance.  Calvary, in other words, not merely
     made possible the salvation of those for whom Christ died;  it ensured that they would be
     brought to faith and their salvation be made actual."

          "The cross saves."