Redemption is the act of redeeming. Webster’s Dictionary defines the word "redeem" as: "to set free; to rescue or ransom, to save from a state of sinfulness and its consequences."

In the Bible the idea of redemption is connected to the redeeming of slaves in the law.

Let’s notice the Law concerning slavery in Leviticus 25 beginning in verse 39: "'And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. {40} 'As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee. {41} 'And then he shall depart from you; he and his children with him; and shall return to his own family. He shall return to the possession of his fathers. {42} 'For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. {43} 'You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God. {44} 'And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have; from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. {45} 'Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property. {46} 'And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor. {47} 'Now if a sojourner or stranger close to you becomes rich, and one of your brethren who dwells by him becomes poor, and sells himself to the stranger or sojourner close to you, or to a member of the stranger's family, {48} 'after he is sold he may be redeemed again. One of his brothers may redeem him; {49} 'or his uncle or his uncle's son may redeem him; or anyone who is near of kin to him in his family may redeem him; or if he is able he may redeem himself. {50} 'Thus he shall reckon with him who bought him: The price of his release shall be according to the number of years, from the year that he was sold to him until the Year of Jubilee; it shall be according to the time of a hired servant for him. {51} 'If there are still many years remaining, according to them he shall repay the price of his redemption from the money with which he was bought. {52} 'And if there remain but a few years until the Year of Jubilee, then he shall reckon with him, and according to his years he shall repay him the price of his redemption. {53} 'He shall be with him as a yearly hired servant, and he shall not rule with rigor over him in your sight. {54} 'And if he is not redeemed in these years, then he shall be released in the Year of Jubilee; he and his children with him. {55} 'For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God" (Lev 25:39-55 ).

A person who was sold into slavery because of insolvency could be redeemed if the family’s finances had later improved.

With these three points in mind, let’s look at how Jesus is our Redeemer.

First let’s notice that all men have sinned. The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 (): "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

The Apostle John recorded Jesus as saying: "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. {35} "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. {36} "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:34-36 ).

Sinners are "slaves to sin" which "leads to death". The Apostle Paul recorded: "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" (Rom 6:16 ). Let’s notice another familiar passage: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23 ).

This spiritual bondage of slavery is upon all mankind because all of mankind has sinned. Mankind needs to be redeemed from this spiritual bondage.

The second aspect of redemption involves the payment of a redemption price.

In the following passage the Apostle Paul admonishes people to live as they are called. Notice in verse 23 that it says "You were bought at a price": "But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. {18} Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. {19} Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. {20} Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. {21} Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. {22} For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. {23} You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. {24} Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called" (1 Cor 7:17-24 ). (See also 1 Cor 6:20).

What is the price that has been paid for us?

The Apostle Paul wrote to the gentile Corinthian Church from Ephesus around 56 A.D. regarding many problems ranging from divisions in the Church to sexual misbehavior.

In 1 Corinthians 5:1, the Apostle Paul begins talking about sexual immorality. "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles; that a man has his father's wife! {2} And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. {3} For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. {4} In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, {5} deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. {6} Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? {7} Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. {8} Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor 5:1-8 ).

The Apostle Paul was giving correction to the Corinthian Church and is using special terminology in doing so. He is using terminology that relates to the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.

Notice that the Apostle Paul calls "Christ, our Passover", and that He "was sacrificed for us". Jesus is our personal savior. Jesus was killed for us. He died for you and me. Just like the Passover lamb was killed and its blood was used to save the firstborn of ancient Israel, Christ was killed and His blood was shed for our remission of sin so that we could be saved.

"For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Mat 26:28 ).

Jesus’ blood cleanses us from sin. "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7 ).

Jesus’ blood justifies us: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. {10} For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life" (Rom 5:8-10 ).

Jesus was sacrificed and died for us. He paid the price to buy us.

Jesus is our Intermediary

The third aspect of redemption involves an intermediary or mediator to secure redemption.

The Apostle Paul in writing to Timothy says in: 1 Tim 2:5 () "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus."

Jesus died for us that He might redeem us: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, {12} teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, {13} looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, {14} who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" Titus 2:11-14.

In Conclusion:

Job said: "For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth" Job 19:25 (). When the signs of the end time begin to appear, Jesus said: " lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28 ). Paul portrays Christians as groaning within ourselves "eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body (Rom 8:23 )." The Holy Spirit "is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph 1:14 ). The Holy Spirit has sealed believers "for the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30 ).

All men have sinned and needs a redeemer. Jesus paid the price for us by dying for us. Jesus is our Redeemer.

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