What comes to your mind when you hear the word redemption?  When I was young I would go to the grocery store with my grandmother and after our purchase we would receive some green stamps and my job was to put them into a little booklet.  After we saved up enough booklets we would take them to the S&H Redemption Center and get a toaster or some other type of minor appliance.

The Bible uses the word redemption but it has a much deeper meaning.  The word for redemption is ἀπολύτρωσις (apolytrōsis), which occurs 10 times in the Greek New Testament.  The deeper meaning of this word is a “recall of captives from captivity through the payment of a ransom for them” (Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament). The Apostle Paul writes, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” (Ephesians 1:7)

Don’t miss the significance of this verse – Jesus Christ has paid the price for your sins!  You can have fellowship with God because of the sacrifice of Jesus.  You don’t need to earn your salvation or perform in any way to gain God’s favor – all you need to do is to receive His free gift,

“being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” (Romans 3:24)

Redemption is a theological fact.  Oswald Chambers writes, “Jesus Christ is not working out the Redemption, it is complete; we are working it out, and beginning to realize it by obedience” (The Highest Good).  So what are the implications of redemption in your life?

1. You were captive, in bondage, to an alien power.

2. You were unable to secure your own liberation.

3. Jesus Christ brought about your rescue through His death on the cross.

4. As you come to Him in repentance and humility you can receive God’s gift of salvation.

The key question is, “Have you received His free gift?”

Dr. Rick Higgins
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University