THE REDEEMED OF GOD

READINGS: PSALM 149, JEREMIAH 31:31-34; REVELATION 7:2-4, 9-12, MATTHEW 5:1-12.

INTRODUCTION

There is something about that term “Redeemed” that brings joy to our hearts. We have been saved, washed in the Blood of the Lamb, given eternal life, bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus and there is no greater miracle, and no greater gift that mankind could ever receive than to be redeemed.

The old song “He Set Me Free” contains a verse that says,

Once like a bird in prison I dwelt

No freedom from the sorrow I felt

Then Jesus came and listened to me

And Glory to God, He set me Free

Freedom – what a wonderful feeling it is to be free from sin; Behold all the old things have passed away and all things have become new!

Redemption is a biblical word that means “a purchase” or “a ransom.” Historically, redemption was used in reference to the purchase of a slave’s freedom. A slave was “redeemed” when the price was paid for his freedom. God spoke of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt in this way: “I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the

Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment” (Exodus 6:6). The use of redemption in the New Testament includes this same idea. Every person is a slave to sin; only through the price Jesus paid on the cross is a sinful person redeemed from sin and death.

In Scripture, it is clear every person stands in need of redemption. Why? Because every person has sinned (Romans 3:23). The following verse then reveals we are “justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Hebrews 9:15 says that Jesus “is the mediator of a new covenant . . . since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

 REDEMPTION PROVIDES SEVERAL BENEFITS FOR THE BELIEVER:

• Eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10) And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
• Forgiveness of sin (Ephesians 1:7) in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
• A right relationship with God (Romans 5:17) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
• Peace with God (Colossians 1:18-20) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
• The Holy Spirit to live within (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
• Adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5). To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.Titus 2:13-14 says Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession.”

  CONCLUSION

  When we are redeemed, we become different people. When God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt, He made them a new nation and gave them a new land. Likewise, the Christian has a new identity in Christ. No longer is the Christian a captive to sin and death. Instead, he has become a citizen of God’s kingdom. Christians now live in anticipation of our eternal home with our heavenly Father.

  God wants us to see Him as the One who redeems (Isaiah 43:14; 44:6, 24; 49:7). Just as Boaz was the kinsman-redeemer of Ruth (Ruth 3:9), Jesus redeems us (Galatians 3:13). Jesus paid a high price for our redemption, the ultimate sacrifice of His own life to free us from sin.