Redemption Series

While any form or vestige of slavery is wrong and repugnant, a story is told about Abraham Lincoln, who went to the slave block and noticed a young girl up for auction. Moved with compassion, he purchased her freedom. When Lincoln told the disbelieving girl what he had done, she asked, “What does that mean?”

“It means you are free,” he replied.

“Does that mean,” she said, “I can say whatever I want to say?”

“Yes, my dear, you can say whatever you want to say.”

“Does that mean I can be whatever I want to be?”

“Yes, you can be whatever you want to be.”

“Does that mean I can go wherever I want to go?”

“Yes, you can go wherever you want to go.”

With tears streaming down her face, the girl responded, “Then, I will go with you.”

Admittedly, the account is probably more legendary than legitimate. Yet, it does communicate an important spiritual truth. If you have been reborn, you have been redeemed and set free to willingly serve the Redeemer.

Last weekend we focused on the word remember and were challenged to not ever forget to remember what God has done for us.

After today, Lord willing, there will be six more weeks of messages in our “RE” series. Here’s where we’re headed.

• Reaffirm

• Repent

• Return

• Rebuild

• Reconcile

• Recovery

Today, our sermon will be part theology class because we’re going to unpack the word redemption, a theological concept rich in meaning and application. Here’s our main idea: To experience redemption, you must receive the Redeemer.

As we begin, I’m going to pray the words of Scripture from four verses which contain the words “Redeemer, Redemption, and Ransomed.”

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my REDEEMER [because] in you we have REDEMPTION through your blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of your grace…for you have entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of your own blood, thus securing an eternal REDEMPTION…because you are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you have RANSOMED people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation…” In the mighty name of our Redeemer we pray, Amen. (Psalm 19:14; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12; Revelation 5:9)

In the Bible, salvation is described with a variety of terms, images, and metaphors. Like a multifaceted diamond, we can look at this glorious truth from different angles and under different light. Here are 10 theological terms, along with brief definitions:

1. Propitiation. The satisfaction of God’s holiness and justice by the sacrificial payment of the blood of Christ on the cross.

2. Atonement. The act of God by which He reconciles sinful humanity to Himself through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

3. Imputation. The act of God whereby our sins are transferred to Christ and His righteousness is credited to our account.

4. Reconciliation. The act by which God makes peace between Himself and sinful humanity through the finished work of Christ on the cross.

5. Regeneration. The act of God realized by faith alone in Christ alone whereby He gives new life to the believer.

6. Conversion. The turning of a sinner to God, giving new life, forgiveness, purpose, and an assured place in eternity with Him.

7. Justification. The act by which God, for Christ’s sake, declares a guilty sinner righteous in His sight by grace through faith, thus satisfying the penalty for sin.

8. Sanctification. The process by which God grows the believer in holiness, breaking the power of sin, so we can grow in Christlikeness.

9. Glorification. God’s final removal of the presence of sin as He transforms believers into the image of Christ in eternity.

10. Redemption. At its core, to “redeem” refers to “buying back,” usually by the payment of a ransom. To redeem means to set free by the paying of a price. In Greek, it means, “to loosen,” or to be set free from chains, slavery, or prison. It is a covenantal legal term associated closely with each of the other theological terms.

The word redemption in its various forms is found 50 times in the Bible. The concept hearkens back to the marketplace where a slave was released from captivity through the payment of a ransom price. The word was also used for the release of prisoners of war. Redemption by payment is strange in our day, but was clearly understood in the Jewish, Roman, and Greek cultures.

Redemption is rooted in the Old Testament as seen in Deuteronomy 15:15: “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you.” The premier example of redemption is found in Exodus 15:13 when God bought and brought His people out of Egypt: “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.”