Redemption

 I once read a story about a little boy who built a toy boat. He drew up the plans, cut out the wood, assembled the craft, and painted it so that it was a beautiful little vessel. The boy then tied a string to the boat and launched it into the nearby stream. Unfortunately, the string broke and the current took the little boat away. The boy, of course, was heartbroken. A few days later that same little boy went into a toy shop and, much to his surprise, he saw his boat on a shelf with a price tag on it. The boy eagerly paid the price to retrieve his precious boat. The boat was, in a way, twice his, once by creation and once by purchase. 

This story illustrates the biblical concept of ‘redemption.’ We belong to God by creation. He made us. Yet our sins have carried us far away from Him. In order to bring us back into His fellowship, God paid a price. That price was the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. First Peter 1.18-19 says, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ.” 

Redemption actually involves two distinct ideas. One aspect of redemption is that of making a purchase. The New Testament uses a word that was common in ancient Rome for purchasing and releasing a slave. For example, 1 Corinthians 7.23 tells us, “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” Human slavery is, of course, an abominable practice. Even more tragic is our slavery to sin. But Jesus Christ paid the price to free us from the power of sin and death. He redeemed us. 

Another aspect of our redemption has to do with the idea of paying a ransom. Sin holds us hostage. But Jesus Christ paid the ransom price so that we could be restored to fellowship with God. First Timothy 2.5-6 says, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men.” God’s divine justice was satisfied by Jesus’ death on the cross. Jesus ransomed us from our captivity to sin. 

Of course, we enter into the benefits of Jesus’ redeeming work only when we receive Jesus Christ into our hearts by faith. Romans 3.22-24 puts faith and redemption together, saying, “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Have you entered into the blessing of Christ’s redemption? He offers you freedom and forgiveness. Why not invite Jesus into your life today?