We have been redeemed through
the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He paid an
infinite price for our salvation. The price of
redemption is the death of Jesus Christ. That is the
inescapable fact in the Old and New Testament.
The idea of redemption comes
from the ancient Greek marketplace. The word agorazo
means "to buy," or "to buy in the marketplace." In
the New Testament the word places the emphasis on
the price Jesus paid to redeem us.
In the Old Testament the Jews
used the word gaal, "to redeem." The word goel was
the kinsman-redeemer who as the nearest of kin had
the power, ability, freedom and willingness to
redeem his kinsman from difficulty.
The Jews also used the word
kofer meaning "the ransom price," or the price of
redemption.
These words suggesting
redemption by payment may be strange in our day, but
were clearly ingrained in the Jewish and Greek
culture of the first century Christianity.
The great Gospel of Jesus
Christ not only redeems us by the payment of His
death, but it goes a step further. Jesus purchased
us out of the slave market and permanently set us
free to never return to its bondage. The redeemed
person has come under new ownership and management.
The apostle Paul wrote, “In Him
we have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the
riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us”
(Eph. 1:7-8; cf. Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19;
Matthew 20:28).
The word exagorazo means, "to
buy out of the marketplace" with the idea that the
person so purchased might never return to such a
state of slavery again.
To what extent has God redeemed
us? It is an effective and permanent redemption. The
promise is we never have to be sold under the power
of sin again. Our salvation is so great that Jesus
purchased us, and the transaction is complete so
that He has taken us out of the marketplace and, we
never have to return.
The price our Redeemer paid was
so great that no one can possibly top the price He
paid! We are not up for sale! No one can purchase us
away from the LORD God. We were purchased at the
infinite cost of the blood of the Son of God.
Nothing is more precious than the infinite value of
that blood.
We have been delivered, luo,
"to set free, to loose, or deliver" by the payment
of a price. Because Jesus Christ purchased us from
sin at the infinite price of His own precious blood,
He has also set us free so as to never to return to
our slavery again. The emphasis is on freedom. We
are free to love and serve Him who redeemed us, and
now this is why we worship Him.
Have you paused and thanked God
for His Son who actually shed His blood to ransom
you?
Have you ever considered the
exceptionally great price that was paid for your
salvation? It is the most expensive gift you will
ever receive. It is not cheap just because it is
free.
Moreover, your gift of
redemption has been paid in full. All that you can
possibly do is come with open hands to receive it.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the
right to become children of God, even to those who
believe in His name” (John 1:12).
The next time you are tempted
to throw in the towel and call it quits remind the
tempter you are not, and never will be up for sale,
ever again.
Why should you ever want to
doubt your salvation yet again? It does not depend
upon you, but upon the permanent completed
transaction by God through the Lord Jesus, your
Redeemer.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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