The theme of Redemption runs through the whole of the bible. In Leviticus chapter 25 people, places, possessions and property could be redeemed, Generally in the Old Testament redemption came by money or by silver and occasionally, by blood. Redemption teaches the truths of ransom, release and relationship. These truths we see worked out in the bible stories of Rebekah in Genesis chapter 24, Ruth and the nation of Israel in Exodus chapter 12. In the New Testament, redemption has a powerful message for us as believers, freedom from sin and judgment is purchased at an unestimable cost to secure my release into a glorious relationship with Christ, like Ruth and like Rebekah that redemption has bought for Christ a bride, ransomed, released and now in an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ.
There is running through the pages of Old Testament scripture the truth of Redemption:
- Sometimes in picture
- Sometimes in practice
- Sometimes in word
- Sometimes in work
Redemption often begins with a:
- Debt
- Bondage
- Obligation
- Responsibility
- The Plan of Salvation – chps 1 to 2
- The Privileges of Salvation – chps 2 to 3
- The Practice of Salvation – chps 4 to 6
Over each section is Christ
It is the Lord Jesus who brings to effect the Plan of Salvation
V4 – Chosen in Christ
V5 – Adopted by Jesus Christ
V7 – Redemption by the blood of Christ
V15 – Faith in the Lord Jesus
Privileges of Adoption:
All of these are ours because of Jesus Christ:
- Brought near by the blood of Christ (2:13)
- Broken down the middle wall of partition (2:14)
- Reconciled to God (2:15-16)
- Built on Christ the chief corner stone (2:20)
- Part of the church (3:6)
- Indwelt by Christ (3:17)
Practice of Adoption
Christ is supreme here too
- Source of gifts – Christ (4:8)
- Secret of life – Christ (4:22,24)
- Supreme pattern for marriage (5:25ff)
In the Old Testament, redemption applied to:
- Possessions (Lev 25:24)
- Property (Lev 25:29ff)
- Places -land (Lev 25:23ff; Jer 32:6-7)
- People (Lev 25:48ff, Numb 3:45; Exodus 21:8). The firstborn were to be redeemed by 5 shekels of silver.
Note that we cannot redeem what already belongs to God (Lev 27:28ff)
In the New Testament redemption is uniquely applied to People! (Ephesians 1:14)
In the New Testament Redemption is uniquely from sin! (Ephesians 1:7; Col 1:14; Hebrews 9:15)
In the old redemption could be effected by:
- Silver
- Money
- Blood
In the New Testament Redemption is effected uniquely by means of blood. (1 Peter 1:18)
Redemption included 3 aspects of truth:
- Ransom
- Release
The truth of redemption answers one of the commonest criticism of the gospel; ‘you mean you can ask God to forgive your sin and get out of jail free?’
You mean it doesn’t matter how you live your life?
Is the gospel merely a thumbs up to hedonism or libertinism?
This was an accusation thrown at Paul (Romans 6:1; 3:8)
You can do as you please and go to heaven since salvation does not depend upon works?
Justification is to be declared righteous and is part of Redemption! (Romans 3:25)
The Lord Jesus declares you righteous, the same time He purchases you and I.
Good works are not the cause of salvation
Good works are the consequence of salvation.
God does not save us to leave us where we are nor to leave us as what we were! God justifies those He redeemed.
We cannot be justified without being redeemed!
We are not justified in our sin.
We are justified from our sin.
Redemption is found in the Old Testament
It is a legal phenomenon and encompasses 3 truths:
- Ransom
- Release
- Relationship
3 great examples of redemption:
- Rebekah by Abraham and his servant
- Israel from Egypt
- Ruth by Boaz
Consider:
- Rebekah by Abraham and his servant
For Rebekah there was a price paid (Genesis 24:22)
A half shekel compare the redemption price of Exodus 30
Genesis 24:53 – a down payment, a promise from a wealthy master.
That price and redemption comes in in Ephesians 1:14
- Israel from Egypt
Uniquely redeemed by blood, the blood of the lamb
Redeemed from slavery in Egypt
Brought out not only to break their bondage in Egypt but to bring them into service with God.
Ransom – Release – Relationship
Not only a case of what they were brought out from but what they are brought into!
Exodus 15:13 “Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.”
1 Chron 17:21 “to be His own people”
From them God would build a “house” :
“Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.” (1 Chron 17:24)
- Ruth by Boaz
Ruth chapter 4
Boaz is a close kinsman – redeemed by a person, a close relative.
Redemption here is both of:
- Property – as per Leviticus 25
- Person – Ruth herself, probably not as a consequence of the levirate laws of marriage in Deuteronomy 25 which applies to:
This was not what transpired in the book of Ruth:
- Boaz was a near kinsmen (Ruth 3:12,13), not a brother and Naomi perceived no levirate right per se of redemption by Boaz.
- Naomi seems quite clear regarding levirate marriage in Ruth 1:11ff this would depend upon her having another son.
- Boaz credits the choice of Ruth as the cause of the union rather than legal rights per se “Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified forever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.” (Ruth 3:10)
- Once the son is born he is credited to Boaz (Ruth 4:21) and not Mahlon
This does not fulfil the criteria we know of for levirate but rather fits better with the legislation given as a consequence of the problems raised by the daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27 and 36.
It appears to have been their faithfulness and commitment to ensuring their inheritance in Numbers chapter 27 and the subsequent issues which arose in Numbers 36 with legislation that committed the daughter who inherits her fathers property to marry within the tribe. The faithfulness of the daughters of Zelophehad had unexpected consequences, reaching far beyond the daughters of Zelophehad! Their faithfulness in a sense turned the course of history, bringing to pass the marriage of Ruth and Boaz and thus the line of David and of Messiah!
Boaz contributed to “building the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:6)
In the Old Testament we see the redemption of:
- People
- Places – land
- Property – houses
- Possessions
There is a transfer of ownership, release by ransom
In NT redemption is uniquely of people
Redemption in the OT:
- By silver
- By money
- By blood
Redemption in the NT – uniquely by blood
Redemption is a legal phenomenon
Redemption; released from:
Satan – cf Pharaoh
System – world
Slavery
Service
Sin
Released from that which has power and authority over me
In Ephesians we have the substance of the type and picture:
- Ransom – by blood
- Release – forgiveness of sins
- Relationship established (Ephesians 1:5-6)
It is from sin and it’s power we have been redeemed
- Galatians 3:13
- 1 Peter 1:18
- Romans 3:24
- Ephesians 1:7
- Colossians 1:14
- Hebrews 9:12
Ephesians 2:1ff
Practical challenge:
My salvation is part of redemption
As a Christian maybe I am happy to accept justification, but what of redemption?
Are there things I must leave behind?
- Satan
- Sin
- Self
- System
What holds me back?
- Ananias and Sapphira – wealth
- Demas – world
- Rich young man – wealth and self
- Corinth – Satan and idols
- Colossae – spirits and false Gods
Practical consequences of my redemption:
- I have been bought out from the power of sin – PAST, I was not purchased to be left in the old life but brought out of Egypt, Moab, Haran.
- This answers one of the great questions thrown at the gospel; am I saying that simply by professing faith I can be saved? I can receive salvation and just live as I please? Justification is part of redemption (Romans 3:26)
- Purpose and prospect – the best is yet to come (Ephesians 1:14)
Consider Ruth and her redemption
- Redemption of a person
- Redeemed by a near kinsman – Boaz
- Redeemed to become a bride.
Dr J Stewart Gillespie