Redemption

 

This page is a resource that we use for Christian bible study. We have developed some of the information on this page and we have borrowed information from other studies which are freely available. Our intent is to provide a study resource that we can access when traveling. We do not disagree with anyone's personal interpretation of scripture and our thoughts are not offered as an argument for the perspective from our understanding of this revelation. Please feel free to read or use the study material if it is of help. Thank you // JL|©

 

It sometimes seems that the spiritual principles of redemption and salvation get interchanged during bible study ... it's probably not too   surprising as both are closely linked to principles for faith and righteousness ... this study looks specifically at principles related to spiritual redemption ...which ... seems to offer two changes for our life:

 

 Gal. 4: 9  

... now that you have come to know God, or rather be known by God ...

 
 James 4: 8  

... draw near to God and he will draw near to you ...

 
 Isa. 59: 1 - 2  

... the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; or his ear dull that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you so that he does not hear ...

 

 

 

Select New Testament references regarding Redemption:

 

Rom. 3; 24 ... "... through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus ..."

1 Cor. 1; 30 ... "... in Christ, Jesus ... who became for us ... wisdom of God ... righteousness ... sanctification ... and ... redemption ..."

Ep. 1; 7 ... "... in Him ... we have redemption ... through ... his blood ... the forgiveness of sins ... according to ... the richness of his grace ..."

Col. 1; 14 ... "... we have redemption ... through his blood ... the forgiveness of sins ..."

 

The Greek word translated as redemption in these verses is the verb: "apolutrosis" ... this word is actually a composit of the verb "luo" which means to loosen and the prefix: "apo" which adds the concept of "off" or "away" ... perhaps to "separate" ... so ... perhaps redemption is used in this context to indicate that we have been separated from the binding force of sin ... this same image is also used in Old Testament references which use the Hebrew word: "padah", a verb, often translated as redeem or redemption which similarly has the meaning to "sever" or "release" or "ransom" ... note this verse: Zechariah 10; 8 - 12 ... "... I will gather them ... I will redeem them ... they shall increase ... I will sow them among ... peoples ... they shall remember me ... in far countries ... they shall return ... I will ... bring them back ... I will strengthen them ... in the Lord ... they shall walk up and down ... in His name ..."

 

 

An Old Testament reference regarding Redemption:

 

Isaiah 43; 1 - 12 ... "... says the Lord ... I have redeemed you ... I have called you by your name ... I will be with you ... I am the Lord your God ... you are precious in my sight ... I have loved you ... I am with you ... everyone who is called by my name ... I have created for my glory ... you are my witnesses ... whom I have chosen ... that you may know and believe me ... and ... understand that I am He ... before me ... there was no God ... nor ... shall there be after me ... I ... am the Lord ... beside me ... there is no Savior ... you are my witnesses ... that I am God ... "

 

The Greek word translated as redeemed in this verse is the noun: "gawal" ... this word means "next of kin" ... with the connotation of "keeping something in the family" ... this meaning is a little different from the verbs apolutrosis and padah ... they describe the action which redemption has on our life ... we are loosened and separate from the burden of sin ... in contrast ... the noun gawal describes the responsibility which we have through the redemption which Jesus Christ purchased for us through his death and resurrection ... through redemption we become witnesses to, or if you prefer for, God ...

 

In this passage from Isaiah 43, the Hebrew word translated witness is "ayd" which throughout the Old Testament has that literal meaning ... a witness or testimony ... however ... it is derived from a root verb: "uwd" (spoken: ood) which means to "duplicate" or "repeat" or "restore" ... within the context of this study, duplicate seems a good term ... if you read back through this verse it does not seem to fit at first ... so ... we must ask ... what does God wish us to duplicate as a people redeemed, precious and chosen ? ... this verb "uwd" seems central to an understanding of redemption ... that is ... God's purpose in redeeming us ...

 

 

Continuing our study of Redemption:

 

 Lk. 24; 44 - 49 ... Jesus, after his resurrection, addressing his disciples ... "... these ... words ... I spoke to you while I was still with you ... all things must be fulfilled ... which were written in ... the Law of Moses ... the Prophets ... and ... the Psalms ... concerning me ... it was necessary for the Christ to suffer ... and ... to rise from the dead ... on ... the third day ... that ... repentance ... and ... remission of sins ... should be preached ... to all nations ... you are witnesses of these things ... I send the Promise of my Father ... upon you ... tarry in ... Jerusalem ... until you are endued ... with ... Power from on high ..."

Acts 1; 8 ... Jesus, again after his resurrection, addressing his disciples ... "... you will receive power ... when ... the Holy Spirit ... has come upon you ... you shall be witnesses ... to me ... to the end of the earth ..."

 

In the next four verses we'll look at statements by Peter which reference the apostles as witnesses ... in deed we pretty much define apostle in the context of those individuals who were physically present to witness the life and death of Jesus Christ ... we would never challenge that perspective ... though ... within in the context of this study, it seems fair to consider "witness" within the context of the Hebrew verb "uwd" ... Jesus has died and been raised from the dead ... he and the Father are sending the Holy Spirit to the Church ... they, the apostles, are to be witnesses or perhaps it's more appropriate to say they are witnesses ... witnesses within the context of having seen and been present during the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ ... also ... perhaps, witnesses within the context that they are to duplicate something ...

 

Acts 2; 32 ... Peter speaking ... "... Jesus ... God ... has raised up ... we are ... witnesses ..."

Acts 3; 15 ... Peter speaking ... "... killed ... the Prince of life ... whom ... God ... raised from the dead ... we are witnesses ..."

Acts 5; 30 - 32 ... Peter speaking ... "... God ... raised up Jesus ... whom ... you murdered ... God has exalted to His right hand ... Prince and Savior ... to give ... repentance ... and ... forgiveness of sins ... we are His witnesses ... and ... so also ... is the Holy Spirit ... whom ... God ... has given ... to those who obey Him ..."

Acts 10; 34 - 43 ... Peter speaking ... "... God shows no partiality ... in every nation ... who ever has reverence for Him ... and works righteousness ... is accepted ... by Him ... we are witnesses ... of all things ... which He (Jesus) ... did ... Him God raised ... on the third day ... who ever believes in Him ... will receive ... remission of sins ..."

 

If we continue to focus on the Hebrew verb "uwd" and our preferred translation: to duplicate  ... perhaps we should try to identify just what God wishes us to duplicate ... redemption is an action which God undertook for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ ... God may interact with many other peoples of faith in many beliefs ... however ... as Christian, we alone, have this gift of redemption through Jesus Christ ... redemption loosens the power which sin can exert in an individual's life and opens an opportunity for a personal relationship with God through our faith in Jesus Christ and the action of the Holy Spirit ... we should remember that redemption is not an exclusion principle ... it is inclusive to all peoples because all peoples are invited to believe in Jesus Christ ... that said, we should also remember that God establishes and maintains relationship with many peoples of many faiths ... the faith of all peoples is a relationship between God and an individual ... as Christians and within the context of this study on Christian redemption, it appears that the redeemed Christian is required to duplicate something ... both as individuals and within the context of the local church ... this action does not gain us redemption for that was "purchased" through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus ... rather ... we are redeemed for God's purpose ... perhaps one aspect of that purpose is to duplicate something ... what ???

 

One answer seems to be in the reference:  1 John 4; 6 - 21 ... "... we are of God ... let us love one another ... for love is of God ... God is love ... in ... love ... God ... sent ... His ... Son ... that ... we might live through Him ... this is love ... not that we love God ... but ... He loves us ... and ... sent His Son ... to be ... the propitiation ... for our sins ... if God so loves us ... we ought to love one another ... if we love one another ... God abides in us ... His love ... perfected ... in us ... we know that we abide in Him ... because ... He has given us ... His Spirit ... we ... testify ... that ... the Father ... has sent the Son ... as ... Savior of the world ... that ... Jesus is the Son of God ... love ... perfected ... that ... we ... may have boldness ... on the day of judgment ... there is no fear in love ... we love Him ... because ... He first loved us ... this is the commandment we have from Him ... he who loves God must love his brother also ..."

 

 

Additional Reference:

We often find the book of Ruth a good model for the study of redemption, some notes:

 

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