The Bible uses the term and concept of redemption, but what does redemption mean?
In the Bible, redemption refers to the act of saving or delivering. It is a central theme throughout the entire Bible, starting from the Old Testament and continuing all the way through the New Testament.
The book of Exodus tells how God redeemed his people from slavery through the leadership of Moses, the ten plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea.
However, this theme of redemption extends far beyond physical liberation. The ultimate act of redemption in the Bible comes through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. As Paul said, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” (Galatians 3:13).
This emphasizes the sacrificial nature of Jesus’ death on the cross, where he paid the price for our sins and offered redemption to all who believe in him.
The concept of redemption is closely tied to the biblical understanding of salvation. God saves us from the power and consequences of sin through the work of Jesus Christ.
Redemption involves restoration and reconciliation. Through Christ, we are not only saved but also restored to a right relationship with God.
To illustrate this:
The story is told of a little boy who worked for months carving and building a little toy boat. When it was finally done, he took it to the nearby river. He put it into the water, watched it float downstream, and then ran to retrieve it. He took it back to the starting place and did it all over again. After a few times, the boat got away from him. In sadness he watched the boat float away to be lost forever.
A few days later, he was walking past a resale store near him. He looked into the window and there was his boat. He went inside to tell the man that was his boat which he lost. The man told him that he would give it to him for a price. Hearing the price, the boy went home and got the money. He returned to the store and bought back the boat.
Exiting the store, he said to the boat, “You are mine. First, because I made you. Second because when you were lost, I bought you back.”
That is the story of redemption. We are redeemed.
Lonnie Davis
This restoration enables us to experience the fullness of life and to fulfill our true purpose.
Lonnie Davis