STUDY 15

STUDY No. 15 - REDEEMED BY CHRIST

It must be a terrible thing to be a SLAVE, to own no property, have no rights and belong to another person. Apart from escape, the only way to freedom was to purchase it.
All those whom Christ has redeemed (or paid the price for) are free from the slavery of sin. (See 1 Corinthians 6:20, Deuteronomy 7:8, Isaiah 6 1:1).

The word 'REDEMPTION’ can be used in two ways:

1. The setting at liberty a slave by the full payment of his ransom price;
2. The bringing back of something that had been sold, by paying its full price.

It is worth pondering the following:

Spiritually, redemption means the deliverance of a sinner from the bondage of sin and the guilt of sin by means of the Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He is the One Who redeems, and He is the price, or ransom, that was paid.

Imagine yourself a 'slave’. No-one is willing and no-one is able to pay the price of your release ..... then Christ comes and says: "I can and I will."

PICTURES OF REDEMPTION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

1	ISRAEL	Exodus 6:6
2	ATONEMENT MONEY	Exodus 30:12-15
3	FIRSTBORN	Exodus 13:12,15
4	BONDSERVANT	Leviticus 25:47-54

Read Leviticus 25:25-27
Why did the man have to sell all his possessions? Who alone redeems them?

Read Psalm 19:14
How did David know God as redeemer?

Notice in Ruth 4:1-8:
                   (a) Boaz had to be a near kinsman;
                   (b) Boaz had to be able to pay the price;
                   (c) Boaz had to be willing to pay it!
In these respects, is Boaz not a "type" of Christ?’

Isaiah 59:20 Has this been fulfilled?
Will it yet be fulfilled?

It is worth noting at this point that in the word of God, promises/prophecies sometimes have a twofold fulfilment. Our Lord Jesus Christ came (as a baby); He will come again as a King. He came to die on a cross for us. He will come as Judge to sentence the wicked and those who do not believe in Him.

LET'S LOOK AT REDEMPTION IN MORE DEPTH:

There are three Greek words used to express the thought of redemption:

        'agorazo' - to purchase in the market (slave)
        'exagorazo' - to buy OUT of the market (slave)
        'lutroo' - to pay the ransom for, and so release from slavery

Mark 10:45
What were the two main purposes of Christ coming to earth?

Galatians 3:10
What was Christ made in order that we might be redeemed?

Galatians 4:4-6
What are the two final results of our being redeemed?

1 Timothy 2:5,6
How do we know that the death of Christ was desiqned?

Notice in 1 Peter 1:18,19:
              (a) the purchase price of redemption;
                (b) the purity of our Redeemer;
                (c) the persons for whom He paid.

Notice also in Revelation 5:9: - The theme of the ages, the song of the saints:

"Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood." We had better get in good voice and learn to understand it all while we can down here!

Any good at poetry? Can you finish these lines?

"Forgive me Lord, for it is true, On Thee my guilt was laid.
My punishment Thy body bore, By Thee my ---- --- ----" *

THE CONDITIONS WE MUST FULFIL

In the first instance:

WE MUST HEAR THE REDEEMER’S PROMISE.

WE MUST BELIEVE IN THE REDEEMER’S ABILITY.

WE MUST EXERCISE PERSONAL FAITH IN HIM.

Would this definition of FAITH describe a slave's attitude to someone who has paid for his liberty?

                                            Forsaking
                                            All
                                             I
                                            Take
                                            Him

Why are so many not redeemed? See John 8:32
Notice how redemption is linked with truth in Psalm 31:5
And so......... It is vital that we spread the truth of God

No wonder William Cowper (1731-1800) was moved to write these lines:

"Ere since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply
REDEEMING love has been my theme, And shall be till I die!"

*.....debt was paid"

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