Purchase & Redemption — Redeemed — Part 5

 

REDEEMED

Now let’s speak about being redeemed. redemption includes being bought, but goes beyond that to take in the thought of being set free. The meaning given in any good Bible dictionary is “bought back and set free.”  It indicates that there is a change of condition. there is not just a change of ownership — a change of masters (as in “bought”); there is also a change of condition.

The great emphasis in “redeemed” is being set free. Both persons and things need to be set free. you might ask, “set free from what?” Firstly, from sin and its enslaving power and effects (Romans 6:18; Tit. 2:14; Ps. 130:8). men don’t like to admit that they are in bondage and under the control of the sins in their life. They are honestly deceived, thinking that the life they live is not bondage, but it just points to the solemn fact of sin’s blinding power. Romans 3:9 says; “We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.” Also Proverbs 5:22 says, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” And again in John 8:34, “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” Apart from the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, all men, Jew or Gentile, are under the dominion and power of sin, and need to be set free. Receiving by faith the truth of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus will make one “free indeed” (John 8:32,36)

Not only do men need to be set free, but so do things in the creation. It has all been affected by sin. Presently it is under the bondage of corruption” and has largely been spoiled (Romans 8:20-22), though there is still much in the creation that we can enjoy, even in its fallen condition.

Secondly, all persons and things need to be set free from Satan. He dominates all his subjects, and is doing all he can to keep them in his grasp. Luke 11:21-22 says, When a strong man armed keepth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” Satan is the “strong man” here. His “goods” are his poor sin-sick subjects under his dominion. They are “in peace” because he has deceived them into thinking that everything is fine (2 Cor. 4:4). They are not concerned about their soul’s destiny. The “stronger” Man is the Lord Jesus, Who, by His redeeming power, sets sinners free so that they can live for God’s glory. the point here is that the redemption that is in Christ Jesus sets people free from Satan’s dominion. When His work in redemption is received by faith it turns people “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13-14; Heb. 2:14-15)

Satan also controls much of this world’s goods. he said to the Lord, “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomosever I will I give it” (Luke 4:6). This too, needs to be redeemed.

Thirdly, all persons and things need to be set free from the course of this world. Satan uses the world system to control his subjects. The course of this world is a powerful thing that makes people act and speak the way they do. They need to delivered from it, and where it leads to — judgment. “Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:3-4)

You might ask, “How are material things governed or controlled by the world?” Sad to say, most of the best spots on earth, as far as beauty are concerned, have been sized by worldly men for worldly interests and pleasures. Much of it has been commercialized and ordered by worldly principles. The creation must be set free from this world system, and it will be don through judgment when the Lord comes at His appearing.

All three of these things work together to dominate and control the sinner, and keep him in bondage. “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,  according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh,  fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Eph. 2:2-3).

If a person were a Jew, redemption would also include being set free from the curse of the law. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3:13; 4:4-5). A Gentile, of course, does not need to be set free form the claims of the law, because he has never been formally under the law. ….

Next Time…. “The Difference Between Purchase (bought) and Redemption”