Redemption Through His Blood

Introduction:

1. Redemption is a grand gospel theme (Job 19:25-27; Ps 49:15; Luke 1:68; 2:38; 24:21; Rom 3:24; 8:23; I Cor 1:30; Gal 3:13; 4:5; Eph 1:7,14; Col 2:14; Tit 2:14; Heb 9:11-15; I Pet 1:18-20; Rev 5:9).
2. Our all wise and only wise God has chosen a variety of terms to give us the full picture of salvation.
3. These terms, like pardon or sanctification, are economic, forensic, relational, familial, religious, etc.
4. We call them facets of salvation; we want to explore salvation like the many facets of a diamond.
5. For facets of your salvation.

Definition of Redemption

1. The economic or financial transaction of buying something or someone back from another that has a legitimate and binding claim against it.
   1. Redeem. To buy back (a thing formerly possessed); to make payment for (a thing held or claimed by another). To free (mortgaged property), to recover (a person or thing put in pledge), by payment of the amount due, or by fulfilling some obligation. To ransom, liberate, free (a person) from bondage, captivity, or punishment; to save (one’s life) by paying a ransom.
   2. God redeemed Israel out of Egypt by buying them back from their masters through plagues and death and confiscation of their wealth by His mighty arm (Ex 6:6; 15:13; Deut 7:8; 9:26; 13:5; 15:15; 21:8; 24:18; II Sam 7:23; I Chr 17:21; Neh 1:10; Ps 74:2; 77:15; 106:10; 107:2; 111:9; Isaiah 63:9; Hosea 7:13; Micah 6:4).
   3. Redeeming time, which is to recover or increase that scarce resource, is by giving up things that foolishly consume time (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5).
2. Firstborns were to be God’s, but lambs redeemed asses (Ex 13:12-16; Num 18:15-17).
   1. Asses were unclean, since God did not like them, yet all firstborn males were His.
   2. Can you imagine the profanity of offering an ass as a sacrifice on the altar of God?
   3. You had two choices when a male ass was born – break its neck or offer a lamb.
   4. A lamb was acceptable to God and could be offered religiously to God on an altar.
   5. Grasp the illustration of redemption: you are the ass, unclean and unacceptable to God, so He killed His Son as the Lamb to redeem you from breaking your neck.
3. A maidservant wife could be redeemed from her unhappy master (Ex 21:8; Le 19:20).
   1. Fathers could get in such desperate financial situations they sold their daughters.
   2. God knew such a situation would result in “marriage,” though only a concubine.
   3. If a master did not like a girl after having her a while, she could then be redeemed.
   4. Imagine twin sisters being sold this way, and they could not pay their redemption.
   5. Imagine a rich bachelor buying and marrying one and another adopting the other.
   6. Think that you sold yourself to the devil and Christ has married and adopted you!
4. Levites redeemed Israel’s firstborn, except 273 extra by five shekels (Num 3:39-51).
   1. After Egypt, all firstborn males were the Lord’s, either in sacrifice or redeemed.
   2. The firstborn males older than a month of all Israel were a total of 22,273 firstborn.
   3. The firstborn males older than a month of the tribe of Levi were a total of 22,000.
   4. God accepted the males of Levi as the redemption for the males of the other tribes.
   5. The 273 males of the tribes that outnumbered Levi were redeemed for five shekels.
5. There are many other examples of redemption under the Law of Moses from God.
   1. Redemption of land bought it back from buyer (Le 25:23-28; Ru 4:3-10; Je 32:7-8).
   2. Redemption of indentured servants in Israel meant to buy them back (Le 25:47-55).
   3. God gave values to redeem persons (Le 27:1-8; Ne 5:5,8), beasts (Lev 27:9-13), houses (Lev 27:14-15; 25:29-34), fields (Lev 27:16-25), sundry (Lev 27:26-34).
6. Redemption for Israel was by God’s mercy to forgive their iniquities (Psalm 130:7-8).
7. Patriarchs knew God as Redeemer – delivering from trouble (Ge 48:16; Isaiah 29:22).
8. Job and his three friends also knew God as a redeemer from trouble (Job 5:20; 6:23).
9. David knew God as redeemer – able to deliver from evil (II Sam 4:9; I Kgs 1:29; Ps 19:14; 25:22; 26:11; 31:5; 34:22; 44:26; 29:18; 71:23; 72:14; 78:35; 103:4; 136:24).
10. God was Israel’s redeemer – delivering from Babylon and sending Christ (Neh 1:10; Psalm 107:2; Isaiah 1:27; 35:9; 41:14; 43:1,14; 44:6,22-24; 47:4; 48:17,20; 49:7,26; 50:2; 51:11; 52:3,9; 54:5,8; 59:20; 60:16; 62:12; 63:4,16; Jeremiah 15:21; 31:11; 50:34; Lamentations 3:58; Micah 4:10; Zech 10:8).
11. God is a redeemer for His ability to deliver the fatherless from oppressors (Pr 23:11).
12. Destruction of Jerusalem and enemies of Christians was a redemption (Luke 21:28).

Need of Redemption

1. We are under the claim of another, and payment must be made to buy our freedom.
2. All men are condemned to death by Adam’s original sin imputed to us (Rom 5:12-19).
3. Moses’ Law, whether in stone or conscience, also condemns us (Ro 5:20-21; Gal 4:5).
4. The wages of sin is death, and God is faithful to pay all wages He owes (Rom 6:23).
5. What is the claim against us? Who holds it? What did He demand for the payment?
   1. The claim was righteous condemnation to eternal torment for Adam’s and our sins.
   2. God held the claim – He damned Adam and Eve, drowned the whole earth, etc.
   3. He demanded death – the wages of sin – He gave three: spiritual, physical, eternal.
6. Regardless of great wealth, no man can by any means redeem his brother (Ps 49:6-9).
7. The need for redemption from sin moved men (Luke 1:68; 2:38; 24:21; Job 19:25-27).

Source of Redemption

1. The Almighty God has the claims of sin against us, so redemption is His great work.
   1. He has the claim and right of our damnation, so He must redeem us from Himself!
   2. The entire creation and universe is to display His glory (Prov 16:4; Rom 9:21-24).
   3. An offence against the infinite God created an infinite charge and claim against us.
   4. He cannot acquit or clear without payment, so redemptive buyback is necessary.
   5. We are not redeemed from the devil; it is mainly God that has a claim against us.
   6. Satan had a role in our condemnation, so redemption includes his ruin (Heb 2:14).
2. God made Jesus our redemption two ways for His glory and only His (I Cor 1:29-31).
3. Redemption is by God’s sovereign grace and prudent wisdom (Ro 5:15-21; Ep 1:7-8).
4. Jesus entered God’s presence and obtained eternal redemption for us (Heb 9:11-15).
   1. It required one presentation of His blood, the evidence of death, to Almighty God.
   2. The holy of holies on earth was only an obscure figure of the presence of God.
   3. The offering crucial for our salvation is Jesus Christ’s offering to God, not to us.
   4. Jesus the Lamb did not have a spot of sin or any other blemish to taint redemption.
   5. The comparison here to the Day of Atonement in context is valuable (9:1-10).
   6. It was by means of death – the bloody death of the cross – we were redeemed.
   7. For the Day of Atonement.
5. There is only one Redeemer (no plural in the Bible), and He only should be exalted.
   1. There is only one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (I Ti 2:5).
   2. Catholics blaspheme with Mary as Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix with our Jesus!

Price of Redemption

1. To satisfy infinite and perfect justice, God sent a perfect Substitute to make payment.
   1. Jesus stood in as the Last Adam with great superiority to the first (Rom 5:15-19).
   2. Jesus hung on a cross for the Law curse for redemption (Rom 5:20-21; Gal 3:13).
   3. Jesus was slain so that His blood could redeem us from the earth to God (Rev 5:9).
2. It is declared often to be by Christ’s blood, and that by God’s decree (I Pet 1:18-20).
   1. Redemption here, like ransom for a captured or kidnapped family, is usually cash.
   2. Corruptible things, all that exists in the world, are insufficient for an immortal soul.
   3. No man can by any means give God a ransom for his or another’s soul (Ps 49:6-9).
   4. A similar word was earlier, where incorruptible described eternal inheritance (1:4).
   5. The infinite, eternal Spirit of Jehovah is not bought by anything you have known.
   6. His holy and righteous nature requires much more than anything you can imagine.
   7. Gold and silver are precious metals, taking on the role of money contrary to others.
   8. Jesus redeemed us from claims of God’s law by payment of His precious blood.
3. Jesus Christ’s blood represents the death of Jesus, for the life of a man is in the blood.
   1. The important relation between blood and life of the body is revealed (Lev 17:11).
   2. Avoid separating the blood of Jesus or His cross from His death, for death is key (I Cor 1:17-18; Gal 5:11; 6:12,14; Eph 2:16; Phil 3:18; Col 1:20; 2:14; Heb 12:2).
   3. Mel Gibson, promoting his movie, The Passion of the Christ, to many evangelical ministers explained that one drop of Jesus’ blood by a pin prick could redeem men.
4. Our religion is at great odds against all others – by the gospel of redemption by blood.
   1. God became a man in order to die for sins of enemies to adopt them is incredible!
   2. Their gods required they sacrifice their sons; our God killed His only Son for us.
   3. The doctrine of substitutionary atonement must never be compromised in any way.
5. Compare redemption by His blood to missionary efforts to save by raising money.
   1. What happens to many redeemed by Christ’s blood, if mission giving falls short?
   2. Did Jesus obtain eternal redemption or not? Did God accept the payment or not?
   3. God and Jesus guaranteed redemption (Jn 6:37-39; 10:26-29; 17:2-3; Ro 8:28-39).
   4. Jesus redeemed all God gave to Him (see also).

Benefits of Redemption

1. Forgiveness of our sins is by the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14).
2. God hates all workers of iniquity (Ps 5:5; Mat 7:23), but Jesus redeemed us (Tit 2:14).
3. The Law cursed us (Ro 5:20-21; Ga 3:10), but Jesus redeemed by its curse (Gal 3:13).
4. Eternal redemption and our eternal inheritance were by Christ’s blood (Heb 9:12-15).
5. Justification – declared righteous – is free due to Christ’s redemption (Romans 3:24).
6. Adoption – declared God’s sons – is on the basis of Christ’s redemption (Gal 4:4-5).

Future Redemption

1. God’s grace in Christ’s blood has more privileges – glorifying your body (Rom 8:23).
2. We have been sealed by the Holy Spirit as an earnest of this redemption (Ep 1:13-14).
3. We must divide scripture into phases, in order to allow a future redemption (Ep 4:30).
4. David knew about this redemption and wrote of it light of human vanity (Ps 49:15).
5. Hosea knew about this redemption and wrote of it regarding the grave (Hosea 13:14)
6. Liberating universe.

Similarities to Redemption

1. This subject can be expanded by adding other inspired terms related to redemption.
2. God bought us, so we are His property for pleasure and praise (I Cor 6:19-20; 7:23).
3. God purchased us with His own blood, so we are His by a great price (Acts 20:28).
4. The ransom of souls is precious, for the ransom amount was Christ’s life (Matt 20:28)

Heresies of Redemption

1. It is quite amusing the Arminian missionary effort depends entirely on cash receipts.
   1. If no gold or silver, thus the money-begging called deputation, all men go to hell.
   2. Missionaries miss the Commission was fulfilled (Mark 16:19-20; Col 1:6,23; etc.).
   3. Missionaries do not know the same Jesus told them not take money (Mark 6:7-9).
   4. They show hypocrisy and ignorance appealing to Mark 16 while rejecting Mark 6!
   5. Missionary societies have for years published the price it takes to save a lost soul.
   6. These folks did it for 61 cents (5,074,367 souls).
2. What is not amusing is less than 1% of Arminians believe their foolish soteriology.
   1. Arminians are guilty of genocide as they enjoy a good life that damns many souls.
   2. Their churches are far nicer than needed, often with gyms costing even more souls!
   3. It would be better to go naked and suffer shame, then buy clothes and damn souls!
   4. BJU is the worst – begging the last nickel from paying students and requiring prayers for missions, while having an extravagant, expensive Catholic art museum!
   5. We give labor and money to spread the gospel, but not for eternal life (II Ti 2:10).
3. There are religious traditions that are totally vain – without any merit, profit, or value.
   1. The Bible throughout mocks idiotic idolatry (Is 44:9-20; Jer 2:5,8,19; Acts 14:15).
   2. Roman Catholics pay for indulgences – for redemption from purgatory, hell, etc.
   3. Muslims think pilgrimage to Mecca, the fifth pillar or sacrament, gives eternal life.
   4. A religious practice either has divine proof for its validity and value, or it does not.
4. Religious tradition is powerful: parents by example or teaching brainwash children.
   1. Note that big Buddhists beget little Buddhists almost always with few exceptions.
   2. Therefore, give glory to God for your parents or for saving you from your parents!
   3. We hold religious tradition, but only of apostles and scripture (II Thess 2:15; 3:6).
5. Peter’s audience, scattered Jews (1:1), put confidence in money to redeem their souls.
   1. We do not charge Moses’ Law, though it involved expensive sacrifices and much giving, for it pointed clearly to Messiah throughout, Who would save by Himself.
   2. But Jews had a fetish fascination with money (Ps 69:9,22; Matt 19:16-26; 23:16-24; Mark 7:1-13; 11:15-19; John 2:13-17; Rom 11:9-10; Hos 12:7-8; Amos 8:4-7).
   3. The traditions of the elders were contrary to Moses and Jesus, and they involved excess involving money (Matt 6:1-4; 15:1-9; 23:16-24; John 2:13-17; Gal 1:14).
   4. Even the apostles adored the costly stones of the temple (Luke 21:5), though it was clear from scripture God did not care (Ps 50:7-13; Jer 7:4; Micah 6:7; Hag 2:8-9).

Results of Redemption

1. If you were redeemed from death by money, you would greatly honor your redeemer.
2. You were bought with a price; you are not your own; so glorify God (I Cor 6:19-20).
3. It is good to consider we are twice His – He made us, and He bought (redeemed) us.
4. Break forth into praise as they do in heaven for Christ’s redemption (Rev 5:9; 14:3-4).
5. Since our redemption was costly far beyond natural things, we surely owe our Father.
   1. What ROI do you give God? Return on investment? He invested His Son’s blood!
   2. What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us … to adopt as His own sons!

Conclusion:

1. You cannot activate redemption as most believe by an act of faith or works, for it has already been paid by Christ and accepted by God; condemnation was lifted from those in the beloved (Eph 1:3-6).
2. But you can beg God’s mercy and live a spiritual life to assure your heart it was paid for you (Matt 7:21-23; Mark 16:15-16; Rom 8:1-9; I Tim 6:17-19; Heb 5:9; II Pet 1:5-11; I John 5:18-19).
3. Is your conscience so moved by blood redemption that you will serve Him (Heb 9:14; II Pet 1:8-9)?
4. Are you thankful God took matters into His own hands to ransom you from death (Hosea 13:14)?
5. Are you thankful for the Ransom Himself and committed to living service to Him (II Cor 5:14-15)?

For Further Study:

1. Facets of Salvation.
2. Redemption of a Peculiar People.
3. I Have Found a Ransom.
4. The Doctrine of Satisfaction.
5. Forgiven!  
6. The Decease of Jesus.
7. The Transcendent Cross [46 links about Christ!]
8. Reconciled to God.
9. For more about the blood of Jesus Christ.
10. For more about the blood of Jesus Christ.