8.12.2001 | CHRISTIAN TERMINOLOGY- “Redeemer, Redemption”

Intro…Buried in debt...we repay it slowly and with interest….wouldn’t it be nice if someone would come along and pay that debt, free us, take that burden away?

Redeem is one of those terms we hear both in and outside of the church.
When you hear the word redeem, what comes to mind?

Redeem, some definitions:

• To turn in and receive something in exchange, recycle aluminum ...
• To redeem a coupon
• To rescue or ransom
• To save from sin and it’s consequences. (Websters)

“Your redemption begins when you cease to tolerate sin.”

Redemption, some definitions:

• Deliverance upon payment of ransom: rescue... Movie clip 1 Peter 1:18-19
• Through Christ’s death we are rescued or redeemed, the ultimate act of redemption. Christ is the redeemer.
• POD…? Sound bite….
• Salvation from sin through Christ’s sacrifice. (Websters) Isn’t it interesting how Websters chose to put this definition in there? What about other religions?

Thesis: Our sins are paid for through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Biblical background, OT and NT:

• Old Testament: “To redeem, deliver, avenge, act as a kinsman”
• Used 90 times in OT, (Pentateuch, Psalms, Isaiah, Ruth)
• Genesis 48:16 “To deliver from all harm”,
• Lev. 25:39, 47…”A poor man may’ve sold himself to a fellow Israelite or to a foreigner living in Israel. The responsibility to “redeem” this person, fell to the nearest relative.

Ruth tells that story the best…

- Famine in Judah, Elimelech and Naomi take their two sons, Mahlon and Kilion to Moab.
- Emelech dies, Mahlon and Kilion marry to Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.
- Mahlon and Kilion die, leaving Naomi, Orpah and Ruth…
- Naomi needs to leave...Orpah stays, Ruth goes with her…
- They go back to Bethlehem where the food is…
- Enter Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s.
- Boaz meets Ruth, takes care of her and protects her….2:14-16
- 19-20 Boaz is the kinsmen redeemer..
- The eventually got married, had a son (Obed) with lineage all the way to Jesus...

This is an obvious and beautiful example of how Christ redeems us. He finds us without a family, takes us in, calls us his own. We become “related” to God.
OT speaks of God: “With your mighty arm you redeem your people.”

New Testament:

• “to buy up” “buying up the opportunity, redeeming the time.” Gal. 3:13, Eph. 5:16, Col. 4:5,
• “To release on receipt of ransom”, Luke 24:21, Titus 2:14
• Hebrews 9:12, “The redemptive work of Christ.”

“The very idea of redemption implies a spiritual necessity.” Simone Weil

Hopefully, you have a better idea now…at least in a “definition” sense...

Romans 3:21-26 Nugs:

• vs. 21 How do we get righteous or right with God? How is the ransom paid? (It’s HIS plan not ours… It’s not just following the laws and rules.)
• vs. 22, KEY: Comes from God, through faith in JC to all who believe.
• vs. 23-24 “Justified” freely, “A legal term meaning to secure a favorable verdict, to acquit, to declare righteous. It is always and act of God.
• Redemption: 1. Paying the ransom with the blood of Christ. 2. Removal from the curse of the law (trying to get to God by just following all the rules and usually feeling self-righteous about it…). 3. Release from the bondage of sin into the freedom of grace.
  

The whole Bible tells the story of redemption…

- Adam and Eve, God extended grace. They chose fig leaves, God provided animal skin.
- Israelites led out of bondage. Blood of the Passover lamb sprinkled on the door posts.
- Moses/his people rescued at the Red Sea, wondering the desert, food supplied
- NT, Jesus came as the perfect sacrifice.
- When he died on the cross, he said: “It is finished” literally: “paid in full.” Same word used to stamp across bills when they were paid. The debt was canceled, the ransom paid.

This is so important to know because we could never pay this ransom ourselves. Like in the movie, we try to come up with all we can to pay for our wrongs. In reality, there is nothing we can do.
What have you been trying to pile on your table to pay for your salvation? ….others?

Conclusion:

- Zach and I build a model airplane and fly it at Kate Sessions…
- God buys us back with a price worth way more than money.

Now that it’s been explained, what do you need to do about it? How do you need to apply Christ’s redemption to your life?

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