When I was a boy I remember my mom saving green and gold stamps that she received from grocery stores for her purchases. S&H Green Stamps and Gold Bond Stamps were that extra "perk" the stores hoped would bring in faithful, repeat customers. Are you old enough to remember them? I can see mom dutifully licking the stamps and putting them row by row into the savings books. Occasionally, when she had saved enough stamps, we'd make our way down to the "Redemption Center" where you could surrender your stamp-filled books to "redeem" the prize of your choice: a toaster, some glassware, or perhaps some cookware.
In this case, to "redeem" meant to "pay the price" of savings books of stamps to "purchase" the desired prize.
In Ephesians 1:7, "redemption" means "to pay a price to set the captive free." In NT times, the Roman Empire had a large population of slaves. The market where these slaves were sold was apparently a familiar place to Romans citizens. There a slave would be marketed and the "master" who desired to purchase the slave would pay the asking price to "redeem" him into his possession.
In CHRIST we have redemption. His very own life, taken away by unjust violence in the will of God, was the price paid to set us free from slavery to sin. The blood of Christ was the price for our freedom from sin's condemning penalty and controlling power. AND IT HAS BEEN PAID. We HAVE redemption through His blood.
WHAT a price! The life blood of the eternal Son of God/Son of Man. Did you happen to see THE PASSION of CHRIST movie? In spite of numerous non-biblical elements, it DID portray effectively the suffering of our Lord. Why did He suffer like a gutter-level criminal? "For Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a RANSOM for many" Mark 10:45. RANSOM is the technical name for the PAYMENT that redeems a slave. Christ's suffering was the suffering of the RANSOM payment for the sin of mankind.
Note:
- This payment could NOT have been more precious or costly. Any life is precious in the sight of God, especially human life, man made in the image of God. THIS human life was the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, who not only was man but was a PERFECT man. "He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth" 1 Peter 2:22. This was the Lamb of God without spot or blemish. And not only was He perfect, spotless man, He was the God/Man. There was DIVINE value to His life. In Acts 20:28 Paul speaks of "the church of God, which he obtained with HIS OWN BLOOD." Therefore, the value of this ransom payment was as infinite as the ONE who offered it up.
- This payment was FULL and FINAL. Just before Jesus breathed His last on the cross He uttered "It is finished!" John 19:30. This had the meaning of, "It is paid in full." With such a costly and infinitely valuable payment, even the debt of sin incurred by multiplied millions against the infinitely holy God was paid.
- A ransom payment was paid to free a slave FROM his present master to belong to another master. By Christ's blood we are freed from sin and Satan TO BELONG TO GOD. We are not our own masters. "You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. TRUE FREEDOM is to be a love slave of the Father who has ransomed us at the price of His Son's blood. Slavery to God is pure and undiluted joy.
Do you ever wonder if God loves you, if He is aware of your situation, if He cares? Wonder no longer. Look to the cross, where the PRICE of your REDEMPTION was paid, the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST..."according to the riches of [the Father's] grace" Ephesians 1:7. If that objective, historical demonstration of love is not enough to assure you and I of the Father's undying love, then nothing will ever do so. LOOK TO THE CROSS!
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