Justification Series: Justification in Relation to Redemption

Romans 3:24 teaches that justification is not only a gift of God’s grace but that it is also made possible by the work of redemption that Jesus Christ accomplished with His voluntary, substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. 21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV84)

“Through the redemption” is composed of the preposition dia, “through” and the articular genitive feminine singular form of the noun apolutrosis, “the redemption.”

The noun apolytrōsis (ἀπολύτρωσις) means “redemption” since the word pertains to buying back a slave thus making him free by payment of a ransom, the act of release or state of being resulting in release or redemption” (Matt. 20:25-30; Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7; 1:14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:5-6; Heb. 9:15; 11:35).

The word was used was used in secular Greek as a technical term for money paid to buy back and set free prisoners of war or to emancipate, to liberate a person from subjection or domination, to free from restraint, control, or the power of another) slaves from their masters.

It would have been a very meaningful term to the first century reader as there were by some accounts up to 60 million slaves in the Roman Empire!

Many of these slaves became Christians and fellowshipped in the local assemblies.

A slave could purchase his own freedom, if he could collect sufficient funds or his master could sell him to someone who would pay the price and set him free.

Redemption was a precious thing in Paul’s day.

The noun apolytrōsis (ἀπολύτρωσις) appears ten times in the Greek New Testament where its usage can be divided into three categories: (1) Soteriological: The study of salvation. (2) Eschatological: The study of future things. (3) Release of a prisoner (Heb. 11:35-36).

In Romans 3:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, Colossians 1:14, and Hebrews 9:15, the word refers to the Lord Jesus Christ “purchasing” the entire human race out of the slave market of sin by means of His voluntary, substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross.

So therefore, in Romans 3:24, Paul employs the word in a soteriological sense.

“Redemption” refers to that aspect of Christ’s finished work on the cross-that “purchased” all of humanity out of the slave market of sin.

The noun apolytrōsis (ἀπολύτρωσις) functions as a “genitive of means” indicating the “instrumentality” or “means” by which God declares a sinner justified.

Therefore, as a “genitive of means” the noun apolutrosisindicates that the redemption is “the means, which makes possible for God to declare the sinner justified.

Where the instrumental of means charis, “grace” answers the question as to “why” or on “what basis” God can declare the sinner justified, the genitive of means apolutrosis, “redemption” answers the question as to “how” God can justify the sinner.

Where the instrumental of means charis, “grace” indicates that God’s grace is the “basis” in which He can declare the sinner justified, the genitive of means apolutrosis, “redemption” indicates the “means” by which He can do so.

This is not a “genitive of agency” even though apolutrosisis the object of the preposition dia, which ordinarily indicates “intermediate agency” with the genitive case.

The reason for this is that the noun apolutrosisdoes not signify a personal agent by whom the action in view is accomplished.

The Bible teaches that the entire world is born into the slave market of sin and that only the Lord Jesus Christ who is impeccable and truly free from sin can redeem the world from the slave market of sin (See John 8:31-36).

One of the results of our Lord’s substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross is that He redeemed the entire human race out from the slave market of sin.

“Redemption” refers to that aspect of Christ’s finished work on the cross-that “purchased” all of humanity out of the slave market of sin and is appropriated through the non-meritorious decision to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Redemption is one of the three major doctrines of Soteriology: (1) Redemption: inward (2) Reconciliation: manward (3) Propitiation: Godward.

The doctrine of redemption refers to the fact that Jesus Christ’s spiritual and physical deaths on the cross were a substitutionary ransom for the benefit of each and every member of the human race.

These unique substitutionary deaths redeemed the entire human race out from the slave market of sin in which each and every member of the human race was born physically alive but spiritually dead.

There are many references in the New Testament to the Lord Jesus Christ “purchasing” the entire human race out of the slave market of sin by means of His voluntary, substitutionary spiritual and physical deaths on the cross.

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransomfor many.” (ESV)

1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption. (NASB95)

1 Corinthians 6:20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (ESV)

Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemedus from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (ESV)

Ephesians 1:7 Because of whom, each one of us are experiencing that which is the redemption through His blood, namely the forgiveness of our transgressions according to His infinite grace. (Pastor’s translation)

Colossians 1:14 In union with whom, we are experiencing the redemption, specifically the forgiveness of our sins. (Pastor’s translation)

1 Timothy 2:1 Therefore, based upon my previous statements, I first of all urgently request specific detailed requests, reverential prayers, intercessory prayers, thanksgivings be regularly offered up on behalf of each and every member of the human race, 2 on behalf of kings as well as each and every one of those individuals who are in authority in order that we may continue to live a peaceful and tranquil life with absolute godliness as well as dignity. 3 This is, as an eternal spiritual truth noble as well as pleasingly acceptable in the judgment of God the Father, our Savior 4 who, as an eternal spiritual truth desires each and every member of the human race to be saved as well as to enter into knowing experientially the truth. 5 For you see there does exist, as an eternal spiritual truth only one God. Also, there does exist, as an eternal spiritual truth only one intermediary between God the Father and the human race, a human being, namely Christ, who is Jesus 6 who gave Himself as a ransom on behalf of each and every one as a substitute, the testimony at His appointed time. (Pastor’s translation)

Titus 2:11 For the grace originating from God has been manifested offering salvation for the benefit of each and every member of the human race. 12 It simultaneously instructs us that we are to live in a self-controlled manner, righteously as well as godly during this present age while rejecting that which is characterized as ungodliness, specifically, that which is characterized as worldly desires. 13 The means of doing this which benefits ourselves is by making it our habit of anticipating the confident expectation which is characterized by transcendent happiness, specifically, the appearing of the Glory who is our great God as well as Savior, namely Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself on behalf of each and every one of us as a substitute so as to set each and every one of us free from each and every lawless action as well as to purify a special people for Himself who are dedicated to performing excellent works. (Pastor’s translation)

Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (ESV)

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Redeemer of the entire human race as a result of His experiencing a substitutionary spiritual and physical death on the cross on behalf of all of sinful humanity.

He is mankind’s Kinsman-Redeemer.

The Lord is the Redeemer of Israel (Ps. 78:35; Isa. 43:14; 44:24; 49:7; 54:5, 8; 60:16). He is redeemer of the Church (1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7, 14; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14).

A Kinsman-Redeemer must be related to the one who is being redeemed and must be able to afford the ransom price and thus fulfill its righteous demands. Our Lord fulfilled this in His incarnation by becoming true humanity.

As our Kinsman-Redeemer, our Lord had to be like us.

The second Person of the Trinity became a man (John 1:14; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:14; 1 John 1:1).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Redeemer of mankind and the only sacrifice that God will accept (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; 1 Tim. 2:6).

He is the only one qualified to be mankind’s Redeemer due to the fact that He is impeccable (1 Pet. 1:19).