God's Story: Redemption

The Different Facets of God’s Work

1 Corinthians 1:30 NKJV

30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—

The work involved in restoring a relationship. A person brings harmony to two opposing people or parties like the restoring of a friendship.

Genesis 33:4 NKJV

4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

What is the word for this?

It is called RECONCILIATION

Jesus called this work being born again. Being born again is described a work of the Holy Spirit to produce a new creature in Christ Jesus.

John 3:3 NKJV

3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

What is the word for this?

It is called REGENERATION

In this activity, a person or a people in captivity obtains deliverance from people or forces that are overwhelming. This deliverance forces on a deliverer who has the ability and the wisdom to gain them freedom. God’s physical rescue of the Israelites points to the spiritual deliverance obtained by Jesus Christ

Daniel 3:17 NKJV

17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.

What is the word for this?

It is called RESCUE

This idea originated in the Old Testament which involved the buying back of a person from slavery or the securing the release of an object or person.

What is the word for this?

It is called REDEMPTION

Property can be

Leviticus 25:24–28 NKJV

24 And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. 25 ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. 26 Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, 27 then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. 28 But if he is not able to have it restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession.

Animals can be

Exodus 13:13 NKJV

13 But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

People can be

Exodus 30:12–16 NKJV

12 “When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the Lord, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the Lord. 14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the Lord. 15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves. 16 And you shall take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shall appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord, to make atonement for yourselves.”

What is the name of the item or money used to redeem the people, property, or possessions?

It is called RANSOM

Mark 10:45 NKJV

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”