Redemption Series: Introduction

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.

It 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)

Matthew 20:28 “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (ESV)

Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (ESV)

Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (NASB95)

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)

1 Corinthians 7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. (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)

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (ESV)

Ephesians 1:7 In whom (the Beloved) we have the redemption through His blood (Christ’s substitutionary spiritual death), the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. (NASB95)

Colossians 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (NASB95)

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. (NASB95)

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (NASB95)

Hebrews 9:11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemptionof the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (NASB95)

1 Peter 1:17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth, 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (NASB95)

2 Peter 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (ESV)

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)

Revelation 14:1 Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. 2 And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps, 3 and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. 4 It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, 5 and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. (ESV)

The vocabulary in the Greek New Testament related for the doctrine of redemption:

(1) Antilutron (noun), “the substitution of money for a slave or prisoner, the payment for the slave or prisoner in order to set free”;

(2) Apolutrosis (noun), “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” (Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7; 1:14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15; 11:35);

(3) Lutrotes (noun), “redeemer” (Hapax legomenon: used only in Acts 7:35 of Moses);

(4) Lutrosis (noun), “ransoming, releasing, redemption, deliverance” (Luke 1:68; 2:38; Heb. 9:12);

(5) Lutron (noun), “ransom price paid in order to free a slave, price of release, ransom, money for the manumission of slaves” (The suffix -tron denotes the instrument or means by which the action of the verb is accomplished, the means of releasing, or the payment”) (Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45);

(6) Lutroo (verb), “to release for a ransom, to redeem, to liberate, to deliver, the actual deliverance, the setting at liberty” (Luke 24:21; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18);

(7) Agorazo (verb), Related to the noun agora, “marketplace,” “to buy in the marketplace, to redeem, to buy, to acquire by paying a ransom price,” (Used 5 times w/reference to the doctrine of redemption);

(8) Exagorazo (verb), “to buy out from the marketplace, “to purchase slaves from a slave market, to release by paying a ransom price” (Emphasizes the price paid) (Col. 4:5; Eph. 5:16; Gal. 3:13; 4:5);

The vocabulary in the Hebrew Old Testament for the doctrine of redemption:

(1) Padhah (verb), “to ransom, to rescue, to deliver, redemption by payment of a ransom, to achieve the transfer of ownership from one to another through payment of a price or an equivalent substitute”;

(2) Ga`al (verb), “to redeem, to rescue, to avenge, to ransom, do the part of a kinsman, to do the part of a kinsman and thus to redeem his kin from difficulty or danger” Documentation: Ps. 49:15; 77:15a; 78:35; Isa. 43:14; 44:24; 49:7; 54:5, 8; 60:16; Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24; 8:23;1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7, 14; 4:30; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 2:14-15; Heb. 9:15; 1 Pet. 1:19.

(3) Kopher (noun), “ransom price, a substitute.”