What Does It Mean to Be Redeemed?

Redemption is rightly bound up with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. How should we understand the scope of its meaning?

Human beings have an innate desire to rid themselves of guilt when they know they have done wrong. There is nothing like a clear conscience. It is always an important moment when an individual admits to God the sins he or she has committed.

King DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. of Israel said: "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me ...[Finally] I acknowledged my sin to You ...I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,' and You forgave the iniquity of my sin" (Psalm 32:3-5 [3] When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
[4] For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
[5] I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

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What should happen with this heartfelt confession to God is very important.

In another psalm of repentance after he committed two capital sins, DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. said to God: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
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Another aspect of repentance—a firm resolve to turn away from sin—must accompany admission of guilt. When that really happens, we can absolutely count on forgiveness from God. Why is this so? Why does God then bind Himself to completely and totally forgive all transgressions of His great spiritual law—no matter how serious?

All Christians know the answer to that question is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said: "For God [the Father] so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish [eternally], but have eternal life" (John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
See All..., New American Standard BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.).

Understanding Christ's sacrifice

To help us better comprehend the various aspects of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. uses several practical metaphors—usually concepts we already understand fairly well. For instance, ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). goes to the law courts for comprehension of the legal term "justification." But it is to the marketplace that we must go to understand Christ's sacrifice in terms of the concept of "redemption."

With regard to Christ's shed blood, redemption essentially means deliverance from death by means of payment of a very high price. The imagery emerges from the marketplace. To redeem is to buy back, whether as a purchase or a ransom price.

The Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings. is very much an essential part of God's Word to mankind. It shows that although ancient Israel's deliverance from Egypt was national in scope, God's deliverance is also very personal.

The patriarch Jacob testifies to this fact. In blessing the sons of his son Joseph, he referred to "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the Angel [Messenger] who has redeemed me from all evil . . .'" (Genesis 48:15-16 [15] And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
[16] The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

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Most probably this "Angel" (note the capital letter "A," and the Hebrew word simply means "messenger") was none other than the preexistent Jesus Christ or "the Word" mentioned in John 1:1-3 [1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] The same was in the beginning with God.
[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

See All... and verse 14. (To fully understand this truth, please request our free booklets Who Is God? and Jesus Christ: The Real Story .)

We understand from the New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 8:11And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
See All...). There-fore they had to be redeemed in advance by Christ's sacrifice, looking ahead to it.

"Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow" (1 Peter 1:10-11 [10] Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
[11] Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

See All..., King James Version).

King DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. of Israel was also the bene-ficiary of many instances of personal deliverance from many difficulties and problems during his turbulent reign as ruler of the 12 tribes. In one of his many heartfelt prayers, he asked his Creator to "draw near to my soul, and redeem it" (Psalm 69:18Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
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In another of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical.'s most poignant psalms, he wrote: "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities [sins], who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction" (Psalm 103:2-4 [2] Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
[3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
[4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

See All...). DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. looked ahead to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, having been inspired by God to write passages in the Psalms that foretold events that would happen on the cross about a thousand years later.

The benefits that DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. mentions in this passage are all bound up in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Bought and paid for

In the Old TestamentThose books that make up the Hebrew Bible generally accepted by Christians, Jews and to some extent Muslims. It contains a threefold division: the Law (the five books of Moses), the Prophets and the Writings., redemption, as earlier noted, is often a marketplace term. One could reclaim a field, which had been lost to creditors, perhaps by a bankrupt brother. It could be redeemed or bought back for him (see Leviticus 25:23-25 [23] The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
[24] And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
[25] If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.

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In a similar manner Jesus Christ redeemed us from the effect of our sins, buying us back by paying a very steep ransom price. All of us were kidnapped spiritually by Satan the devil (the arch-adversary of God and humanity), but the blood of Christ more than covers the ransom price in full. Several New TestamentThe 27 authoritative books of the apostolic writings: the four Gospels of Christ, Acts (a history), 21 apostolic letters and the book of Revelation. passages explain this basic truth.

The apostle Paul stated: "You are not your own; you were bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
See All..., New International Version). The apostle Peter tells us just how high this price was. He wrote that "you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19 [18] Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
[19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

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Jesus was absolutely and totally sinless! He died for our sins. He took them all on Himself. "So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
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Our Savior said that He came "to give His life a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
See All...). And Paul adds, "We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
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Obtaining "eternal redemption"

The book of Hebrews tells us that "with His own blood He [Christ] entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
See All...). This biblical passage introduces us to the concept of eternal redemption. That means its effects run on and on into the future—encompassing everlasting life in God's family and Kingdom.

Even though our past sins are forgiven by means of the blood of Christ, an important aspect of our redemption lies in the future. Ultimately, even the Passover service "finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God" (Luke 22:16For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
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The testimony of the apostle John enters the picture from the final book in the BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ.. He quotes the 24 elders (powerful angelic beings residing in heaven) as singing a new song about Christ to His Church. ". . . You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 5:9-10 [9] And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
[10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

See All..., NIV).

This scripture marries our redemption from sin by Christ's blood to our future role as rulers assisting Him during His coming 1,000-year reign (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 20:1-4 [1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
[2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
[3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
[4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

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Jesus Himself spoke of these future events in the prophecy He gave to His disciples on the Mount of Olives shortly before His death. "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:27-28 [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
[28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

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Paul also wrote of this same time in the future when He said, "Do not grieve the [Holy] Spirit of God, by [which] you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
See All...). This occurs at the second coming of Christ when the firstfruits of God, those who have faithfully served Him over the centuries, will be resurrected to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:22-23 [22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

See All...; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
[17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

See All...). (More understanding of this intriguing truth can be found in our free booklet What Happens After Death? )

But during this present age, the world plunges deeper and deeper into moral and political chaos and danger. The apostle Paul acknowledged this when he wrote: "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the [ Holy ] Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption [or sonship], the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:22-23 [22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

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Summing up our salvation

Redemption cancels out our sins through the blood of Christ and also looks forward to the day when our physical bodies will be transformed from flesh into spirit (1 Corinthians 15:50-54 [50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

See All...). Redemption is eternal in its effects. It ultimately means everlasting life in the Kingdom of God. But never forget what King DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical. said: "Blessed is he [or she] ... whose sin is covered" (Psalm 32:1(A Psalm of DavidKing of Israel, killed the giant Goliath with a sling and stones, a man after God's own heart, only turned from God in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:5), had an affair with Bathsheba, Messiah would come from line of David, main author of Psalms and highly musical., Maschil.) Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
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There are many aspects of our salvation that space prevents us from explaining in any one article. That is why we publish several booklets on the subject in addition to our 12-lesson BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Study Course , all of which go into many of these matters in much greater depth.

Transforming Your Life: the Process of Salvation and The Road to Eternal Life both explain repentance, water baptism and how we may receive God's Holy Spirit and enter into everlasting life. You Can Have Living Faith expounds the role of faith in the salvation process. Jesus Christ: The Real Story covers the sacrifice of Christ in much greater detail. Please request or download these four free booklets as well as ask to enroll in the free BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ. Study Course .

Finally, please let us know if you would like to counsel with a United Church of God minister in your area. He would be glad to answer your questions and help you to embrace God's way of life. GN