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”

Redemption

I’ve touched on all the above complete blessings in Christ except for the last, which is redemption. I find it very telling and interesting that all of the four above are included in one verse to give us a clear picture of Christ’s work so that we may not boast but in Him. It is after all…………by His doing! I find that comforting, I hope that you do too! 

Redemption is a very comprehensive term and is used in the Old Testament repeatedly and portrayed in different ways; always pointing to and as a type of Christ. God redeemed (delivered or severed) the nation of Israel from the bondage of Egyptian slavery and so the nation belonged to Jehovah, they were a chosen nation. It was because of this redemption that the nation of Israel owed their very lives and service to God. The tribe of Levi was set apart in a special way of service (the priestly tribe) but the other tribes were to be redeemed or purchased from service by redeeming the firstborn of men and animals.

A firstborn son was presented to the Lord on the 40th day after his birth and redeemed by a payment of five shekels; the firstlings of oxen, sheep, and goats were brought within a year and eight days and sacrificed. The firstborn of an ass (an unclean animal) was redeemed by sacrificing a sheep in its place and the first fruits of the harvest were presented at the Passover. 

One of the greatest typologies in the OT is given to us in the book of Ruth when we are shown the picture of the Kinsman-Redeemer which of course represents Christ as the Kinsman-Redeemer of His people. What a blessed picture this is to us for it shows us that the Lord Jesus met and fulfilled every requirement as our Kinsman. He came and took on flesh and He was the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29), so He was a near kinsman. The price of our redemption was the blood of Christ and He alone was able to redeem (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19) and He was WILLING to redeem us with His very own blood (Hebrews 10:4-10). Above all the kinsman redeemer had to be free from that which caused the need for redemption and we know that Christ was free from the need of redemption because there was found no sin in Him. 

Redeemed=to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner. To purchase from slavery, the slavery of the bondage of sin. 

We leave the types and shadows in the OT and come to the NT where we have the revelation of God in Christ, where we interpret the OT with the NT and where we find the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world coming to redeem His people, the true Israel. It is an effectual redemption; it is particular for His people and was carried out in time on the bloody cross whereby our Kinsman Redeemer shed His blood.

We have been redeemed and we are no longer slaves, but adopted sons and daughters. We have been set free from the bondage of a slave unto sin (John 8:31-36) and we have been redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). We have been redeemed not with silver and gold but with precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19) and as that purchased possession we have been delivered from the wrath to come, from punishment, condemnation and guilt and our sins have been forgiven (Ephesians 1:7) and are not imputed to us. (Romans 4:8)

In our redemption there is full reconciliation with God and as the purchased possession we await our full redemption. We have the Holy Spirit as the earnest of our inheritance, in whom we are sealed, as we await the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). We long for the day of full redemption from sin and corruption, from this body of death, all sorrows and afflictions and from death and the grave. Oh what a glorious morn that will be, resurrection morn. Come, Lord Jesus! 

Let him who boasts, boast in the LORD!

Grace and Peace!