It was early this morning or late last night, depending on your perspective, when I kept hearing the word “redeemed” roll around in my spirit. I thought about the green stamps my parents would get when they would buy gas and then we would “redeem” them for something of value that we wanted.
So this morning when I got up, I decided to look up the definition of the word “redeem”. This is what I found: it’s a verb so it shows action. It means to buy back; repurchase; to get or win back; to free from what distresses or harms – as to free from captivity by payment of ransom or to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental or to release from blame or debt; clear – to free from the consequences of sin. It also means to change for the better – reform, repair, restore; to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby to remove the obligation of by payment, or to exchange for something of value; to make good – fulfill; to atone for – expiate or redeem an error; to offset the bad effect of; to make worthwhile; retrieve.
As I thought about what Jesus did for us when he went to the cross in relation to redeemed, I have a better understanding of what actually happened on the cross…Jesus bought us back! He paid a debt that we couldn’t pay ourselves. He redeemed us from the curse as we read in Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself.” Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That’s what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.”
As we look back at the Old Testament to Isaiah, which is a type and shadow of the New Testament, where you see “Jacob” (whose name was changed to Israel in Genesis 35:10) you can insert your name and personalize each verse which will help you have a better understanding of redemption…Isaiah 44:21, reads “Remember these things, O Jacob. Take it seriously, Israel, that you’re my servant. I made you, shaped you: You’re my servant. O Israel, I’ll never forget you. I’ve wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings. There’s nothing left of your sins. Come back to me, come back. I’ve redeemed you.” And in Isaiah 44:23 we read, “High heavens, sing! God has done it. Deep earth, shout! And you mountains, sing! A forest choir of oaks and pines and cedars! God has redeemed Jacob. God’s glory is on display in Israel.”
When you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins, come into your heart and be your Lord and Savior, you are redeemed, not only bought back or ransomed from the enemy, but helped to overcome something detrimental! This should encourage you to know that you can overcome anything that comes your way when you focus on what Jesus has already purchased for you with His Blood. When you were born again, you entered into the finished work of Jesus Christ. There’s nothing else that has to be done for you to experience victory except for you to receive by faith the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ!
