By Pastor/Evangelist Barbara Lynch {As posted in this weeks bulletin September 3, 2023 through September 9, 2023}

God spoke this simple sentence to me this morning:
THE DAY OF REDEMPTION IS UPON THE CHURCH.
Redemption is the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil:

“God’s plans for the redemption of His world”
Redemption refers to the deliverance of Christians from sin and its consequences.
Redemption is a thing that saves someone from error or evil.
Redemption is an essential concept. The term implies that something has been paid for or bought back, like a slave who has been set free through the payment of a ransom.

Redemption Has Four Different Meanings In The Bible: Monetary Redemption, Avenger-Redemption, the “Kinsman” Redemption, and the Spiritual Redemption.  Jesus was a perfect example of the New Testament definition of redemption and its deliverance in Mark 10:  45 and John 8:  36, respectively:

Mark 10:  45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

John 8:  36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

I Peter 1:  18 – 19 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

Exodus 6:  6 (ETRV) 6 So tell the Israelites that I say to them, ‘I am the LORD. I will save you. You will no longer be slaves of the Egyptians. I will use my great power to make you free, and I will bring terrible punishment to the Egyptians.
Lastly, Paul shows us again how Jesus fulfilled the definition of this term in

Galatians 3:  13 – 14: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

Religion cannot redeem Us; Good works can’t redeem Us; False saviors can’t redeem Us; only Jesus can redeem us. John 3:  16 – 18 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 1 Corinthians 6:  20 For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Conclusion: Praise God, we no longer need to be slaves on the run because Jesus has already paid the price, earned us our freedom, and unshackled us from the unrelenting slavery of sin.

Now that we can grasp the beauty of what redemption means and we are enriched by the rich history and theology of the term, we need to give thanks and glory to God for His amazing gift of freedom! Freedom from sin also requires an enormous price. The Bible calls it the blood of a sinless person. But nobody is sinless except Christ. Hence he suffered and died on a cross-carrying out the act of redemption needed for our freedom. Therefore redemption is found in nothing but Christ only.