From the death of the first animal to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness, to the death of Jesus Christ on the cross; along with all the animals sacrificed under the Law of Moses; the Bible teaches us that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22).

“In the New Testament, Christ is often regarded as an example of a kinsman-redeemer because, as our brother (Hebrews 2:11), He also redeems us because of our great need, one that only He can satisfy. In Ruth 3:9, we see a beautiful and poignant picture of the needy supplicant, unable to rescue herself, requesting of the kinsman-redeemer that he cover her with his protection, redeem her, and make her his wife. In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ bought us for Himself, out of the curse, out of our destitution; made us His own beloved bride; and blessed us for all generations. He is the true Kinsman-Redeemer of all who call on Him in faith” (Got Questions Article).

Ephesians 1:3-14, “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”

FOURTEEN THINGS PAUL WAS THANKFUL TO GOD FOR:

  1. Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing, (v. 3).
  2. Chosen to be Holy & Blameless, (v. 4).
  3. Adoption to Sonship, (v. 5).
  4. Glorious Grace, (v. 6).
  5. Redemption & Forgiveness, (v. 7).
  6. Lavished with Wisdom & Understanding, (v. 8).
  7. Knowing God’s Mysterious Will, (v. 9).
  8. Unified with Christ, (v. 10).
  9. God’s Plan, (v. 11).
  10. Made to Praise God’s Glory, (v. 12).
  11. The Gospel, (v. 13a).
  12. Marked & Sealed by the Holy Spirit, (v. 13b).
  13. Guaranteed Inheritance, (v. 14a).
  14. God’s Possession, (v. 14b).

DEFINITIONS

  1. REDEMPTION: A releasing effected by payment of ransom.
  2. FORGIVENESS: Release from bondage or imprisonment.
  3. ATONEMENT: The act of removing guilt (Leviticus 16 & 23:28).

TWO REDEMPTIONS

  1. THE REDEMPTION OF OUR SPIRITUAL SOUL (FORGIVENESS & RE-BIRTH) 
    1. Ephesians 1:7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
    2. Rev. 5:9, “You were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
    3. Colossians 1:13-14, “13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
  2. THE REDEMPTION OF BODIES (RESURRECTION) 
    1. Ephesians 1:14, “Until the redemption of those who are God’s possession”
    2. Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
    3. Romans 8:23, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”

THE FOUR MAIN EFFECTS OF REDEMPTION & ATONEMENT

  1. OUR RANSOM WAS PAID (“Ransom Theory”): God ransomed us (“paid the price for our freedom”), from the master of sin through Jesus Christ. 
    1. 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.”
    2. 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”
  2. OUR PUNISHMENT WAS TAKEN (“Penal Substitution Theory”): Jesus satisfied our moral requirements and was our substitute for the wrath of God we deserved.
    1. 2 Corinthians 5:21, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
    2. Galatians 3:13, “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.'”
  3. OUR ENEMY WAS DEFEATED (“Christus Victor Theory”): Jesus defeated sin, death and Satan.
    1. 1 John 3:8-9, “8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.”
    2. Revelation 1:18, “I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
  4. OUR UNION WITH GOD WAS RESTORED (“The Recapitulation Theory”): Jesus, being both fully God and fully man, re-started the human race in the perfect image of God. 
    1. Romans 8:29, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
    2. 2 Peter 1:4, “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

JESUS, OUR KINSMAN-REDEEMER

The book of Ruth, Leviticus 25:47-55 & Matthew 1:21-23.

Jesus paid the highest price for me, He gave His very life for me; He redeemed me because of His great love for me.