Faithful on Fridays Blog

Do any of you remember the days of S&H Green stamps? You collected the stamps given for purchases, saved them in a booklet, and took them to the Redemption Center for free gifts. Such a deal.

Our section of verses from Eph. 1:3-14 includes the word redemption in it. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:7 ESV)

Did you notice the ‘in Him’ again? Very significant to these passages. When we are vitally connected to the Savior, the first heavenly blessing we receive is the truth that He has redeemed us. He literally bought us back from the clutches of sin, death, and the devil and now we reign spiritually with Him.

Ready for a little Hebrew lesson? There are two words that translate as ‘redemption’. The first is ga’al. This means that, according to God’s law, the next of kin can ransom a loved one. They not only can, it is the duty of a good and true man that they should. We see an example of this in the lives of Ruth and Boaz. As the closest relative, Boaz purchased the right to protect Ruth, vindicate her, and even marry her. Can you see the spiritual reality of this physical picture? This foreshadowed the relationship that Jesus would have with His bride: believers. He redeemed or bought us back from our sin nature and now He protects and even vindicates us as a divine Husband (Is. 43:1-4). His life for ours: the Great Exchange. Jesus is our Go’el, our Redeemer.

The second word is padah. This word is a slightly different from ga’al. It’s meaning is the transfer of ownership with the payment of a price. As believers we were purchased with the ransom-price of blood. Why blood, you may ask? Because scripture tells us life is in the blood. With this payment we are forgiven our sins, released from our bondage, and able to live a new life of freedom in Christ.

We find in the New Testament that the picture of redemption is manifested in Christ:

“… by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, (Revelation 5:9 ESV)

“… even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 ESV)

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 3:23, 24 ESV)

“He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” (Titus 2:14 NLT)

Thank God this week that He became your Go’el, your Redeemer and didn’t hold back anything to pay the ransom.