Redeemed

They will be called “The Holy People” and “The People Redeemed by the Lord.” Isaiah 62:12 (NLT)

When I was a boy, “trading stamps” were a big deal. I remember my mom and grandma collecting S&H Green Stamps and pasting them into books. When they accumulated a sufficient quantity, they brought them to the redemption center to exchange for a desired product. It seemed like a big deal at the time, but it is trivial compared to being “The Redeemed of the Lord.”

According to the dictionary, to redeem is to buy back, to free from what distresses or harms, to free from captivity by payment of ransom, or to be set free from the consequences of sin. In essence, to be redeemed requires an exchange.

Whether we are talking about “trading stamps,” cereal box tops, or airline miles, we have an expectation of receiving something of value in return. I recall cajoling my parents into buying a specific cereal brand in the hope of receiving a “Stingray Bicycle.” Eventually, my hopeful enthusiasm turned to disappointment.

Jesus paid significantly more than stamps or coupons to redeem us. Do we have enough appreciation or awareness of what it means to be “The Redeemed of the Lord?” Just thinking about the idea that God has redeemed us should bring joy to every part of our being.

I recall songs like: “Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; redeemed thru His infinite mercy—His child, and forever, I am.” These great lyrics by Fanny Crosby celebrate and revel in our redemption.

A Costly Price

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 1 Peter 1:18–19 (CSB)

Peter assumes that those who are reading his letter know that they have been redeemed, along with an understanding of the great price paid on their behalf. Again, a hymn offers an accurate commentary:

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

We may understand what it means to be redeemed, but how often do we stop and ponder its cost? It might be too much to expect Christ to receive full value for his sacrificial offering to save us, but the least we can do is attempt to grasp just how much he loves us. Paul writes:

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:6–8 (NLT)

We made the point earlier that we expect to receive value in exchange for what we offer. We sentimentally say that if we had been the only ones in need of salvation, Christ would have died for us. Businesses think in terms of “return on investment.” If Christ had felt that way, would he have gone to the cross? How do we respond?

An Appropriate Response

You were quite an expensive purchase! So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (BFE)

Another great hymn of the church: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” emphasizes the outstanding debt that Christ paid on our behalf. Here is the last stanza:

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

It is when we realize that before Christ saved us, we were dead and hopeless that we will begin to understand just how much of a debt we owe. We are under new ownership. Paul said: Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)

We want it all. We want to be redeemed from the slavery of sin, but we also want to retain control of our choices and decisions. As long as we cling to the illusion that we have the right to be in control of our destiny, we will be frustrated in our Christian life. We can only serve one master. Jesus said:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Matthew 16:24–26 (NLT)

The only response is to give up our life to the one who redeemed us.

Tell the World

Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. Psalm 107:2 (NLT)

Finally, when we are redeemed, we have a responsibility to tell others about our Redeemer. The Passion Translation expands upon this thought:

So, go ahead—let everyone know it! Tell the world how he broke through and delivered you from the power of darkness and has gathered us together from all over the world. He has set us free to be his very own! Psalm 107:2–3 (TPT)

The very idea that the King of kings has redeemed us and called us his own children should cause us to freely tell everyone that we know. This world needs to know that there is a God in heaven who loves them and a Savior who died for them. Let everyone know that we are redeemed!

Steve Ekeroth

 

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