What is behind the meaning redeemed? Who is redeeming us? When can we become redeemed? How are we redeemed today? What history is there for being redeemed? How do we enter into this kingdom?
The meaning of the word redeemed is as follows: to have brought back, regain possession or compensate for a fault. These are terms describing a negative situation and making it better as in the offsetting of a defect.
Next we shell look at the Biblical history of this word redeem.
The History of the Redeemed
The nation of Isarel was redeemed from Egypt by God at the hand of Moses so sang King David about this at Psalms 74:1-2 and Psalms 78:42-43.
But the first time we see the word redeemed is in the law given to Moses were God spoke about redeeming a daughter sold as a slave. Exodus 21:7-11
Next we see Jonathan who fell under a curse that king Saul foolishly put upon the people respecting the eating of bread before the King could take vengeance upon his enemies. 1 Samuel 14:24-45
Who is Going to Redeem Us?
God tells us of his purpose through Isaiah his prophet.
Isaiah 29:22-24…Therefore, the Lord who redeemed Abraham says this about the house of Jacob: Jacob will no longer be ashamed, and his face will no longer be pale. For when he sees his children, the work of My hands within his nation, they will honor My name, they will honor the Holy One of Jacob and stand in awe of the God of Israel. Those who are confused will gain understanding,
and those who grumble will accept instruction.
God is redeeming the seed of Abraham it is his promise the work of His hands.
Isaiah 35:8-10… A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Even the fool will not go astray. There will be no lion there, and no vicious beast will go up on it; they will not be found there. But the redeemed will walk on it, and the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
God is making a way for those who will receive the cleansing to come to Zion.
Isaiah 51:10-11… Was not it You who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the seabed into a road for the redeemed to pass over? And the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, crowned with unending joy. Joy and gladness will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
How are we to be redeemed and when?
Redemption the How and the When
Are redemption and reconciliation the same, some may ask? No, they are not the same, but they are related when describing the process of salvation.
The apostle Pual was a preacher of the Good News about the salvation and reconciliation that Jesus Christ brings to all mankind. The apostle Pual spoke about the process of being redeemed all the way to the relationship that was offered to all of humanity.
What is the process or framework for being redeemed?
First, we have to understand what is our situation that we find ourselves in. It is our awareness that we are alienated from God and are found in a slave’s form. Philippians 2:7-8
Next, we need to be introduced to the concept, possibility, and the hope of freedom by releasing us from sin and death by means of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:16-17
Then as we come to an understanding and the perception that Christ Jesus can and will set us free as we exercise faith in the deliverance and rulership under the Kingdom of the Redeemed ones. Galatians 3:19-27
Once we are aware we can hope for our releasing as we perfect our faith calling upon the name of Jesus to save us.
Acts 22:16… Now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash away your sins, by calling upon his name.
Christ told Saul this because he was resistant to believing.
You see we need to hear and accept this Good News that Christ came and manifested himself as the son of God, that God proved to be with him in these words and works. John 20:31
Christ suffered and died for us and his blood was then poured out for us as he was the lamb of God, then Christ Jesus was raised from the dead to sit at the right hand of God in power. 1 Peter 3:22
He sent forth the promised Holy Spirit that we could receive the adoption as the children of God, for all who will call upon his name, get baptized and walk in faith. Luke 24:46-49
The apostle Paul tells us why because God loved us and was moved to save us.
Romans 5:8-11…But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have now received this reconciliation through Him.
He tells us that we have been made a new creation and has now given us a work to accomplish.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21…Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
This is the work of God’s hand that he told to Abraham.
Ephesians 1:4-14…For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, to the praise of His glorious grace that He favored us with in the Beloved. We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him for the administration of the days of fulfillment to bring everything together in the Messiah, both things in heaven and things on earth in Him. We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory. When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
Blessed are all who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:20-24…But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order (or time): Christ, the first- fruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He abolishes all rule and all authority and power.
The scripture revealed that there is a timing to the resurrection from death to life but there is more to it Paul says:
1 Corinthians 15:50-55…Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting?
Where is death that we should be made subject to it, we believe and have faith in the living God.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
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