What is behind the meaning of the word redeemed? Who is redeeming us and when can we become redeemed? How are we redeemed today? What history is there for being redeemed? How do we enter into this kingdom of the redeemed?
The meaning of the word redeemed is as follows: To regain the possession or compensate for a fault, to have brought back, restore. These are terms describing a negative situation and making it better; like in the offsetting of a known defect or loss.
We will now look at the Biblical history behind this word redeem.
The History of Our Loss
For us to understand the need of redemption we need to know what, why, when, and how we suffered a loss.
What was it that we lost? It was our standing and relationship as a race with God. Why was it lost? It was due to the rebellion against God’s will and his divine purpose. It happened when some of the sons of God forsook their positions and came down to the realm of earth and interacted with mankind. Adam and Eve fell victim to their influence and was put out of the garden of God because of it.
Then some of these sons of God put on flesh and produced offspring and as these grew up they became a fearful reproduction of flesh. These hybrids were uncontrollable and they began terrorizing all kinds of flesh here upon the earth.
Some of this higher knowledge from the realm above was given to mankind and it was used to the detriment of earth and its inhabitants, and we are still feeling the effects of it today.
This use of freewill without restraint is still plaguing our realm today, this fact is the wicked root of all our problems. We are in need of a permanent fix and a lasting redemption into restoration.
We do not need to worry because God has stepped in to fix this mess as we can see by reading Enoch 10:1- 11:1 and Genesis chapter 7.
What is God’s divine plan for our restoration?
The Divine Plan of Action
After reading Enoch I know God has a divine plan of action and it is called the Kingdom of the Redeemed Ones. We can see this listed below as a seven-part plan of action:
- God allowed for the undesirable consequences to manifest to the point that those who had free access to God objected to what they heard and saw. Enoch 9:1-11 These ones saw what comes from the uncontrolled use of freewill; to the point of wanting to act to counter the results of the lawlessness they were seeing.
- God disclosed how mankind could preserve all flesh and have a working relationship with God. Enoch 10:1-11:1 and Genesis 9:11-17
- God announced that Law and Order was coming! God’s judgement will be executed against all those who work contra to God’s righteous will.
- God denied and restricted the free access from heaven to mankind.
- God ordered the removal of all corrupted seed of flesh from off the earth.
- God announced the ongoing plan of action for healing and restoration.
- God was going to provide a new seed for mankind.
What can we extrapolate from God’s divine plan of action? Can we identify the aspects of it as it is working towards fulfillment in our lives? What is it that God is looking for from us?
Awareness & Acknowledgement: That we are alienated from God and we need Him. That God is in control of His creation and has a divine plan under fulfillment. Ephesians 4:17-19
Acceptance & Action: That we need to take steps to change our plight in this life and accept God’s covenant and live in and under His Holy ways. Acts 2:38-40, Matthew 6:33
Cultivation & Transformation: That we learn, grow, and develop into the new creation that God is bring into existence for His purpose. To be humble and loving, showing mercy and patience, while pursuing justice and virtue, to be peaceable and joyful, and show kindness and self-control in all that you do. Galatians 5:19-26
Perseverance & Steadfastness: We have to show a determination, an unwavering willingness to uphold God’s Sovereignty and right to establish and adhere to His laws and principles. Micah 6:8
Are we willing to seek God out; to really come to know Him and to pursue his righteousness and Holy ways? Will we submit to God’s divine plan of action and follow this direction? Will we allow God’s hand to work in redeeming us? Matthew 7:7-14
The Working of Redemption
Abraham became a part of God’s divine plan of action as the planting of truth and justice. Genesis 12:7
Did Abraham perceive that God’s hand was working for him?
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’s word speaks as if Jacob is a live to see that God is redeeming the seed of Abraham, it was God’s promise the working out of His hands. God produced a nation from the seed of Abraham.
The nation of Israel 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.
The first time we see the word redeemed is in the law given to Moses, were God spoke about redeeming a daughter that was sold as a slave. Exodus 21:1-11
I find this law interesting because it was Adam that sold his seed to sin, but God has made a way out of this enslavement, it is a redeeming. Genesis 3:1-24, John 1:9-12
Next we have an example of redemption in action when 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
So, what is the purpose of redeeming us?
God tells us of his purpose through Isaiah his prophet.
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.
The purpose of the redemption is for a cleansing. 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.
The redeemed are to be crowned but when?
Redemption the How and the When
Is 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 Paul was a preacher of the Good News about the salvation and reconciliation that Jesus Christ brings to all mankind. The apostle Paul 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 the 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 fully introduced to God’s ways and stop practicing sin. That this a possibility and a 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, 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.
The apostle Paul had this good news declared to him, then he was told to act on this word of salvation.
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, In time Saul’s name was changed to Paul. Acts 9:3-6, Acts 13:9
Act in Faith
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 his 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
God sent forth the promised Holy Spirit in 33 CE so that we could receive the adoption as the children of God, for all who will call upon his name, get baptized and walk in this 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 are to be made a new creation and has now given us a work to accomplish.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21…Therefore, if anyone is joined / united 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.
We who have received this holy spirit are joined with Christ Jesus in this union. We have now set upon the path or way to becoming holy as the new creation. This is the work of God’s hand that he told to Abraham. Take note what Paul said next.
Ephesians 1:4-14…For He chose us to belong to 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 in union with 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 union with Him. We have also received an inheritance in union with 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 and receive the promised Holy Spirit from Him. Those who will walk in holiness washing themselves in His blood.
When was this down payment made and when will we receive the inheritance?
33 CE was when mankind saw that this down payment was made. The apostle Paul next reveals the timing of those who receive this inheritance.
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, with 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 reveals that there is a timing or order to the resurrection from death to life. He called out three points in time. First at Christ resurrection, next at Christ advent or coming, lastly when he hands over the kingdom to God 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 that is corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this that is 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?
Paul point is this, where is death that we should be made subject to it. We believe and have faith in the word and works of the divine plan of the living and true God.
Amen, Come Lord Jesus!
Writingwithlogos.com – Last revised 5/2/26