What does the Bible say about redemption?
When sin entered the world, so did the need for redemption. God set up a plan to save mankind from the sin brought in by man. The entire Old Testament leads to Jesus in the New Testament. Find out what redemption means and why you need it to have a relationship with God.
Christian quotes about redemption
“Non-Christians seem to think that the Incarnation implies some particular merit or excellence in humanity. But of course it implies just the reverse: a particular demerit and depravity. No creature that deserved Redemption would need to be redeemed. They that are whole need not the physician. Christ died for men precisely because men are not worth dying for; to make them worth it.” C.S. Lewis
“By Christ’s purchasing redemption, two things are intended: his satisfaction and his merit; the one pays our debt, and so satisfies; the other procures our title, and so merits. The satisfaction of Christ is to free us from misery; the merit of Christ is to purchase happiness for us.” Jonathan Edwards
“We need to know what kind of sales we can close and what kind we can’t. The redemption of an eternal soul is one sale that we, in our own strength, cannot accomplish. And we need to know it, not so that we won’t preach the gospel, but so that we won’t allow the gospel that is preached to be molded by what finally gets a response!” Mark Dever
“I thought I could have leaped from earth to heaven at one spring when I first saw my sins drowned in the Redeemer’s blood.” Charles Spurgeon
“A Christian is one who recognizes Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, as God manifested in the flesh, loving us and dying for our redemption; and who is so affected by a sense of the love of this incarnate God as to be constrained to make the will of Christ the rule of his obedience, and the glory of Christ the great end for which He lives.” Charles Hodge
“The work of redemption was accomplished by Christ in His death on the cross and has in view the payment of the price demanded by a holy God for the deliverance of the believer from the bondage and burden of sin. In redemption the sinner is set free from his condemnation and slavery to sin.” John F. Walvoord
“Jesus Christ did not come into this world to make bad people good; he came into this world to make dead people live.” Lee Strobel
“We are too much haunted by ourselves, projecting the central shadow of self on everything around us. And then comes the Gospel to rescue us from this selfishness. Redemption is this, to forget self in God.” Frederick W. Robertson
What is redemption in the Bible?
The act of purchasing something back or paying a price or ransom to return something to your ownership is known as redemption. The Greek word agorazo, which means “to purchase in the marketplace,” is translated as “redemption” in English. It was used to describe the act of purchasing a slave in ancient times. It had the connotation of releasing someone from a shackle, prison, or slavery.
Romans 3:23 says, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This shows our need for redemption or for someone to purchase us back from the sinfulness keeping us from God. Yet, Romans 3:24 goes on to say, “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Jesus paid the ransom to release us from sin and offer us everlasting life. Ephesians 1:7 perfectly explains the power of redemption. “In him, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Jesus paid the ultimate price for our lives, and all we need to do is accept the gift given freely.
1. Romans 3:24 (NIV) “and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
2. 1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.”
3. Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
4. Ephesians 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
5. Colossians 1:14 “in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
6. Luke 1:68 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.”
7. Galatians 1:4 “who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.”
8. John 3:16 (KJV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
9. Romans 5:10-11 (NKJ) “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
10. 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
We need redemption
God’s promise to deliver us from the power and presence of sin is known as redemption. Before their transgression, Adam and Eve enjoyed uninterrupted communion with God, unmatched intimacy with one another, and undisturbed delight in their Edenic setting. There has never been a period when mankind has exercised biblical sovereignty over creation, complimented each other so well, and joyfully enjoyed every moment of every day under God’s rule as they did. Finally, however, there will be.
The Bible foresees a time when these shattered bonds will be forever repaired. God’s people will inherit a new earth that will provide sufficient food without the need for sweat or the threat of thorns (Romans 22:2). While man created a problem, God created a solution through the blood of Jesus Christ. As we are all caught up in the human predicament, God found a way to save us from death through his incredible grace.
We need redemption to spend eternity living with God. First, we need redemption to forgive our sins (Colossians 1:14) to gain an audience with God forever bring us to the second point. Access to eternal life is only available through redemption (Revelations 5:9). Furthermore, Jesus’s redeeming blood offers us a relationship with God as he cannot see us through our sins. Finally, redemption gives the Holy Spirit access to live in us and guide us through life (1 Corinthians 6:19).
11. 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.”
12. Galatians 4:5 “to redeem those under the law, that we might receive our adoption as sons.”
13. Titus 2:14 “Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
14. Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
15. 1 Peter 2:23-24 “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
16. Hebrews 9:15 “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”
17. Colossians 1:14 (KJV) “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
18. John 14:6 (ESV) “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
19. Ephesians 2:12 “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
God is our Redeemer Bible verses
Redemption simply refers to the cost that God paid to reclaim us for His purposes. Death is God’s just punishment for sin. However, if we all died due to our sins, God would be unable to carry out His divine purpose.
However, we could never pay the price of unblemished blood, so God sent His own Son to die in our place. All of God’s legitimate claims are satisfied by the precious blood of Jesus, shed for us.
Through God, we are reborn, renewed, sanctified, transformed, and much more made possible by his great sacrifice. The Law prevents us from a relationship with God, but Jesus acts as a bridge to the Father (Galatians 3:19-26). The Law had been the only vehicle for people to mark out the debts they accrued against God after generations of sacrifice and atonement, but it had also served as a barrier between God and His people.
The Holy Spirit did not reside with people but occasionally chose a person to dwell with. A thick curtain was placed in the Temple in Jerusalem between the Holy of Holies, where God’s spirit would settle once a year, and the remainder of the temple, symbolizing the distinction between the Lord and the masses.
20. Psalm 111:9 (NKJV) “He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name.”
21. Psalm 130:7 “O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.”
22. Romans 8:23-24 “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. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?”
23. Isaiah 43:14 (NLT) “This is what the LORD says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon, forcing the Babylonians to flee in those ships they are so proud of.”
24. Job 19:25 “But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand upon the earth.”
25. Isaiah 41:14 “Do not fear, O worm of Jacob, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.”
26. Isaiah 44:24 (KJV) “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.”
27. Isaiah 44:6 “Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.”
28. Lamentations 3:58 “Lord, you have come to my defense; you have redeemed my life.”
29. Psalm 34:22 “The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.”
30. Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.”
31. Deuteronomy 9:26 “So I prayed to the LORD and said, “Oh LORD my God, don’t destroy your people and your inheritance whom you redeemed by your power. You brought them out from Egypt in a powerful way.”
32. Romans 5:8-11 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”
What does it mean to be Redeemed by God?
Redeemed means Jesus paid the price for your sins so you could be in God’s presence for eternity. Historically, the word referred to a slave paid for to obtain their freedom. That’s what Jesus did for us; he took us away from slavery to sin and gave us away past our human nature to live in the spiritual heavens with God (John 8:34, Romans 6:16).
Above you learned about the Greek word agorazo, but two more Greek words are associated with the word redemption. Exagorazo is another Greek word for this concept. Going from one thing to another is always a part of redemption. In this scenario, it is Christ who sets us free from the bonds of the law and gives us a new life in him. The third Greek term associated with redemption is lutroo, which means “to be set free by paying a price.”
In Christianity, the ransom was Christ’s precious blood, which bought us freedom from sin and death. You see, Jesus came to serve, not to be served (Matthew 20:28), a point stated throughout the Bible. He came to make us sons of God through adoption (Galatians 4:5).
33. Galatians 4:5 “so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.”
34. Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
35. Galatians 3:26 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”
36. 1 Corinthians 6:20 “For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
37. Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
38. Ephesians 1:7-8 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”
Who are the redeemed?
The ancient world’s social, legal, and religious conventions gave rise to the concepts of breaking free from a bond, setting free from captivity or slavery, purchasing back something lost or sold, exchanging something in one’s ownership for something in another’s possession, and ransoming. Jesus came to take everyone who wants away from captivity and into life.
According to Hebrews 9:15, Jesus came as a mediator of a new covenant so those called (that is, anyone who wants to be saved) can gain eternal inheritance and lose eternal death. Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Anyone subject to the law (that is, every human) can be adopted into the family of God (John 3:16).
When Christ redeems you, several things happened. First, He delivered you from the clutches of sin. This means you are no longer a prisoner, and neither sin nor does death have any claim to you. We were welcomed into God’s Kingdom, which means we have a lawful and legitimate place here (Romans 6:23). Finally, at redemption, we are restored to God’s original intention for creation, companions (James 2:23).
39. John 1:12 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
40. John 3:18 “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”
41. Galatians 2:16 “yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”
42. John 6:47 “Truly, I tell all of you emphatically, the one who believes in me has eternal life.”
What is the difference between redemption and salvation?
Both redemption and salvation refer to the process of rescuing people from sin; the difference between the two is how this is accomplished. As a result, there is a distinction between the two notions, which must be understood for understanding. We know redemption is the price God paid to save us from sin, now let us dive a little into salvation.
Salvation is the first part of redemption. It’s what God accomplished on the cross to cover our sins. However, salvation goes further; it imparts life as anyone redeemed is saved. Redemption is tied to the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s blood, while salvation is the act that allows for redemption. Both go hand in hand and save you from the consequence of sin, but you can think of salvation as the part Jesus took, while redemption is the part God took to save mankind.
43. Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
44. Titus 3:5 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”
45. Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
God’s plan of redemption in the Old Testament
God made his plans known for redemption immediately after he caught Adam and Eve sinning shown in Genesis 3:15. He said to Adam, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” From there, God continued his plan by creating a genetic line to Abraham, David, and finally Jesus.
In addition, the Old Testament used redemption to mean deliverance from bondage from payment, along with legal terms for substitution and to cover. Sometimes the word includes a kinsman-redeemer, a male relative who would act on behalf of female relatives in need of help. God made a plan to cover all the legalities proving the law’s validity as Jesus came to defend and care for those in need.
46. Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
47. Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
48. Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
Redemption in the New Testament
Almost the entire New Testament focuses on salvation and redemption by sharing the history of Jesus and his commandments. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have brought humanity out of its position of separation from God (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). While in the Old Testament, sin required an animal sacrifice, the blood of Jesus covered much more, all the sins of mankind.
Hebrews 9:13-14 state the purpose of redemption clearly, “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
49. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
50. 1 Timothy 2:6 “who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”
51. Hebrews 9:13-14 “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!”
Stories of redemption in the Bible
The main story of redemption in the Bible centers on the Savior, Jesus. However, other historical stories also point to what God did to help us understand the wonderful gift he was sending. Here are a few of the redemption references in the Bible.
Noah displayed major faith in God, and as a result, he and his kin were the only ones saved from the flood. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, the person he loved most, at God’s request. God redeemed Abraham and Isaac by offering a ram to sacrifice instead paving the way to help others understand the sacrifice he made. Jeremiah the profit found a potter making a pot incorrectly and then turned it back into a ball of clay. God used this as an example to show his ability to reshape sinful vessels into redeemed vessels.
Finally, Saul of Tarsus – who became Paul, who wrote a massive portion of the New Testament – not only did not follow Jesus but was killing those who did follow Christ. However, God had other plans and helped Paul to see the truth so that he could spread the gospel. Because of Paul, the whole world has learned of God and his loving sacrifice.
52. Genesis 6:6–8 “And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out from the earth the human beings I have created—people together with animals and creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.”
53. Luke 15:4-7 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
The benefits of redemption
Eternal life is one of the advantages of redemption (Revelation 5:9-10). Another benefit of redemption is that we can now have a personal relationship with Christ. We can begin to know and enjoy the Lord. We can grow in our intimacy with the Lord. There is so much beauty that comes with redemption because there is so much beauty in Christ! Praise the Lord for the precious blood of His Son. Praise the Lord for redeeming us. We benefit from redemption because our sins are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), we are made righteous before God (Romans 5:17), we have power over sin (Romans 6:6), and we are free from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13). Ultimately, the benefits of redemption are life-altering, not just for this life but forever.
Hebrews 9:27 says, “And it is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment.” Who do you want by your side on your judgment day? It’s your choice, but Jesus already made the ultimate sacrifice so you could stand before God sinless and clean because of the blood of Jesus.
54. Revelation 5:9-10 “And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”
55. Romans 5:17 “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”
56. Titus 2:14 “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.”
57. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Living in light of redemption
As Christians, we will face trials and tribulations and continue to deal with our temptations because we live in a sinful world. We have been forgiven, but God is not done with us yet (Philippians 1:6). As a result, wishing for a better world, even a flawless world, is not an escape strategy.
Rather, it is the Christian’s justified expectation of a promise given by God who, after justly imposing a curse on the world, tenderly took that curse upon Himself to redeem mankind for His glory through Jesus. Therefore, keep your eyes on God and follow his commandments instead of man to continue living in a fallen world (Matthew 22:35-40).
Give grace to others as a response to God’s grace in your life. Knowing that we are there because someone shared the good news of the gospel with us will be one of the delights we shall experience in the new heavens and new earth. How much more joyful will it be to know that someone has been redeemed due to our sharing the redemption narrative with them.
58. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
59. Philippians 1:6 New International Version 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
60. Romans 14:8 “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”
Conclusion
Heaven will be filled with sinful people who were set free by the blood Jesus Christ sacrificed on the cross. Slaves to sin will transform into forgiven sons of God as he sent his own son to sacrifice his blood to make us whole. We were captives to sin, doomed to be separated from God for all eternity, but God wants us to dwell with him forever and found a way to rescue us from the eternal consequences of that sin.
