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The Context of Redemption

 

The root meaning of the Greek word for redemption is apolutrosis.  Apolutresis means “ransom by the payment of a price” Explicitly; our redemption was procured by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  His death was a ransom for our salvation. Redemption occurs three times in the book of Ephesians (Ephesians 1:7, 1:14, and 4:30) and has the meaning of “deliverance with a price”. The price was paid by Jesus Christ, through His blood on the cross.  Paul expressed throughout the book of Ephesians that redemption covers the full range of human needs –forgiveness, deliverance, reconciliation, peace, love, new life, wisdom, understanding, community, acceptance, order, security, hope and victory in our conflict with Satan and his forces (Life in the Sprit Bible, p. 1858).

Let’s take a retrospective look at the previous statement. 

Ephesians 1:7, 8 reads: “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace; wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”

Paul stated earlier in verse 3 of chapter one of Ephesians that we are blessed by God the Father of our Lord Jesus with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”  Redemption is one of those spiritual blessings. As we mentioned earlier, redemption means a price was paid to deliver mankind from the bondage of Satan. The price was the blood of Jesus Christ.   Galatians 3:13 reads “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law…” All human beings are guilty of sin and slavery to it.  Therefore, we all deserve to be as "cursed" sinners. Jesus Christ, by being crucified and hung on a tree "bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness" (1 Peter 2:24). He bore the full curse—the full public disgrace and penalty of death —that we all deserve. 

Believers are free from the law (in its legalistic form) and free from the bondage and dominion of Satan. This freedom results in righteousness that comes from adherence and obedience to Christ Jesus and expressed through our love for Him.

Ephesians 1: 13, 14 reads  “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

The Holy Spirit is given to the believer as a down payment of what we are going to have in greater fullness in the future.  His presence and work in our lives lead us to victory, both as a sanctifier and a comforter.  The Holy Spirit is the mark of God’s ownership of the believer. We receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation to help us draw near to God through the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit also helps us to draw near to God.  The Holy Spirit builds the body of Christ and motivates unity in the faith.  Significantly, the Holy Spirit fills and empowers believes and helps in prayer and spiritual warfare. Ephesians 4:30 admonishes us to not “grieve” the Holy Spirit or ignore his presence, voice, or leading through our actions and behaviors (see Ephesians 4:23-29). Grieving the Holy Spirit leads to resisting or defying the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). This leads to insulting the Spirit of grace (Heb. 10:29)