Redemption is a concept addressed throughout the Bible. Redemption is not a completely unfamiliar idea outside the church, but it is one most likely to be found mentioned in Christian circles. Outside of the church redemption seems to be used most often in reference to claiming rewards that have been earned. If someone has earned cash back through a credit card or upgrades through frequent flyer miles, then those benefits are claimed by redeeming them. The Biblical use of redemption is much different.

Redemption is used in the Bible in several different ways, including the purchase of something from bondage and the atonement of someone from sin. The most common use of redemption among Christians is that of redemption from sin. Redemption from sin is a purchasing of someone out of bondage to sin by paying the penalty required by their sin. Biblical redemption is not a business transaction but a judicial one. Because redemption is a legal process, the price and process is set by the Judge of all the Earth. God has established what is required to redeem a person. The price of redemption is the wages of sin. The deliverance of redemption is release from sin’s slavery and sin’s curse.

Redemption from sin is never accomplished by the person. The sinner cannot redeem himself from his own sin. Psalm 49:6-8 says that no no one can redeem a person from sin because the cost to redeem the soul is more than any one can pay. Instead, God provided a substitute who would redeem men. The Old Testament is filled with temporary substitutes who redeemed sinners from death. Every sacrifice offered under the Old Testament law was a substitute for the sinner.

Ultimately, God Himself became the Redeemer for sinners who provided the full redemption sacrifices could not accomplish. This Divine redemption is pictured in the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt. In Exodus 6 God said, “I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.” In Isaiah 43 God said, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” God promised to send a redeemer who would deliver them from sin. That redeemer is Jesus.

The New Testament declares that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise to send Israel a redeemer. Jesus is not only the redeemer of Israel, He is the redeemer of all who trust in Him. The New Testament repeatedly calls Jesus the redeemer of men. “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.” (Galatians 3:13) “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:25) “Who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed.”( Titus 2:14) “You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood.” (Revelation 5:9) Jesus redeems sinners by being their substitute who pays the price of their sin through His death on the cross. Jesus paid the penalty of sin, thereby satisfying Gods’ justice and covering the guilt of those who trust Him. Those who receive Jesus as Savior are set free from the curse and enslavement of sin. As a result, the redeemed are forgiven of all sin and reconciled to God.