Redemption in New Testament times had a different meaning than it does today. Nowadays, we think of redeeming something in shopping terms. We redeem a coupon and the piece of paper acts as a dollar amount for something we want to purchase. In ancient days, the Greek word translated as “redeem,” agorazo, often referred to the act of buying a slave. It carried the meaning of releasing someone from their previous ownership into new ownership.
Jesus Redeems
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
we all fall short
Romans 3:22 states that there is no difference between Jew and Gentile. All have sinned and fall short of His glory. In the same vein, all are freely justified by His grace, which is given to all who believe in the gospel of Christ. Jesus sees us and all our brokenness. We were fully known and fully loved by Jesus when He chose to die for us. When we understand the depth of this truth, we can accept the freedom He offers in the gospel. In John 8:32 Jesus states, “The truth will set you free.” That truth is:
- There is no one who is good, not even one. (Romans 3:10)
- All have sinned. (v. 23)
- All are justified freely by His grace. (v. 24)
- If the Son sets you free, you are free indeed. (John 8:36)
freedom from sin
May we accept this freedom in ourselves and others. We were once slaves to sin, but Christ redeemed us from sin, causing our entire identity to change. In ancient days, one may have redeemed a person in bondage and then cause him to continue to be in bondage under different ownership. But Christ declares that He has set us free from bondage to sin! We were caught in the clutches of sin, enslaved to it from birth. But Jesus’ birth paved the way for Him to be the payment, redeeming us from sin and death to freedom and life. During this Advent season, let us walk in His freedom. Breath in deeply and know that you are free! May we walk daily as redeemed people, remembering who we are—redeemed from sin and the effects of sin.
Daily Question
What does this freedom, bought by Christ who knows you completely, mean to you? How does it change how you relate to those around you?
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It is so freeing to know you are completely forgiven. It is amazing that we know the creator of the universe, and He loves us so much! It is import to remember to show grace to those around us because of the grace Jesus showed to us!