Jesus Ends Slavery

Salvation can be described in three theological terms: justification, redemption, and propitiation. These are three sides of the triangle of salvation. In Romans 3:24 Paul says, “being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” In this study we want to examine the second aspect of salvation, which is redemption.

The Vocabulary of Redemption

When we study the words associated with redemption (redeem, redeemer, ransom), we find that many of them are constructed on the Greek verbal stem lu, which means “to loose, to set free, to liberate, to deliver from bondage to freedom.” Thus we have apoluô, which means “to set free.” Simeon used this word in reference to himself in Luke 2:29: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace” (italics added). The word lutroô means “to set at liberty upon payment of a ransom.” Lutron means “a ransom, the payment one makes to set someone free.” Lutrôsis means “redemption” (see Luke 1:68). Apolutrôsis, which appears in Romans 3:24, means “to set a slave free upon payment of ransom, away from his former wretched condition and situation to a new situation, to a new owner, to new freedom.” Lutrôtês, used in reference to Moses in Acts 7:35, means “deliverer, redeemer.”

Other words speak about redemption from the Greek marketplace, the agora. So we have agorazô, which means “to buy someone or something for oneself from the marketplace” (see 1 Cor. 6:19-20) and exagorazô, which means “to buy out of the marketplace, never to return to the former condition again” (see Gal. 3:13).

Slaves, prisoners of war, and captives condemned to death can be set free by another paying a ransom for them. Redemption, therefore, is releasing someone from the bondage of an alien power by paying a ransom. This ransom has to be paid by another because the captive is powerless to secure his own liberty. Captives condemned to die will surely die unless they are redeemed by another through a ransom payment.

The Scripture says we are redeemed by Jesus Christ from the alien power of Satan, from captivity to sin, from the curse of the law, from the guilt and power of sin, and from death eternal. We are redeemed to belong to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, never again to return to our former owner and miserable situation.

Christ’s redemption of us is not temporal but eternal. Speaking of the excellency and beauty of these words “redeemer” and “redemption,” Everett F. Harrison says, “No word in the Christian vocabulary deserves to be held more precious than Redeemer, for even more than Saviour it reminds the child of God that his salvation has been purchased at a great and personal cost, for the Lord has given himself for our sins in order to deliver us from them.”¹ The late professor B. B. Warfield of Princeton, professor of polemic theology, says that Redeemer “is the name specifically of the Christ of the cross. Whenever we pronounce it, the cross is placarded before our eyes and our hearts are filled with loving remembrance not only that Christ has given us salvation but that he paid a mighty price for it.”² Jesus himself said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

Our Inability to Redeem Ourselves

Can a man redeem himself? The Bible clearly says no. The psalmist declares, “No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-that he should live on forever and not see decay” (Ps. 49:7-9). Elsewhere he says, “If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? . . . [The Lord] himself will redeem Israel from all their sins” (Ps. 130:3, 8).

Those who are not born again are in bondage to sin. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How then can you say that we shall be set free?’ Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'” (John 8:31-34).

Paul writes, “What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin” (Rom. 3:9). By nature we are under the authority of master sin and cannot get out by ourselves. Then Paul says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Elsewhere he explains, “For sin shall not be your master” (Rom. 6:14). Sin is the master of everyone not redeemed by Jesus Christ. Then Paul says, “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves of sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18).

We cannot get out of sin by ourselves. Paul says, “The wages of sin is death,” (Rom. 6:23), and Ezekiel declares, “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ezek. 18:20). Paul also writes, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin” (Rom. 7:14). This is what we call total depravity.

We Need a Redeemer

We need a redeemer to set us free by payment of a ransom. In the Old Testament close relatives had certain rights: they could avenge the murder of a family member or buy back for the family any property that was sold to pay a debt. They also had the right to redeem with a ransom any family member who had sold himself as a slave or one who was under the sentence of death where such redemption was possible.³ Close relatives also had the right to marry the widows of their brothers so that the name of the dead brother would continue through the first son of the new marriage.

Such a person is called a gô’êl, a kinsman-redeemer. The book of Ruth is a beautiful love story that dramatizes the gracious redemption that Boaz, as kinsman-redeemer, accomplishes in buying up the property of his relative Elimelech and marrying Ruth, through whom came Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer.

We need a gô’êl, a kinsman-redeemer, a very close relative, to redeem us miserable sinners who are slaves to sin, Satan, and death. Not only must this person have the ability to pay our ransom, but he must also be willing to do so. Praise God, we have such a relative: our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we can understand more fully the importance of the incarnation of Christ.

Why did the Son of God become man? The writer to the Hebrews says, “In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation prefect through suffering . . . Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-that is, the devil-and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:10, 14). We have a close relative in Jesus Christ, and he alone is able to pay the ransom to secure our freedom because he is God-man, the sinless One. Paul declares, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). Elsewhere he writes, “[Christ Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:6-8). God became incarnate as a servant to die the shameful death of the cross that we might be redeemed.

But is Jesus willing to redeem us? Consider the account of a leper in Matthew 8:1-3: “When [Jesus] came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man: ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!'”

The Old Testament speaks much of such a redeemer. In the midst of his suffering, Job declared, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 19:25). This was fulfilled in Jesus Christ: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Isaiah also spoke much of this great Redeemer’s coming: “Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel” (Isa. 44:23); “Leave Babylon, flee from the Babylonians! Announce this with shouts of joy and proclaim it. Send it out to the ends of the earth; say, ‘The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob'” (Isa. 48:20); “This is what the Lord says-the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel” (Isa. 49:7); “Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem” (Isa. 52:9).

Who Is the Promised Redeemer?

Who is this redeemer promised in the Old Testament? He is none other than Jesus Christ. He is our gô’êl, our kinsman-redeemer. The angel told Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Zechariah prophesied about the redemption Christ would bring: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people” (Luke 1:68). Anna spoke similarly to the parents of the infant Jesus: “Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). Paul says we are “justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). He also says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7). Elsewhere he writes, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14).

In Hebrews 7:22 he is called enguos, which means “sponsor.” Jesus Christ is responsible for all our obligations. He guarantees our total and final salvation because of his person and permanent priesthood. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).

Redemption is embodied in Jesus Christ. There is no salvation, no redemption, no justification outside of the person of Jesus Christ. We spoke earlier of a survey that showed fifty-seven percent of Bible-believing people believing there is salvation in many other religions. Such belief is a lie. There is no salvation in any other name. Redemption is found in Jesus Christ alone. He is alone our Redeemer.

The High Cost of Redemption

Not only is Jesus our Redeemer, but he is also the ransom, the lutron, the price paid for our redemption. All creation came into being by a fiat, a command of God. But redemption was achieved by the incarnation and death of God’s Son. This great price shows how much God loves us.

Paul spoke of this high cost of redemption to the leaders of the Ephesian church: “Keep watch over yourselves and the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). Jesus himself spoke of this price: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11; see also verses 15, 17, 18). Peter declares, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Pet. 1:18-19) We see the same idea in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” Paul also writes, “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men” (1 Cor. 7:23).

The Hebrews writer tells us, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Heb. 9:22). The blood of bulls and goats cannot forgive our sins. Only the blood of God’s Son can redeem us. But did Jesus give his life to ransom every sinner? The answer is no. Jesus died to redeem only his elect sinners whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. So Paul writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:3-4). If everyone were chosen, then choosing would have no meaning. In his high priestly prayer, Jesus says of his disciples, “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours” (John 17:9). There is a distinction. (PGM) The church is an inner circle; the outer circle is the world. We are the Father’s donation to the Son, that he may redeem us at the high price of his own death.

To the unbelieving Jews Jesus said, “You do not believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:26). J. I. Packer says, “The death of Christ actually put away the sins of all God’s elect and ensured that they would be brought to faith through regeneration and kept in faith for glory.”⁴

There are three views of how many people Christ died for. First, there is actual universalism, which says everyone without exception will be saved, for Christ died for everyone without exception. Adherents of this view would say the death of Christ has unlimited efficacy and unlimited extent. Second, there is hypothetical universalism, which says Christ’s death has unlimited extent but limited efficacy. Third, there is particular, or definite, redemption, which says Christ’s death has unlimited efficacy but limited extent-limited to the salvation of God’s elect. We agree with this last view: Jesus Christ died for everyone who will repent and believe in him.

Present and Future Redemption

We experience the blessing of God’s redemption in two stages. The first stage is the present time, in this life; the second stage is in the coming age. Paul writes, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7). We presently experience forgiveness of all our sins. That is what it means to be justified. Paul says the same thing elsewhere: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). Even now we are experiencing the kingdom of God, which is “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).

Paul writes that Jesus “gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness [lawlessness] and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). What a blessing it is to be redeemed from lawlessness! We find the same word (anomia) in Matthew 7 where Jesus says many will come to him, saying, “Lord, Lord.” And he will tell them, “Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt. 7:22, 23, author’s translation). This is the problem of many evangelical churches today; they speak of justification but practice lawlessness. But Paul is saying that God has redeemed us from all lawlessness and is purifying us to be his own holy people, zealous to do what is good.

In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul instructs us, “Flee from sexual immorality.” How many modern evangelicals not only say we do not have to flee sexual immorality, but also teach that Christians can indulge in it and still be saved! But that is not what the Bible teaches. “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.” John Frame says when a person joins in a sexually immoral relationship, he is bringing Jesus Christ into that relationship. Even to think of it is blasphemy. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” The Holy Spirit is in us; this is a present blessing. Paul continues, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” Many who sinned against their bodies have lived to regret it. True Christians will not boast of how much immorality they committed; rather, they will be ashamed because sin is injurious to both body and soul. But now our ownership has been changed from Satan to Jesus Christ. Paul concludes, “Therefore, honor God with your body” (1 Cor. 6:18-20). These are all present experiences of redemption.

What is going to happen in the future? We will receive a glorified, spiritual body, a sinless body, a Spirit-engineered, physical body with which to live with God. That is a future installment of redemption. Paul writes, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Rom. 8:22-23).

Yes, we are all going to die. The Bible speaks of “this mortal body.” God has decided to give us the fullness of the blessings of redemption in two installments. We may want it in one, but that is not God’s plan. So we must die, but we will die in faith and hope that we will be with Christ in paradise.

Paul writes, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Eph. 1:13). The Holy Spirit is the seal that signifies, first, ownership, that we belong to Christ; and, second, security, that we are secure in Christ. The Holy Spirit “is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the praise of his glory” (v. 14). Here redemption is seen as future; Paul is speaking about the glorification of our bodies. In the same epistle he says, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30). Again, this is speaking about the resurrection of believers. And to the Corinthians he explains, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). Again, this is speaking of a future installment of a glorified body.

The Blessings of Redemption

What blessings do we receive from this aspect of salvation called redemption?

1. We enjoy freedom. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). As redeemed people of God, we enjoy freedom from sin, guilt, condemnation, death, and hell. We enjoy freedom to say no to sin and yes to righteousness. What glorious freedom-we do not have to sin! When Jesus was tempted, he said no to sin and yes to God. We can have the same freedom.How many people in today’s churches say, “We are justified; therefore, we can do whatever we want.” Such people say that repentance and saving faith is not necessary. Even one fruit of the Spirit is not necessary, according to such people. But Paul says, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13).

   Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:34-36). If we are sons of God, we must stand fast in the freedom Christ has given us.

2. We have a new master. In Ephesians 1:13-14 Paul wrote that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating that we belong to our new master, Jesus Christ, to serve and love him. In fact, this change of ownership is what makes us Christians. Paul writes, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Rom. 10:9). Jesus tells us, “Come and follow me.” He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in hear, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). Christianity is an ongoing relational life. There is no such thing as absolute freedom. Either we serve Satan or Jesus Christ.
3. We experience forgiveness of all sins. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Eph. 1:7).
4. We enjoy redemption of our bodies. Jesus Christ was sent to bring many sons to glory, and God will glorify us in body and soul, saving us not only from the penalty and power of sin, but also from the presence of sin. Today sin is present in us, but there is coming a day when our bodies will be like unto his glorious body. “We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
5. Sin has no dominion over us. This may sound strange to us, but it is true, even in this life. Paul writes, “For sin shall not be your master” (Rom. 6:14). Our new master is the Lord Jesus Christ; we need no longer obey sin.
6. We are not under law. Paul explains, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law” (Gal. 4:4-5). We can now stand before God, not because we kept the law perfectly and fully, but because Jesus Christ did. We are not under law but under grace, and this grace enables us to fulfill the law: to love our spouses, to go to work, to tell the truth, to stop stealing and work with our hands that we may have something to give, to honor our father and mother. So God’s moral laws are still applicable to us, but being sinners, we can never keep them perfectly and stand before God in our own righteousness.Paul says, “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). God in his great love and rich mercy made us alive that we might serve him. This is spiritual resurrection. We have the life of God in the soul of man by which we can resist the devil and say no to sin and enjoy the freedom. In other words, what we read about in Ephesians 2:1-3 has been reversed. Now we are alive toward God and dead toward sin – notin sin, but toward sin.
7. Satan cannot harm us. John admonishes, “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him” (1 John 5:18). Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Satan can never harm us. James tells us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas. 4:7). The devil is a superhuman, angelic being. Yet we can resist him in the name of Jesus Christ and he will run.Peter also speaks of this: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:6-9). We do not have to sin. The reason we sin is arrogance; pride goes before a fall. When the word is preached, we do not listen. The devil keeps us from the word because it is medicine that will heal us if we take it. But those who are humble and fear God can resist the devil in the name of Jesus by obeying Christ. That is what standing firm in the faith means. When we do so, he will flee. John writes, “They overcame [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, meaning their faith in this redemption, this atonement (Rev. 12:11).
8. Redemption brings sonship. “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law that we might receive the full rights of sons” (Gal. 4:4-5). We now belong to the family of God, and our sonship brings us inheritance. As sons, we are heirs-heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.

Sonship also brings the Spirit of God’s Son into our hearts. How do we know that the Holy Spirit is in us? We will have a continuous cry: “Abba, Father.” When children are born, they cry. In fact, we look for that cry, for it means life; otherwise, it is a stillbirth. We are to cry out continuously to our heavenly Father. It is automatic for a redeemed child of God to do so. We have been brought into the family of God and given the right of sons to cry out to God and he promises to hear us.

I pray that each of us will make certain that we belong to the company of the redeemed. When God saves us, he delivers us from all bondages and brings us into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Make sure, therefore, that you belong to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, who loved us so much he laid down his own life for our redemption-a redemption that is just as irreversible and irrevocable as justification. And having been redeemed out of our former sphere of sin, guilt, and misery, we now belong to Christ, to glory, to the family of God, to heaven. We now can enjoy a life of freedom – freedom not to sin and freedom to obey God.

Is there redemption in any other religion? No. Redemption is embodied in Jesus Christ alone. What must we do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

¹ Everett F. Harrison, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, Carl F. H. Henry, eds., Baker’s Dictionary of Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1982), 439.

² Quoted by James M. Boice, Romans, Vol. 1: Justification by Faith: Romans 1-4(Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991), 363.

³ For example, Exodus 21 speaks about an ox that was in the habit of goring. If the owner did not take care of it, and the ox gored and killed someone, the ox must be killed and the owner also must be killed unless someone wanted to redeem him by paying whatever price was asked.

⁴ J. I. Packer, Concise Theology (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993), 137.