WE will spend a short time over some further New Testament texts on Redemption. In writing to the Hebrew strangers scattered abroad, the Apostle Peter says, “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (or manner of life) received by tradition from your fathers.” (1 Peter 1:18.) For the precious blood of Christ, the spotless Lamb, sets us as pilgrims here, and we are making our heavenward journey under the Father’s eye. What a joyful, yet solemn word is this for any in christian days, whose manner of life denies the pilgrim position into which believers are brought by the precious blood of Christ.
The Apostle Paul writes of the law, and its curse, under which the Galatian believers were putting themselves: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” (Gal. 3:10.) He says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.’” (vs. 13.) Through the grace of God this word has come to us who believe, “Ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ” (Rom. 7:4); and solemn indeed it is when a poor sinner addresses himself to the law and not to Christ for salvation. God says, “The just shall live by faith”; but the law is not faith, but doing; for “the man that doeth them shall live in them.” What then say the Scriptures to the doer “who continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them”? “Cursed is every one” who fails to do all that the law requires. Most blessed is the redemption from this awful curse for all for whom the blessed Lord Jesus Christ hung upon the tree!
Let us look at some of the passages which speak of the redemption of the body. We are now blessed with all spiritual blessings, but our bodies are still in this world where sorrow and death reign. The whole creation is in “bondage of corruption.” Even the dumb beasts suffer and die. But the day of liberty is coming for our bodies, and that will be the day of deliverance for creation.
Our hearts are often bitterly sorrowful, and it is needful that so it should be. It is impossible to live many years on earth without having a broken heart, but, through grace, glory awaits us― “Even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Rom. 8:23.) These poor, dying frames will before long be redeemed out of this sorrow-stricken world, and from corruption, and will be made glorious like unto our Saviour’s. Then will be “the liberty of the glory of the children of God,” and the day of joy of the creation. We are sealed with the Holy Ghost unto the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30) ―that is, the Holy Spirit dwells within us, as the Lord promised should be the case (John 14:17), and the Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance. The Holy Spirit was promised by the Lord, and now in having Him in us we have the realized promise of Jesus; and as we have the earnest, so surely shall we have the promised glory. Looking on to that great day, the apostle says (1 Cor. 1:30) Christ Jesus is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. We have the first three; the last, redemption, will soon be OUTS.
This contemplation brings us to the songs where the redeemed shall worship God and the Lamb. The word we read “redeem” is “buy” or “purchase” (see R.V.) in the texts in the Revelation. The purchased in glory shall ever sing the praises of their Redeemer, and this is our bright and joyous prospect. Our hearts awake on earth to sing His love, and praise His dear Name, Redeemer, the more we dwell on His dying love for us.