Now let’s speak about redeemed. Redemption includes being bought, but it goes beyond that to take in being set free. The meaning given in any good Bible dictionary is: “bought back and set free.” It indicates that there is not just a change of ownership (a change of masters) as in “bought;” there is also a change of condition.
The great emphasis in “redeemed” is being set free. Hence, Scripture does not speak of believers being redeemed to God, because redemption always has to do with being set free "from" things (Gen. 48:16; 1 Chron. 17:21; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18). (Revelation 5:9, in the KJV, says, "Redeemed us to God..." but it should be translated, "Bought us to God..." (W. Kelly Translation).
Four Aspects of Redemption
There are at least four different ways in which redemption is applied to persons and things—our souls, our time (opportunities), our bodies, and our inheritance.
1) The Redemption of Our Souls
Turn to Romans 3:24: “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” And in Ephesians 1:7: “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Titus 2:13-14: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” And again, in 1 Peter 1:18: “Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” These verses show that redemption applies to the souls of believers. Those who, by faith, own Christ's purchase on the cross and receive Him as Saviour are thus redeemed; it is an “eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12).
This aspect of redemption is two-fold. Firstly, believers are set free from the judgment of God against their sins. This has been called, "Redemption by blood" (1 Peter 1:18; Eph. 1:7). Secondly, believers are set free from the enslaving power of sin (Rom. 6:18; 8:2), from the dominion of Satan (Heb. 2:14), and from the course of this world (Gal. 1:4). This has been called, "Redemption by power." (Whether this deliverance is practically so in the lives of believers is another thing; such depends upon the believer yielding to the indwelling Spirit of God.)
Paul develops the truth of the gospel along the line of redemption by blood in Romans 3:21–5:11, and then he develops the truth along the line of redemption by power in Romans 5:12–8:39. A type of this two-fold redemption is found in Exodus 12 and 14. In Exodus 12, the children of Israel were set free from the judgment of God by being under the shelter of the blood of the lambs that were killed. In Exodus 14, the children of Israel were set free from Pharaoh (a type of Satan), from slavery (a type of the enslaving power of the flesh), and from Egypt (the world) by God's power displayed at the Red Sea.
Before the love, mercy, and grace of God reached us, we were under the judgment of God (John 3:18), but Ephesians 2:2-3 shows that we were also under the power and control of sin, Satan, and the world. It says: “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.” All three of these enemies work together to keep the sinner in bondage.
Sin
Men don’t like to admit that they are in bondage and under control of the sins in their lives. They are honestly deceived, thinking that the life they live is not bondage, but this just points to the solemn fact of sin’s blinding power. Romans 3:9 says: “We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.” Also Proverbs 5:22 Says: “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.” And again, in John 8:34: “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” Apart from the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, all men, Jews or Gentiles, are under the dominion and power of sin, and need to be set free from it. Receiving by faith the truth of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus will make one “free indeed” from this internal power (John 8:32, 36).
Satan
Believers are also set free from Satan. He dominates all his subjects and is doing all he can to keep them in his grasp, without them knowing it. Luke 11:21-22 Says: “When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, He taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.” Satan is the “strong man” here. His “goods” are his poor sin-sick subjects under his dominion. They are “in peace” because he has deceived them into thinking that everything is fine (2 Cor. 4:4). Hence, they are not concerned about their destiny in a lost eternity. The “stronger” Man is the Lord Jesus. When sinners believe on Him, His redemptive power sets them free so that they are able to live for God’s glory. The point here is that the redemption that is in Christ Jesus sets people free from Satan’s dominion. When His work in redemption is received by faith, it turns people “from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God” (Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13-14; Heb. 2:14-15).
The World
Lastly, believers are set free from the course of this world. Satan uses the world system to control his subjects. The course of this world is a powerful thing that makes people act and speak the way they do. They need to be delivered from it; this is only found in Christ. “Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1:3-4).
The Law
If a person is Jewish, redemption would also include being set free from the curse of the Law. This is also found in Christ. “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” (Gal. 3:13 4:4-5). A Gentile, of course, does not need to be set free from the claims of the Law, because he has never been formally under the Law.
2) The Redemption of Our Time
Now let’s turn to Ephesians 5:15-16: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” And also, in Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.” Here we have another aspect of redemption. It has to do with opportunities in our lives to live for the glory of God. This has nothing to do with what is eternal, but solely with our time is OUR responsibility. We are to do the redeeming or setting free of it in this sense.
We are living in an evil day, and if the devil could have his way, we would never have any time for the Lord. He wants to fill our lives with anything and everything so that we don’t have time for Him and His things. The Lord, therefore, said: “The violent take it by force” (Matt. 11:12). This means that we have to press into the kingdom practically by doing violence (in spiritual warfare) to things that are in the way. Therefore, we must seize the occasion from the enemy, and use it for the Lord—whether it is time for taking in the truth by sitting at Jesus’ feet, or time in service, sharing the truth with others. In Ephesians, it is in connection with using our time to strengthen and encourage those within the Christian circle (“yourselves”), but in Colossians, it is in connection with reaching out to “them that are without” with the gospel. These are two things that are worthy of our time.
3) The Redemption of Our Bodies
Turn next to Ephesians 4:30: “Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” And then in Romans 8:23: “We ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” This is another aspect of redemption. The bodies of the saints need to be redeemed as well as their souls. Our souls were set free when we, by faith, received the Lord Jesus as our Saviour; but we are still waiting for the redemption of our bodies. These verses show that there is a “day of redemption.” It is the day in which the Lord Jesus will come to take us home to heaven (the Rapture).
here in this world. The redemption of our souls is purely HIS work, but the redemption of time in our lives I remember hearing H. E. Hayhoe say (in a recording), “Brethren, we have only part of our redemption now!” That must have caused some stir! But in the light of these two verses, it is certainly true. Our bodies are still subject to the effects of sin in the creation (“the bondage of corruption” – Rom. 8:21), and they are waiting to be set free. Aging, sickness, and impending death await us if the Lord does not come in our lifetime. But when He comes, we will be glorified immediately. The fallen sin-nature will be eradicated at that time, and the aches and pains presently connected with our bodies will all be gone! The glorification of the sons of God will be at the Rapture (Rom. 8:18), but the manifestation of the sons of God will be at the Appearing of Christ (Rom. 8:19).
Philippians 3:20-21 brings this out beautifully: “Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.” Here the Lord Jesus is spoken of, not as the Saviour of our souls, but the Saviour of our bodies. He is coming to save or redeem our bodies! This verse should be translated, “ ... who shall transform our body of humiliation.” “Vile” (KJV) is an unhappy word here because our bodies are a creation of God, and therefore, are not vile. They are affected by sin but are not sinful. If they were sinful and vile, God would never beseech us to present our bodies (in their present unglorified state) to Him as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1).
The saints who have passed away, who are with the Lord now, are waiting, as we are waiting, for the redemption of their bodies. This, I say, will happen when the Lord comes. They will experience the putting on of “incorruption,” when their bodies are raised and reunited with their souls and spirits in that glorified state. At the same time, those of us who are alive when the Lord comes will experience the putting on of “immortality.” Thus, our redemption will be complete. It will all happen in “the twinkling of an eye” (1 Cor. 15:51-54).
4) The Redemption of Our Inheritance
Let’s turn back to Ephesians 1:13-14 which we read already: “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 [who] is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” We have touched on this passage to speak of the purchase of the inheritance, but now let’s look at it in connection with the redemption of the inheritance.
As I’ve said, sin, Satan, and the world have affected all that Christ has made by His power and wisdom. Every created thing has been purchased and is awaiting redemption. The creation, and all in it, is suffering under “the bondage of corruption” (Rom. 8:20-22), but there is a time coming when it will be set free from every adverse thing and power to be used as a stage for the display of the glory of Christ.
Not only do persons need to be set free, but so do things in the creation; they have all been affected by sin. There is still much in the creation that we can enjoy, even in its fallen condition, but when Christ appears, He will set it free by an act of God's power in redemption. Satan also, controls much of this world’s goods. He said to the Lord: “All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Luke 4:6). Thus, these material things need to be set free from his grasp. We might ask, “How are material things governed or controlled by Satan and the world?” Much of the lower creation has been commercialized and ordered by worldly principles, and thus spoiled. The creation must be set free from this world system, and as mentioned, it will be done through judgment when the Lord comes at His appearing.
God’s great purpose is to glorify His Son; and He has chosen this creation as the stage to do it. This will be done in two spheres—in heaven and on earth (Eph. 1:10). In the millennial day, God will display the glory of His Son through the Church to a wondering world—in this very scene where He was rejected and cast out (2 Thess. 1:10; Rev. 21:9-22:5). This groaning creation waits (unconsciously) to be set free from sin, Satan, and the world, so that it can be used for that glorious purpose. Today, Satan and worldly unbelievers are using the earth for their self-serving purposes; but then it will be set free to be used for the Lord’s glory.
There is this difference between the redemption of our bodies and the redemption of all things; our bodies will be redeemed at the Rapture, whereas the redemption of all things awaits Christ’s Appearing, some 7 years later (after the Tribulation period).
Summary
The redemption of our souls—occurs when we receive Christ as our Saviour.
The redemption of our time—should go on throughout our lives.
The redemption of our bodies—occurs at the Rapture.
The redemption of our inheritance—occurs at the Appearing of Christ.