This means “bought back and set free.” It is used in the New Testament in application to Israel and in application to Christians.
In connection with Israel historically, the nation was redeemed or set free from the bondage of Egypt by God’s power through Moses (Ex. 6:6; 15:13, etc.). But Israel’s full and final redemption from their enemies is still future, when the Lord appears (Luke 21:28). Their redemption in this outward sense could have occurred when the Lord first came (Luke 1:68; 2:38), but He was rejected by His people (Isa. 53:3; John 1:11). Consequently, the redemption of Israel nationally was postponed to a future time (Luke 24:21). When the Lord appears, He will redeem a remnant of the Jews and of the ten tribes, and thus will set them free from every adverse and hostile power that has been against them (Isa. 52:9; Hos. 13:14).
In connection with Christians, redemption is viewed in four ways:
1) The Redemption Of Our Souls
This is a once-for-all thing that occurs when we receive Christ as our Saviour. We are set free from the sentence of judgment that has been upon us (Rom. 3:24; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:13-14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18). Once we have been redeemed in this way, we never need to be redeemed again.
This aspect of redemption has in view the setting of the believer free so that he can do the will of God—in worship and in service. This is illustrated typically in the Lord's words to Pharaoh through Moses, "Let My people go, that they may serve Me" (Ex. 8:1). As a rule, since the word redeem means to be "set free," redemption is always presented in Scripture as being "from" or "out of" some adverse thing that has held people in bondage (Ex. 15:13; Psa. 25:22; Psa. 49:15; Psa. 130:8; Jer. 15:21; Mic. 4:10; Rom. 8:23; Gal. 3:13; Titus 2:14). (In the KJV, Revelation 5:9 says, "Redeemed us to God..." but redeemed is not the correct word there; it should be translated, "Purchased [bought] us to God.")
2) The Redemption Of Our Time
This aspect of redemption is something that should go on throughout our lives as a matter of daily exercise. It has to do with setting free “time” (“seizing every good and favourable opportunity” – J. N. Darby Trans. footnote) and using it for the Lord. This aspect of redemption is mentioned twice in Scripture, each having to do with a different sphere of Christian activity and service.
We are to set free time in our lives to be used to promote fellowship and encouragement within the Christian community (Eph. 5:15-21 – “yourselves”).
We are to set free time and opportunities to be used in gospel outreach toward those outside the Christian community (Col. 4:5 – “them that are without”).
God has placed this very precious commodity of time in our hands. Some have been given more of it, and others less. It has been said that the greatest waste of time is to spend it on the gratification of selfish interests, but the greatest use of time is to spend it in the service of the Master.
3) The Redemption Of Our Bodies
This will occur at the Rapture when we will be glorified like Christ (Rom. 8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Eph. 4:30; Phil. 3:21). At that time, we will be set free from every hindrance that touches our physical bodies. This aspect of redemption includes the eradication of our fallen sin-natures.
4) The Redemption Of Our Inheritance
This will occur at the Appearing of Christ when the judgments of the Lord will be poured out on the earth (Eph. 1:14). The inheritance includes every created thing in heaven and on earth. It has been “purchased [bought]” by Christ’s work on the cross (Heb. 2:9 – “tasted death for every thing”), but it is still in a condition of bondage to the effects of sin and is in need of being redeemed (Rom. 8:20-22).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many confuse “bought” with “redeemed,” assuming that they are the same thing—but these terms are not synonymous in Scripture. Mr. Kelly said, “The word ‘bought’ does not mean ‘redeem;’ but so thoroughly have these two thoughts been confounded in the minds of Christians generally, that the difference was quite ignored by the two parties who stand opposed to one another as they have been for 1400 years....The remarkable fact is that both agree in taking these two words as equivalent; so that there has been no thought of discriminating; there is a habitual confusion of the two ideas in ‘purchase’ and ‘redemption’” (Bible Witness and Review, vol. 2, p. 433). The truth is that redeemed includes being bought, but it goes beyond the thought of purchase to take in being set free. Bought has to do with a change of ownership; whereas redeemed has to do with a change of condition. Ephesians 1:14 proves that there is a difference between bought [purchase] and redeemed. It tells us that there is something—the "purchased possession" (which is the inheritance)—that has been purchased, but has not yet been redeemed. What could this mean, if both terms were synonymous? All men and things have been bought by Christ, and therefore, belong to Him (Matt. 13:44; Heb. 2:9), but only those who own Christ’s purchase by faith are redeemed. Thus, lost men and women in this world have been bought (2 Peter 2:1) but they are not redeemed.
The following illustration helps us to understand the difference between bought and redeemed. Suppose you see a caged dog captive to a cruel master. You often go by that pitiful sight and see the cruel man beating and mistreating his dog. To deliver the dog from such cruelty, you approach the master with an offer to buy the animal. The man is agreeable to it, and states his price, and you pay him the amount. You buy the dog and the cage and drive off. At this point, the dog has been purchased; he has a new master. There has been a change of ownership, but there has not been a change of condition—it is still captive in the cage. But when you get home and open the cage, and the dog gets out and runs around, then there is a change of condition—the dog is liberated or set free! This is the meaning of redemption; it implies not only being purchased, but also being set free. W. Scott said, “Redemption is a very different thing from purchase [bought]; the former refers to a change of state or condition, while the latter merely intimates a change of masters. You may purchase a slave, but that is not deliverance from the state of slavery” (Handbook of the Old Testament, p. 370). (See Bought.)