Christ our Redemption

The final truth that 1 Corinthians 1:30 outlines is this: “Christ became to us…redemption.” Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives the following definition of redemption: “the ransom or deliverance of sinners from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God’s violated law by the atonement of Christ.” We have been released from our captivity to sin and delivered from the wrath of God! This is why we refer to Jesus as our “Saviour.”

How did Christ become our redemption? Paul explains that He “gave Himself for our sins” (Galatians 1:4), He “redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13). We were redeemed not with “perishable things like silver or gold…but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Our debt to the demands of God’s justice has been satisfied – paid in full! We can proclaim, “Saved by the blood of the Crucified One! Now ransomed from sin and a new work begun!” What is that new work? Titus 2:14 gives the answer: “[Christ] gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” And Hebrews 9:14 confirms this new purpose for our lives: “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

A very special blessing associated with our redemption from sin’s bondage is this freedom to now serve God with our entire life! “Living for Jesus who died in my place, bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace; such love constrains me to answer His call, follow His leading, and give Him my all” (Thomas O. Chisholm). Echoing the words of Paul’s prayer for his brothers and sisters in Christ, I too “pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power” (2 Thessalonians 1:11).