What does it mean that Jesus is our Redeemer?
The concept of Jesus as redeemer is central to the Christian faith. To redeem means to buy back or repurchase something that had been lost. Theologically, Jesus redeems humanity from sin and death through his sacrificial death on the cross. Here is a 9000 word exploration of what it means that Jesus is our redeemer according to the Bible.
The Need for Redemption
In order to understand redemption, we first have to understand why redemption is necessary. According to the Bible, humanity is in a fallen state as a result of original sin (Genesis 3). Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden, all humans have had a propensity toward sin. The Bible says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sin has separated humanity from our holy Creator and brought death into the world. Without intervention, we remain under condemnation and alienation from God.
The Old Testament law provided a system of animal sacrifices as a temporary covering for sin (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31). However, this sacrificial system could not permanently take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). It pointed forward to the need for a perfect, unblemished sacrifice that could fully atone for the sins of humanity. What was needed was a redeemer – someone who could pay the price to release sinners from their debt to God.
Jesus became that perfect redeemer by offering himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. As John the Baptist declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament expectations of a Messiah who would deliver humanity from bondage to sin and death (Luke 24:21). Now, redemption from sin is found in Christ alone.
Christ’s Redemptive Work
The New Testament presents Christ’s death on the cross as an act of substitutionary atonement. Jesus suffered the penalty of death that rightfully belonged to us because of our sin. As Isaiah prophesied, “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Our sins were laid upon Jesus, and he bore them in his body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24).
In his death, Jesus satisfied the righteous requirements of God’s law regarding sin and enabled forgiveness. His sacrifice paid our debt in full. As Paul wrote, God “canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:14). No longer does the law’s penalty or power over us. Through his redemption, Jesus disarmed the powers of evil and delivered us from their dominion (Colossians 2:15).
Not only did Christ die for our sins, but he conquered death in his resurrection. His victory over death guarantees our resurrection to eternal life also (1 Corinthians 15:20-22). We are set free from slavery to sin and its consequence of death (Romans 6:17-18, 22). Eternal life is now made available to us through Christ’s completed work of redemption.
The Cost of Redemption
Redemption came at immense cost for both the Father and the Son. It required the Father to willingly give over his beloved Son to suffer and die an excruciating death on the cross (John 3:16; Romans 8:32). The Son also willingly submitted himself to death out of love for humanity and obedience to the Father (John 10:18; Philippians 2:8). The agony of his soul in the Garden of Gethsemane testifies to the cup of suffering he drank for us (Luke 22:39-44). Truly, Christ paid an enormous price to secure our redemption from sin and death.
The New Testament employs the imagery of emancipation from slavery to describe what Christ’s redemption accomplished. In the first century world, slaves could be granted freedom through the payment of a ransom price. Jesus similarly paid a ransom to liberate us. As Jesus declared, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Our forgiveness and freedom cost the very life of the Son of God.
Redemption therefore is not cheap grace. It was purchased at great cost. But whereas we were unable to free ourselves from slavery to sin, Christ freed us through the ransom price of his blood. We owed a debt we could not pay. He paid a debt he did not owe, to grant us liberation and forgiveness. Our salvation and adoption into God’s family came at highest price – the life of the very Son of God.
Justification by Faith
While Christ has paid the full redemption price for sin, we must receive this gift by faith. We are “justified by faith” in what Jesus has done for us (Romans 5:1). When we put our trust in Christ’s finished work on the cross for salvation, we are redeemed from our sin and declared righteous before God.
This justification comes not by good works or human effort. Scripture is clear that “by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight” (Romans 3:20). Our own merits or righteousness can never earn redemption. It is solely on the basis of Christ’s substitutionary atonement that we are forgiven and saved from God’s wrath (Romans 3:21-26). When we trust in Jesus alone, our debt is fully cancelled and we are justified from all things (Acts 13:38-39).
Saving faith involves repentance from sin and submission to Jesus as Lord. We turn from our rebellion and commit ourselves to obedience to Christ. But even this repentance is a gracious gift enabled by God (Acts 11:18; Ephesians 2:8-9). Our humble faith and obedience can never function as the basis of our redemption. We merely receive by faith what Christ has already accomplished for us on the cross.
Redemption as Restoration to Sonship
Christ’s redemption further means the restoration of our sonship. Though originally created good, humanity turned away from God’s loving authority to pursue our own independence. In so doing, we forfeited our status as God’s sons and daughters. Through redemption, this sonship is regained.
Under the Old Covenant, Israel was called God’s son, but faithless Israel lost the blessings of sonship through disobedience (Exodus 4:22; Isaiah 1;2; Malachi 3:1). In the New Covenant, those who receive Christ are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). Paul explains that “God sent forth his Son….to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). We are redeemed from slavery to sin to be adopted as God’s beloved children.
Our new identity as sons and daughters is the basis of our inheritance. Paul writes, “You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God” (Galatians 4:7). As heirs we now share in all Christ’s riches as co-heirs with him (Romans 8:17). Though we were once disinherited because of our sin, in Christ we are restored as cherished children and given the eternal inheritance originally intended for humanity.
Present and Future Dimensions of Redemption
The New Testament presents redemption as having both present and future dimensions. We have been redeemed, are being redeemed, and await the consummation of our redemption. While the price has fully been paid, the application of Christ’s redemptive work is ongoing.
In the present, we receive redemption and are being progressively sanctified. Sin’s power over us is broken as we grow in obedience and holiness by the Spirit. Paul writes that disciples are “to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:14). Our future glorification motivates us to pursue holiness in this life (1 John 3:2-3). Redemption is not merely imputed legal righteousness but also entails practical transformation into Christ’s image.
However, our present enjoyment of redemption remains partial and incomplete. We still wrestle against the remnant of indwelling sin (Romans 7:15-20). While we have been saved from sin’s dominion, we await the full eradication of sin from our being. The mortal bodies we inherited from Adam still suffer disease, decay, and death. We groan as we await the redemption of our bodies (Romans 8:23).
When Christ returns, we will experience the full benefits of his redemptive work. We will be resurrected with glorified, immortal bodies free from all traces of sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:51-55). Creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to corruption (Romans 8:19-21). God’s purposes for humanity to rule creation under God’s authority will finally be fulfilled (Hebrews 2:5-9). Complete, eternal redemption will be ours in the new heavens and new earth.
Redemption for All Creation
God’s plan of redemption encompasses not just fallen humans but the whole corrupted creation. All creation has been subject to futility and decay as a result of human sin (Genesis 3:17-19; Romans 8:20-21). The creation thus awaits future liberation just as we do. The redemptive work of Christ has cosmic implications.
The biblical vision is that God will redeem and restore the entire creation he declared good. Revelation depicts the new heavens and new earth as a return to Edenic paradise (Revelation 21-22). God’s redemptive purpose is to restore harmony between God, humans, and creation. Christ’s blood reconciles “all things, whether on earth or in heaven” (Colossians 1:19-20). The creation itself will be “set free from its bondage to corruption” into the “freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21).
God’s plan of redemption is thus cosmic in scope. It brings salvation not only to humans but promises future liberation for the non-human creation. All that sin has corrupted will be made whole. While we currently suffer under the effects of the Fall, the day is coming when God will usher in a renewed creation. This grand vision of redemption gives us hope as we struggle to live faithfully before our Redeemer.
Though we still experience suffering, decay, and death, these do not have the final word. Christ has conquered sin and death and will one day complete his work of redemption. God’s plan to redeem and renew all creation gives us strength to endure present turmoil as we look forward to our future hope.
Living as Redeemed People
Since we have been so graciously redeemed by Christ, we are called to live accordingly. Our lives should be characterized by worship, obedience, and service to him. We now belong to Jesus as those purchased by his blood.
Worship is the proper response to Christ’s redemption. We exalt and adore him for the great salvation he has purchased for us. We live to declare his infinite worth and glory. We also obey his teachings and commands out of love for our Redeemer (John 14:15). Surrendering our wills to him is but our reasonable service. We also dedicate our lives to serving Christ and sharing the message of redemption with others. Christ’s love compels us to love others through actions of grace, mercy, and compassion (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).
Living as redeemed people also means we turn from sinful lifestyles and seek to live righteously. We understand that “we are not our own, for we were bought with a price” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). Our lives are not our own; we belong to God. Therefore, we glorify God with our bodies and spirits. We also reject worldly attitudes of greed, lust, pride and selfishness. Though once enslaved to sin, we now strive to please our Master and Redeemer in all things.
As redeemed people, we live with joy, purpose and gratitude. We have hope of eternal life and confidence of God’s sovereignty. With gladness we have been liberated from sin, death and condemnation. This joy propels us to serve Christ. Our lives have eternal purpose. We are no longer chasing empty pursuits but living for the glory of the One who redeemed us. We are also filled with praise for what God has done! The cross becomes the central focus of our devotion and worship.
Christ Our Redeemer
In summary, Christ is the redeemer of all who put their faith in him. He alone could pay the price to free us from slavery to sin. Jesus willingly offered himself on the cross to secure our liberation. His sacrificial death fully satisfied the holy wrath of God against our sin. Now there is forgiveness, justification and eternal life freely given to all who believe in Jesus. While we could not redeem ourselves, Christ alone accomplished redemption on our behalf.
The biblical theme of redemption through Christ’s blood runs from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus fulfilled what the Old Testament foreshadowed. He is the only basis of our salvation. We rejoice that we have been bought back from sin by the costly sacrifice of our Savior and Redeemer. Out of deep gratitude, we now live to please and serve him all our days until we see our Redeemer face to face.