The plan for redemption finds its origin in the mind and heart of God. As God was looking down through the ages of humanity, He realized that we would need help in several areas of life.
Isaiah 59:15-17 NLT Yes, truth is gone, and anyone who tries a better life is soon attacked. The Lord saw all the evil and was displeased to find no steps taken against sin. He saw no one was helping you and wondered that no one intervened. Therefore He Himself stepped in to save you through His mighty power and justice. He put on righteousness as armor and the helmet of salvation on his head. He clothed himself with robes of vengeance and of godly fury.
Isaiah 59:18-21 NLT He will repay His enemies for their evil deeds—fury for His foes in distant lands. Then at last they will reverence and glorify the name of God from west to east. For He will come like a flood tide driven by Jehovah’s breath. He will come as a Redeemer to those in Zion who have turned away from sin. “As for me, this is my promise to them,” says the Lord: “My Holy Spirit shall not leave them, and they shall want the good and hate the wrong—they and their children and their children’s children forever.”
Look again at verse 20.
Isaiah 59:20 NLT “He will come as a Redeemer to those in Zion who have turned away from sin.”
You can trust God our Redeemer.
Redemption provides many of the blessings of God’s favor and mercy. The word for redemption reaches back into God’s Law. Originally, God gave the Law to Israel as a tribal nation. The genealogy of the people of Israel led back to their father Abraham. The covenant and the promise came to them through Abraham.
When God initiated the law of the redeemer, it referred to helping their kinsman who was in trouble.
Redemption covered every need and deficit a person could have. In mercy and great grace, God provided a method of redemption for those who experienced loss.
God was establishing a pattern for the Redeemer that He would provide.
- The redeemer was an avenger of his family.
- The redeemer had obligations to guarantee an inheritance would go to those who should receive the promise.
- The redeemer would buy back what had been lost.
- The redeemer would ransom those held in slavery.
- The redeemer would deliver from debt.
- The redeemer would take away the reproach.
In the Old Testament, the redeemer was a kinsman who would have pity and mercy on a relative that was in trouble.
- When Lot and his family were taken captive, Abraham rescued him and his possessions, (Genesis 14:16).
- Moses was the redeemer of Israel from Egyptian captivity, (Exodus).
- Boaz became the kinsman-redeemer for Naomi and Ruth.
- David and his men went down to Ziklag and avenged and recovered what the enemy had stolen.
From the Biblical examples, images begin to form about what a redeemer looks like.
It is apparent that the redeemer must be strong enough to redeem what has been taken away. They cannot go into the enemy’s camp and redeem if they are not able to do so. The redeemer must have enough riches or wealth to pay the debt that is owed. The redeemer must be available and willing to redeem.
The law of the redeemer required complete restitution and payment of what was stolen, lost or in captivity.
Redemption requires the full debt to be paid. To be successful, the redeemer had to be able to totally set aside the debt. He had to be able to completely avenge the wrong. He had to be willing to do it all.
If he was not willing or able, he could not redeem.
Have you ever put something on lay-a-way?
You put a down-payment, and the store held your merchandise until you came back and paid in full. The merchant would never say: “I know this cost $200.00 and you have paid $2.00, so, go ahead and take it home!” The debt had to be paid first. Then you were able to enjoy the product.
Isaiah prophesied that a “Redeemer would come.”
God would provide a Redeemer. He said, “A Redeemer will come!”
Jeremiah 50:34 NIV84 Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is His name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that He may bring rest to their land…
To redeem the sinner, God Almighty said: “I will come and do it.” To bring the oppressed out of bondage, the Lord said He would let the oppressed go free. To the sick He said, “I am the Lord Who heals you.”
So, how exactly did the Redeemer come.
He was born in a stable.
- He was not assigned riches or royalty in His birth or life.
- Neither His mother nor His dad were rich or popular.
- He was raised as a carpenter’s son.
- He lived in obscurity.
- He came to give good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind and set at liberty those who were oppressed. (Luke 4:18)
- People hated, mocked and tried to run Him out of the country.
- He walked the dusty road.
- He had no place to lay His head.
- He died as a thief and outcast on a cross outside of town.
- He was buried with the rich.
We have a clear message about His redemption.
1 Peter 1:18–19 NKJV …You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
You were rescued by the blood of Christ.
- God has released you from the bondage of your previous failures by the precious blood of Christ.
- You are redeemed from the hand of the mighty, Job 6:23
- You are redeemed out of all troubles, Psalms 25:22
- You are redeemed from the grave, Psalms 25:22
- He has redeemed your souls from deceit, Psalms 72:14
- You are redeemed from death, Hosea 13:14
- Jesus purchased freedom for those who were under condemnation and curse from the Law, Galatians 3:13; 4:5
- He has redeemed us to God so that we may be adopted and be recognized as God’s sons, Galatians 4:5
- He has redeemed us from iniquity, Titus 2:14
Your Redeemer has come!
- He has come to heal the sick.
- He has come to raise the dead.
- He has come to make the blind to see.
- He has come to forgive sins.
The Redeemer has come!
If you will let Him in, He will do wonderful things for you.
- He will take your turmoil and strife and give you peace.
- He will take your hurt and grief and give healing and comfort.
- He will take your sorrow and sighing and give you joy
- and gladness.
- He will overflow you with His love, mercy and favor.
- He will give you a hope-filled future.
Your Redeemer has come to minister to you.
Jesus Christ has paid the full debt for your sins. He has taken stripes on His body so you may be healed. He was wounded for your transgressions. He was bruised for your iniquities. He has purchased your peace.
