The Work of Redemption

“In Him we have redemption through his blood,

the forgiveness of our trespasses,

according to the riches of His grace.”

(Ephesians 1:7)

The work of redemption and the work of salvation are the same thing. What is sometimes called God's saving His people in Scripture is referred to as redeeming them in other places. Therefore, Christ is called both the Savior and the Redeemer. Isaiah 49:26 states: "...and all flesh shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob." The word 'Savior' is 'Yasha,' from which the Hebrew name 'Joshua' and the Greek name 'Jesus' are derived (Matthew 1:21). It means 'to deliver' or 'liberate’. The word 'Redeemer' is 'Ga'al,' which means ‘a near kinsman’, Numbers 5:8. Together these words encompass the essence of the person and work of the LORD Jesus. In order to deliver His people, He had to be God because only God can deliver [Yasha]. Yet, His authority to do so was obtained by being made like His brethren (Ga ‘al). [See Hebrews 2:14-18]

The term 'redemption' can be understood in a more limited sense, as in the purchase of salvation that Christ fully accomplished at the cross, Galatians 4:4-5. In this limited sense, we can say that the work began and finished with Christ coming in the flesh [being made of a woman] and continuing through His life until His death which culminated in His resurrection. In this sense, the purchase was completed and the work itself, along with everything related to it, was accomplished.

However, sometimes the work of redemption is understood more broadly, including all of God's work preparatory to the purchase itself and subsequent to its accomplishment. For example: 1 Corinthians 1:30 lists redemption after wisdom, righteousness and sanctification. This is because it refers to the final deliverance of the saints from their mortal bodies in the resurrection at the end of this world, Romans 8:23.

The various aspects are unified, working together to achieve one purpose and produce one effect [Romans 8:28-30]: the salvation of sinners by the full, free and unmerited Grace of God in Christ Jesus alone. All the requirements for salvation were accomplished by Him alone. He is both the Redeemer and the Ransom, which together constitute the complete and everlasting redemption that belongs solely to Him.

Jesus Christ embodies God's love and mercy. He took on human form to reconcile chosen sinners with God the Father. Through the Son's sacrificial death on the cross, He bore the punishment for the sins of those given to Him by the Father to save. The work of redemption was so thorough in shedding His blood unto death that the immediate result was forgiveness, pardon, reconciliation and complete justification with God, Eph. 1:7. His resurrection from the dead represents the ultimate victory over sin and death, providing hope for everlasting life to every sinner whom the LORD Jesus redeemed, 1 Peter 1:3.