It is easy for Believers to read God's Word and race over theological terms. Often we do not really understand the meaning of the text. The word "Grace" is an example of a poorly-understood word. It is best to deliberately "plug in" the actual meanings of these terms in order to properly understand the Scripture.
The verb "redeem" and the nouns "redemption" and "redeemer" are often misunderstood. They do not mean merely "rescue" or "salvation," though those concepts are the result of redemption.
In the Old Testament, the most important word for redemption refers to the kinsman redeemer, one near of kin who steps in and rescues a brother from poverty or servitude or extinction or death.
The story of Ruth and Boaz is the best example: Boaz, as near kin to Ruth's husband's family, was entitled to "redeem" the family's inheritance and rescue its name, and he did so.
Strangely, this same word is used to describe God as the redeemer of His people. His redemption is mighty, it is eternal, it defeats all opposition, and even in the Old Testament, it includes setting the saints free from their sin and its penalties and judgment.
The fact that God's redemption is described as that of a near kinsman's points to the incarnation, by which the Son of God was manifest in the flesh and did in fact become a near kinsman to fallen men whom He would redeem.
Praise God, He has not left us without a kinsman redeemer! Our Lord Jesus has the desire and the right and the ability to deliver us from sin and judgment.
In Boaz's case, the price of redemption was mere money. The price our kinsman redeemer, the Lord Jesus paid, was His very life and blood at Calvary.
Featuring a sermon puts it on the front page of the site and is the most effective way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands including all mobile platforms + newsletter.
Text-Featuring a sermon is a less expensive way to bring this sermon to the attention of thousands on the right bar with optional newsletter inclusion. As low as $30/day.
John Pittman Hey was born in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, to Godly parents who from the beginning raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With child-like faith he came to Christ on his fourth birthday at his mother's knee. He received his education at church...
#11 - Top Played Sermon (48-Hours) on 7/26/2010
