How did Christ redeem us? What does it mean that Jesus is our propitiation? More of those big words (as we discussed in the last few posts) that is so important to the gospel. Because of our sin, because of God’s righteousness and justice, the penalty needs to be paid, a sacrifice. God the Father provided that through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is “a propitiation by His blood” We are redeemed through Him. So what exactly do these words mean?
Romans 3:21-26
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Most of us know John 3:16. God loved us so much, He sent His Son to save us from our sins. If we look ahead a few verses, Jesus tells us why. He says those who do not believe are condemned. We all deserve death. We all deserve hell. But because of God’s love, mercy and grace, He gives us eternal life.
Hebrews 2:17
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 2:2
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
Jesus came to this earth to be the sacrifice of our sins. Because He is sinless, His sacrifice does not only cover our sins (atonement), but it removes them. We are declared righteous. We are justified freely by His blood. We are redeemed.
Colossians 1:13-14
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
1 Peter 1:17-19
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that 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.
The Greek word, apolutrósis is the word used for redemption. It is a release given through ransom. The story of Ruth and Boaz is a beautiful example of redemption. After the death of her husband, Boaz, a kinsmen-redeemer, takes Ruth as his wife and redeems her. See the posts about the Story Of Ruth, starting with Ruth: A Story of Love and Redemption.
Redemption is very similar to lutroó, which is the word translated to reconciliation. While redemption is deliverance through the payment of ransom, reconciliation is a return to favor.
2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
After the Fall, when Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought us all into the bondage of sin, God had a plan to allow us to be reconciled to him and once again be in fellowship with him. Jesus came to this earth as a propitiation for our sins and redeemed us through His blood, to give us the inheritance of eternal life with Him. It is my desire that you would accept this gift of grace, have faith and trust in Jesus, who gave so much for us so that we may be forgiven and obtain salvation.
My Daily Scriptures 