As we have already noted, words change meaning over the years. Sometimes they lose meaning through overuse. Sometimes they are mishandled, causing the true meanings to be corrupted or lost. The word "Christian" has been overused and mishandled over the years. It is the purpose of this study to regain its original and true meaning through the study of Biblical words and phrases.

The Third word in our study is "Redeemed." Basically, to "Redeem" something is to "buy it." There are different Greek words used that are used for the New Testament concept of redeem, redeemer, and redemption. The following are three concepts:

To buy in the market. Because of sin, man is a slave under the sentence of death (Romans 7:14). Christ comes into the market and pays the price of our sin with His blood. See I Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Revelation 5:9.

To buy out of the market. This concept tells us that the one who is purchased in the market has been removed from sale. The purchase is final - once and for all. See Galatians 3:13; 4:4-6 cp. Hebrews 10:10,14.

To let loose / to set free. We are no longer under the bondage and control of sin. We are free to serve Christ and to serve His righteous purposes. Titus 2:13- 14; I Peter 1:18-19 cp. Romans 3:24; I Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:12,15 cp. Romans 8:2.

A Look at Galatians 3:6-14

Galatians 3:6-9
Our Scripture reading starts with the fact that Abraham was justified by faith when he believed God's promise. This sets the precedence that all those who believe God's promise of salvation through Christ shall also be justified because of their faith. This makes us the spiritual children of Abraham. Gentiles (non-Hebrew people) were included in God's promise of a legacy to Abraham (Galatians 3:16-29; Romans 4:1-16).

Galatians 3:10-12
Sin kept us under the law's curse. Our natural inability left us in the bondage of serving sin. In this condition, we could never justify ourselves before God. In this condition, there was no promise for faith to embrace. There was only condemnation from the law (Romans 3:19-20; John 3:34; II Peter 2:19; cp. Jeremiah 13:23). Galatians 3:13-14

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. God's righteous demands were satisfied when the righteous Son of God offered Himself as payment for our sins on the cross. When we receive God's promise of salvation from sin through the blood of Christ, He will never require this payment from us. Jesus paid the debt in full - once and for all! We now are free and belong to the family of faith (John 3:14-18; Romans 6:23; II Corinthians 5:21 cp. Isaiah 53:1-12).

The Purpose of the Purchase

Do not misinterpret the freedom that Christ has purchased for you. He purchased you from sin's bondage to put you in His service. We are now the servants/ slaves of Christ. We are free from sin to serve Christ's righteous purposes. Rejoice in Christ our merciful and gracious master and serve Him with gladness!

See John 8:30-36; Matthew 23:8-10; Romans 6:6-23; 8:1-15; Galatians 5:13; I Corinthians 6:19-20; Colossians 3:23-24; Titus 2:11-14 cp. I John 1:5 - 2:2; 5:3.

A Parallel of Christ's Redemption - A young boy carved and created his own little sailboat. He went to a stream to test the worthiness of his new vessel. It glided beautifully down the stream. Its creator ran along the banks, watching and enjoying it. Soon the stream's current became swifter. The young boy could not keep up. There were some bends in the stream and soon the little boat was gone!

A few days later the young lad was walking in town and saw a pawnshop window. With amazement, he saw his own sailboat in the window. It had a price tag on it now. He asked the shopkeeper to hold it for him, while he went about collecting pop bottles, raking leaves and doing other chores to earn the money to buy it. The day that he came in with the money, and the shopkeeper placed the boat in his hands, the boy said joyfully, "Now you're twice mine!" He had created the boat, lost the boat, then bought back the boat. Even so, Jesus Christ created us, lost us because of sin, and now has bought us back - never to lose us again!

A Parable of Christ's Redemption - Matthew 13:44 cp. 45-46 - Consider that Jesus Christ is the man who finds a treasure in a field. It costs Him everything, but He secures possession of the field that He may have the treasure within it. Christ's death and resurrection has established Him as Lord of all (Acts 10:36; 17:24-31; Philippians 2:5-11), but His goal is to take us out of this world and keep us for Himself forever (John 14:1-3; 16:33; 17:1-10; Galatians 1:3-4; 6:14; Titus 2:11-14).