Redeemed & Set Free

by Arthur J Licursi

The usurper, the Devil has made all born men slaves to his Sin-nature. Our sins are the natural product of the Sin-nature that dwells in the flesh (Rom 8:3b) bodies of all men until this body dies or is exchanged in their Raptured to heaven.

³⁴ Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant (Gk., doulos, slave) of sin. John 8:34 (KJV)

³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned Sin In The Flesh: Romans 8:3 (KJV)

¹⁷ Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. ¹⁹ For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. ²⁰ Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, buts in that dwelleth In Me. ²¹ I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present With Me. ²² For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: ²³ But I see another law In My (body) Members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the (operative) Law Of Sin Which Is In My Members. Rom 7:17-23 (KJV)

The "good news" of Paul's "gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) is that believers have been redeemed from the "power" of Sin.

"We HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD…" (Eph. 1 :7).

⁶ We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. 
⁷ For when a man dies, He Is Freed (loosed, delivered) From [The Power Of] Sin [among men]. Romans 6:6-7 (AMP)

What exactly does "redemption" mean to us?

Our English word "redeem" (Greek, exagorazo) is actually a translation of these three (3) Greek words.

Agarazo: to buy at the market.

Ex-agarazo: to buy out of the market.

Lutron: to set free upon receipt or payment of the ransom price.

It is the last of these that is used here in Eph. 1:7. ⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)

The believer in Christ has liberty, freedom — purchased liberty — through Christ's shed blood.

First we were "bought with a price" and "redeemed to God" (I Cor. 6:20; Rev. 5:9).

²⁰ You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:20 (AMP)

Further, we were "redeemed from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13). And now, best of all, we have been set gloriously free (cf., Eph. 1:7; Gal. 5:1).

¹³ Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); Galatians 3:13 (AMP)

Turn in your Bible to Ephesians 1:6-8 and read this brief passage thoughtfully to see the boundless generosity of God's dealings with those who put their trust in Christ as their Savior.

"To the praise of the glory of His grace" God "hath made us accepted [or, hath engraced us] in the Beloved One, "in whom we have, "redemption" and "the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, wherein He hath abounded toward us…"

We've been redeemed! We've been Purchased out of the slave market of sin and the Law — and set gloriously free!

Some think if we proclaim this message it will foster loose or careless conduct? By no means!

When our Lord had given a "blind man" his sight, He said to him: "Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole," but the record hastens to add that he "followed Jesus in the way" (Mark 10:52).

Could anything be more natural than to respond like that blind man did? And could anything be more natural than a redeemed, liberated sinner longing to please and serve his divine Benefactor?

The Apostle Paul expressed this well when he wrote, in 2 Cor. 5:14: "The love of Christ constraineth us."