We must not lose sight of what the New Testament means when it speaks of redemption. This is not a vague spiritual sentiment, nor is it a mere metaphor. Redemption is a purchasing—a concrete, legal, and sacrificial transaction in which Christ Himself paid the full price to buy us back from bondage.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:14
The Reality of Our Bondage
Let us be clear: humanity was not merely “unfortunate” or “misguided.” We were sold—delivered over—into the hands of sin, Satan, and the world system. This was not a temporary inconvenience; it was a state of utter bondage. We were not free agents, but captives, and there was no possibility of self-redemption. If God had left us in that condition, we would have remained under the dominion of darkness, with no hope and no inheritance.
God’s Righteous Purchase
But God, in His righteousness, determined to purchase us back. This was not arbitrary mercy or a sentimental gesture. The justice of God demanded a price—life for life. The law could not be set aside; it had to be satisfied. God did not lower His standard or overlook our debt. Instead, He paid it in full. The price was not gold, silver, or religious effort. The price was the very life of Christ.
Christ: The Embodiment of the Purchase Price
Here is the staggering reality: Christ Himself became the currency of our redemption. He did not merely hand over something external; He gave Himself. The Son of God spent Himself—His blood, His life—as the only currency sufficient to satisfy God’s righteous demand. The purchase price is not an abstract concept, but a Person. Redemption is not a process; it is a finished transaction accomplished in Christ Jesus.
The Result: Forgiveness and Liberation
The outcome of this purchasing is not theoretical. Because Christ paid the price, we have redemption—real, present, and irrevocable. This redemption means the forgiveness of sins and liberation from bondage. You are not working toward freedom; you have been bought out of captivity. The chains of sin, the claims of Satan, and the demands of the world system have been broken by the blood of Christ.
What Is Lost If This Is Denied?
If you deny that redemption is a purchasing—if you reduce it to a metaphor or make it contingent on your own performance—you gut the gospel of its power. You collapse justification, inheritance, and sonship into mere aspiration. You return to bondage, living as if the price still needs to be paid. If redemption is not a finished purchase, then forgiveness is never secure, and assurance is always out of reach. You forfeit the rest and confidence that come only from knowing the debt is canceled and the transaction is complete.
The Finished Work and Your Assurance
Do not insult the blood of Christ by treating redemption as unfinished business. God has bought you with the highest price: the life of His Son. Your forgiveness, your freedom, and your place in God’s family are not up for negotiation. They are secured by the finished work of Christ. This is not secondary; it is the foundation of your salvation. Rest in the reality that you are His—purchased, forgiven, and liberated forever.
Read more: Christ as our Righteousness, Sanctification, and Reward
