From God comes…
From God comes redemption plus salvation.
What is redemption? The dictionary defines it as the act of being saved or delivered from sin or evil. Other definitions include atoning for guilt or a mistake, rescuing someone, or paying off a debt.
In Old Testament times, redemption involved deliverance from bondage by a redeemer who paid a price. For example, if a slave had been captured in battle or coerced into serving one who was not his legal master, his real master could recover this slave by buying him back. It was a legal term for the deliverance of property to which someone had a previous claim.
In the New Testament, we are exposed to a spiritual understanding of redemption. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Our condition was one of being a slave to sin. However, Christ’s death paid the price for our sins, so He has redeemed us (Romans 3:24). God has purchased our freedom and we no longer have to be in bondage to sin. Nor must we be bound to Old Testament oppressive laws and rituals (Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5). This redemption is only possible through the blood Jesus shed for us when He died (1 Peter 1:18-19; Colossians 1:14).
However, redemption differs from salvation. As we’ve explained, redemption requires a price to be paid and Christ paid that price for everyone (John 3:16-17). It is this redemption that opens the door to salvation which is what God offers because of His great love for us. Salvation is a gift from God that we do not earn, but each individual must acknowledge and accept it in order to receive it (Ephesians 2:8). We must accept God’s love and forgiveness (Romans 10:9-10). It is salvation that saves us from the penalty of sin (2 Timothy 1:9-10). With salvation, we receive all the promises of God including eternal life (Romans 6:23).
Redemption plus salvation are good and perfect gifts—and you can only get them from God.
“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God…”
~James 1:17 (NLT)
