Redemption is a powerful word.  Three Greek words for redemption are mainly used.  The first word is Agorazō, meaning “To redeem; to go to market to purchase.”  This word only carries the idea of buying something.  It does not say much about what the buyer plans to do with whatever it is that is purchased; it just emphasizes going to the market and making a purchase.  However, it does imply ownership by the one who does the buying.  Paul used this word in 1 Corinthians 6:20.

The second word is Exagorazō, meaning, “to buy up, i.e., ransom; to rescue from loss.”  This word is very similar to the previous word, but it carries with it the idea of not just buying something at the market, but buying something and taking it out of or away from the market.  In other words, it is a rescue mission.  Where were we before Christ came along?  We were in sin.  But Jesus has rescued us.  This was the word used by Paul in Galatians 3:13.

The third word is Apolytrōsis.  This is the word that Paul used in Ephesians 1:7 when referring to one of the great blessings we have in Christ.

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

This word means, “deliverance on account of the ransom paid…”  The emphasis here, of course, is on the high price that was paid for our redemption.

When we put all these words for redemption together, we find that we have not just been bought, we have been rescued, and we have been rescued at a very high price, that is, the blood of Jesus Christ.  As a result of this purchased price, our sins have been forgiven according to the riches of God’s grace.

What is the result of having our sins forgiven?  We now have freedom from Satan and sin and all the consequences of that state of being.  This is the beginning of all the other blessings that we enjoy in Christ.  We are now in a completely different situation than we were in before our redemption.  We were slaves, but now we are free.  Paul put it like this:

Romans 6:17-18 (ESV)
¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin…

There is no greater freedom to attain than freedom from sin because the effects of it are so terrible.  The result of sin is separation from God.

Isaiah 59:1–2 (ESV)
¹ Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; ² but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

The consequence of dying in this state of separation from God is to experience what the Bible calls the second death, in which one is cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).  Thank God that in Christ we have been rescued from sin and have entered a state where we are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1), all because Jesus paid the price for our redemption.  No matter what kind of day you had, good or bad, tonight, if you are a faithful child of God, you are still redeemed.  Be thankful!

A you wind down for the night, think about these things.