About Doctrines
Redemption
Romans 3:24 tells us we are justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
We might pause here for a moment to discuss the idea of redemption. There are six Greek words in the New Testament that are translated "redemption" or "redeemed," or which carry the idea of redemption. While it is of little benefit to you to know them, I will use them here for the purpose of keeping the discussion orderly. The relationship between the six is that they all deal with the payment of a price.
Agorazo is used of buying or purchasing a slave or other property in the marketplace. It is found in such verses as 1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23, 2 Peter 2:1, and Revelation 5:9 and 14:3-4. The open market was the agora. In the context of Scripture, the word suggests that Christ's work on the Cross resulted in our purchase by Him in the marketplace of the world.
1 Corinthians 6:20
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.
Exagorazo carries much the same meaning and is to "buy out" of the market. It carries a stronger emphasis on the idea of buying and carrying the item out of the market. It is found in Galatians 3:13 and 4:5, Ephesians 5:16, and Colossians 4:5. The concept of this verb is that the person or item purchased would never have to return to the market again.
Galatians 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"),
Lutron is the price of a release or the payment of a ransom. The idea is similar to that of paying the ransom in a kidnaping. It is found in only two places, matching verses from Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45.
Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.
Lutroomai is the verb form of lutron. It means to pay the ransom or to free something or someone by paying a ransom. It is found in Luke 24:21, Titus 2:4, and 1 Peter 1:18.
1 Peter 1:18
knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
Lutrosis is the act of freeing something by the paying of a ransom price. It occurs in Luke 1:68 and 2:38 and Hebrews 9:12.
Hebrews 9:12
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Apolutrosis is the buying back of an item. Again, the word carries the idea of a setting free by the payment of a ransom price. It is found in Luke 21:28, Romans 3:24 (our verse) and 8:23, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Ephesians 1:7, 1:14, and 4:30, Colossians 1:14, and Hebrews 9:15 and 11:35.
Colossians 1:14
in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
All of the words built around lutroo carry the concept of freedom. This fits with the Old Testament idea of a ransom price. The redemption was gaal and the related noun was goel, translated "kinsman-redeemer." This is the role play by Boaz in freeing and marrying Ruth. The story of Boaz and Ruth presents a priceless picture of the work of redemption.
The kinsman-redeemer had to be a close relative, had to be willing to accept the responsibility of being the redeemer, and had to be able to pay the ransom price. The idea of being the redeemer could not be forced upon anyone, even under the Old Testament laws. The kinsman's act was totally voluntary.
Jesus is our relative – in His human form He is related to all of us as one of mankind. He voluntarily gave His life on the Cross as an act of loving obedience to God. And, by His blood, He paid the price that satisfied the wrath of God against sin. This act is referred to as propitiation and is discussed below in the next set of verses.
Everywhere we encounter the redemption act or the paying of the ransom price, it deals with the blood of Jesus, either explicitly or implicitly. We quoted above 1 Peter 1:18 in our examples of the use of the various words of redemption. The price paid is expressed by Jesus in the Mark 10:45 above and by Peter in the verse following the one we quoted:
1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
This was the price of our redemption, the blood of Jesus. And, if it is the blood of Jesus that redeems us, then redemption costs mankind nothing. It is free, the free gift of God purchased on the Cross of Calvary's Hill.
All quotations from the NKJV, unless noted
