August 26, 2009 REDEEMED by Cornelius R. Stam Printer Friendly Version "We have redemption through His blood..." (Eph. 1 :7). Our English word "redeem" is actually a translation of three beautiful Greek words: Agarazo: to buy at the market. Ex-agarazo: to buy out of the market. Lutro: to set free (upon receipt or payment of the ransom price.) It is the last of these that is used in Eph. 1:7. The believer in Christ has liberty -- 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). Further, we were "redeemed from the curse of the law" (Gal. 3:13). And now, best of all, we have been set gloriously free (Eph. 1:7; Gal. 5:1). Why not 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..." Redeemed! Purchased out of the slave market of sin and the law -- and set gloriously free! Does this foster loose, 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? 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 II Cor. 5:14: "The love of Christ constraineth us." To the Reader: Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface: "It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles." We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.