And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV)
Once a year in ancient Israel, the high priest would enter the tabernacle with the blood of bulls and goats to be sprinkled on the mercy seat, behind the veil, in the Holy of Holies. This propitiatory offering was given to make atonement for his sins and the sins of the people. Just as the priests sprinkled the blood of sacrifices on the mercy seat, Jesus as our high priest went behind the curtain once for all time and sprinkled his own blood as the propitiatory offering, not for his sins, but for ours (Hebrews 10:19-20).
Because of our sin we owed a debt to God that we could not pay. God sent his son to pay our debt and ransom us from our futile ways (1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus freely gave himself to redeem us from our lawlessness (Titus 2:14). In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14). Through Christ’s sacrifice God’s requirement for redemption was satisfied and his wrath abated (1 Thessalonians 1:10). ). Jesus was the “atoning victim” and absolutely secured eternal redemption for God’s elect (Hebrews 9:11-12). With his blood Jesus purchased (ransomed) a people for God’s own possession from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). It was God who put Christ Jesus forward to be a propitiation by his blood (Romans 3:25). To the praise of God’s glorious grace we have redemption through the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7).
Another sense in which Jesus became to us redemption from God is in the redemption of our bodies. In fact, it is this redemption of which Paul was most likely speaking in his letter to the Corinthians. It seems that he is laying out a progressive work of God in the life of his people; righteousness (justification), sanctification, and redemption (glorification).
The redemption of our souls is realized the moment we receive Jesus by faith. Our souls and eternal state are forever secured. However, as we well know, our bodies are still subject to decay and death. Paul wrote to the Roman Christians that the creation is groaning together in the pains of childbirth, And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23 ESV)
At death our soul will go immediately into the presence of God (2 Corinthians 5:6-8) where we will rest in peace until the return of Christ and the resurrection of the living and the dead. At the resurrection, in the twinkling of an eye, our earthly bodies will be transformed into heavenly bodies. That which is perishable will become imperishable; mortality will take on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-54).
The redemption of our bodies was purchased for us in the same manner as the redemption of our souls, by the precious blood of Jesus. It was a complete work that Jesus bought for us, from justification to glorification. He not only loosed us from sin, he also loosed us from the grave. Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). Lest we forget: He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. (2 Corinthians 5:5 ESV) So, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Have you been redeemed by the blood of Jesus? Are you awaiting the redemption of your body?
Scriptures for meditation:
Matthew 20:28
1 John 4:10