Page 10 - Biblical Theology Textbook - masters

Study Section 2: Redemption is from God

2.1 Connect

There are stores in America, and probably in other parts of the world called pawn shops. If you
are short on money and need to raise some quickly and have something of value to sell, you
can take it to a pawn shop and ask the owner how much he would give you for the item. The
idea is that he will “loan” you money, generally much less than the value of the item, for a
certain amount of time. If you don’t come back to the store by that time to purchase it back
(sometimes at an increased cost), he can sell it to anyone who comes into the store. Generally, he will
sell it for much more than he gave you to make a tidy profit.

That means you only have a certain amount of time to return to the store to purchase your item back.
He would tell you, “Come back by Friday and REDEEM your item or I will sell it.” You must pay the price
you borrowed to purchase it back. This is what redemption means. To buy back.

Because of man’s sin, God is in the process of “buying back” every person from slavery to sin. But a
price must be paid, and only God can pay it. Let’s see if we can better understand the process of
redemption…

2.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to define what redemption is.

2. The student should be able to explain the purpose of redemption.

3. The student should be able to explain why God would offer Himself up to redeem mankind.

2.3 Definition of Redemption

To understand God’s plan for the ages, we must understand what redemption is. This is the
dictionary definition of redemption:
re·demp·tion

/rəˈdem(p)SH(ə)n/

noun
1.the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.
"God's plans for the redemption of his world"
Similar:

2.
the action of regaining or gaining possession of something in exchange for payment or clearing a debt.
2

2 https://www.dictionary.com/browse/redemption

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