Language Lab: What Does “redemption” Mean?

Language Lab: What Does “Redemption” Mean?

Bible Blast: Read Ephesians 4:29-31

Do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30

In New Zealand, where there are more sheep than people, everyone knows about a practice called “lambing.” Each spring hundreds of thousands of baby lambs are born, but unfortunately some of them die. At the same time, some of the lambs who live have mama sheep die giving birth. It seems like it would be a great idea for the mamas who have lost their babies to adopt the orphaned lambs, but mama sheep are very particular. They identify their own lambs by smell, and they will only take care of their babies.

New Zealand farmers are smart, though. They take the skin of the mama’s dead baby and hang it on the back of an orphaned baby. The mama thinks, “Smells like my baby. Looks like my baby. This must be my baby.” And then she loves, protects, and raises the lamb as her own.

We are like that orphaned lamb. Our lives are sure to end up in eternal death, unless God the Father claims us as his own. Jesus has died, though, and has draped us with his death. When God looks down on this earth, he sees you or me wrapped in Jesus’ blood, and he says, “Looks like my Son. This one is mine.”

Now you’ve probably heard phrases like “Jesus is our Redeemer.” What that really means is that he has “bought” you with his death. It’s kind of like “lambing” in New Zealand. It cost that dead baby lamb dearly, but the orphaned lamb lives and enjoys the benefits of family because of the other lamb’s death.

Redemption is “buying back.” Jesus is our Redeemer because he gave his life as the payment for our sin and then identified us as his own. He then, with our permission, wrapped us in his blood, so that God the Father will recognize us as his.

Girl Gab: What a great day to praise God for sending his Son Jesus to set us free from sin! Why don’t you do this together today by picking a favorite song about Christ’s death to sing in gratitude. I would probably pick “In Christ Alone.”