The Price of Redemption

[0:00] A Pastor's Reflections The Price of Redemption Exodus 13, 13 And every firstling of a donkey thou shalt redeem with a lamb, and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck, and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.

[0:21] Ephesians 1, 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Revelation 5, 9 And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

[0:48] Redemption is a heavenly concept baked into the DNA of man. God created a world in which man would live and die by redemption. The word redemption has the idea of entering the marketplace for the purpose of a purchase.

[1:06] Having made that purchase, the item purchased has now been redeemed. Each day of our lives, transactions of purchase are taking place.

[1:18] Whether strangers or friends, it makes no difference, because relationship is never a condition of redemption. Relationship comes only after redemption. It is only after the redemption has taken place that the redeemed then comes into a new relationship with its redeemer.

[1:37] Romans 5, 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

[1:50] The redeemed has now gone from unowned and unowed, to owned by and owing to the one who redeemed it.

[2:00] 1 Corinthians 6, 20 For you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. The price of our redemption was beyond our ability to pay.

[2:16] As those who are unclean due to the effects of sin, the only alternative then to redemption was death. You see, no amount of money, good deeds, or inherent goodness would ever satisfy the price of our redemption.

[2:33] The verdict was in for the irredeemable. Death. We who could not pay the price of life would pay the price of death. Romans 6, 23 For the wages of sin is death.

[2:47] But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Remarkably, in the moment of our own destitution and greatest need, one stepped in with the price of our redemption.

[3:04] The redemption of man was at the price of a lamb, and not just any lamb, but God's one and only lamb. God gave what no one else could and paid what no one else would.

[3:16] He paid freely, a price that all the souls of man could never have scraped together, even a fraction of. John 3, 27 A man can receive nothing, except to be given him from heaven.

[3:34] Having received the free gift of God's redemption, we now enter into relationship with God. No longer is our relationship that of those marked for death. But now, those bought for life.

[3:48] We now belong to God. And God never resells. Father, thank you for paying man's unpayable price.

[3:59] Thank you that your one and only lamb satisfied the price for the redemption of all who would choose to come and belong to you. Having purchased us, you then become more than just our master, but our Father.

[4:13] Amen.