Redeemed

Galatians 3:13-14, 24 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”  14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit…24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
 
PAUL’S use of the word “redeemed” had specific meaning to the Jews. Throughout God’s law, there are numerous commands and stipulations that require redemption. For example, one who was a slave because he owed a debt to his master could be redeemed from slavery when one paid a price for the slave. Land that was under debt could be redeemed – freed from debt – by a relative of the landowner. The redeemer paid the price for the debt.
    This is why Jesus is our Redeemer. We are born slaves to sin and to the law. When we sin we owe a debt to God. God gave  sacrificial laws for own to temporarily redeem his sins. But these sacrifices did not pay the eternal cost of our sin.
    But Jesus’ sacrifice does. Jesus redeemed you, so you could be justified – made right before God – free of all sin debt forever. This should give us great cause to pause and consider how valuable we are to God.
    How did Jesus redeem us? He paid the great price not only with his body but by becoming a curse. This is the ultimate price. God’s law says anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse (Deuteronomy 21:23) Becoming a curse, Jesus would carry sin’s curse to the cross. His death paid for the sins of all who believe. Jesus is the Lamb who was slain, redeeming our souls from sin’s bondage. When you believe in Jesus, you are no longer a slave to sin and the law. The law becomes your guiding light to live into your redeemed life.
    Why did Jesus redeem? He did so to fulfill the blessing promised to Abraham: Genesis 18:18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. In all circumstances, we must believe that God is a promise-maker, and he is a promise-keeper. God gave a law that pointed to Jesus. Jesus came to fulfill the law. That included dying on a “tree” under God’s curse to redeem the price of sin on our souls. The Redeemer has set us free as we in faith receive his redemptive price – his body broken and his blood shed.
    Paul summarizes his teaching in verse 24: So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Perhaps another way to say this is: God so loved the world, he gave us the law. The law reveals our sin and the means to be redeemed from our sin. The Father sent his only son to earth to be our redeemer. Anyone who believes in Jesus shall never perish but have eternal life because Jesus has paid for our sin.  
    Yes, Jesus, Son of God, has paid the price you owed to God for your sin. The Father, Son and Spirit have acted to remove sin from your soul. Your debt is clear as you trust Jesus to be your Lord and Savior.