Basically... Redeemed

Here's the basics on redemption.

As Christians we hear all the time that we are "redeemed" - but it's Christianese that has a vague meaning.  We know it has something to do with Jesus and being saved from sin and that's good enough!

Ever redeem your recyclables for cash?

Ever redeem a coupon at the grocery store?

If you buy a bottle of soda, part of your purchase price includes the recycling redemption costs.  When you take the bottle to the recycling center, they give you back that portion that you already paid at the grocery store.

When you redeem a coupon, the grocer discounts the amount of the coupon that technically, the manufacturer is has already paid, or will pay on the behalf of the coupon holder.

Well, Jesus has paid the redemption price for our sin - death.  His death on the cross paid the ultimate price for our sin and separation from God.  Our debt of sin is completely paid in full and this is why on the cross Jesus exclaimed, "It is finished."  We are redeemed by faith when we confess Jesus by faith.

Michah 4:8-10 speaks to the "daughters of zion" - and I do believe there is a special redemption coming in the last days for women (as I've written about before in "The Redemption of Eve") - but Micah is prophetically speaking to those of who have confessed Jesus as our Lord and King.

"And you, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto you shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.  Now why do you cry out aloud? Is there no king in you? Is your counsellor perished? For pangs have taken you as a woman in travail.  Be in pain and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail.  For now shal you go forth out of the city, and you shall dwell in the field, and you shall go even to Babylon; there shall you be delivered; there the Lord shall redeem you from the hand of your enemies."

Now notice certain wording in these passages: first dominion implies that there are subsequent dominions; the kingdom shall come - just as Jesus expressed in the prayer He taught His disciples; and where is the king in you? Isn't Jesus the King of Kings? And isn't He a Mighty Counsellor?

Jesus said it was necessary for Him to die so that the Comforter could come - Comfortor in this case, also being another name for the Counsellor.  But we know that Counsellor did not simply die, but He rose again and is alive... so why to we labor, struggle, strive and suffer in sorrow; crying out and crying aloud as if Jesus does not abide within us or as if He died and did not rise again?

Micah says to go ahead and cry in our sorrows, because deliverance is coming.  He says we will be delivered from the midst of whatever is causing us to cry and travail over: the city; the field and the Babyonian Systems - such as credit, social security, banking and all those other worldly systems of managing this world.  In this day and age, our enemies are not Amalakites and Jebusites.... instead our enemies are IRS, Experion, Transunion, Wall Street and the Bank of Whoever...  A more detailed list can be found in the book of Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 states how we are blessed, but verses 15 - 68 says how we are cursed if we do not follow the commandments of the Lord.  And there are 75 detailed curses! Many people try to ignor the curses - if they've ever even read Deuteronomy at all!  But now, because of my redemption, I am excited to read those curses!

That's because Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

We are redeemed!

Do yo believe in Jesus? Do you believe that He died on the cross for your sin?

If so, then you are REDEEMED from every curse of the law!

You are no longer subject to the curse of the Garden; the curse of the law; or the curses of not tithing.  Your are only subject to the blessings! All the blessings of the Garden, all the blessings of the law and all the blessings of tithes and offerings.

You are redeemed.

Walk in power, love and peace, ya'll!
~Min. Dez