The Redeemed

Luke 1:68


Let’s begin this topical discussion with three questions, how do you define redeemed, who are the redeemed, and who is the redeemer? According to Merriam-School Dictionary (p 750) redeem is “to buy back: repurchase, to get or win back, to free from captivity usually by paying a ransom, to free from the bondage of sin, to atone for: EXPIATE”. Zondervan’s Pictorial Dictionary agrees with Webster and the writer on the definition of redeem as it means “to by back”.


Let’s answer the question of who are the redeemed? Our scripture verse was speaking of the nation of Israel, but “the redeemed” can be categorized as all believers who have accepted the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. As we celebrate this holiday season, Christmas, which is Christ’s birth, the Savior was born to die; meaning His mission was to become the atoner for humanity’s sins. On this glorious day, Jesus knew His date with destiny at Calvary in complete obedience to the Father in an effort to restore man’s fellowship with God. Yes, all believers can join Zacharias (Luke 1:68) in saying “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for he hath visited and redeemed his people.” Who are the blessed? All believers and why are we blessed, because God in the form of Jesus Christ came to earth. God kept His promise in sending the Messiah, Jesus Christ as our redeemer. Now that we have answered the two remaining questions, this brings another question to mind, which is why did humanity need a redeemer? Man needed redeeming because of a broken fellowship with God and there were no one on earth worthy to pay the penalty of sin. Therefore, to be the perfect sacrifice required someone free of sin and could keep God’s moral laws and this person was Jesus Christ.


Concluding this dialog, all believers are blessed because we believe in Jesus Christ, and thank God for sending His Son to be our redeemer. We are “the redeemed” because of God’s love. We have witnessed His love on two occasions, first, when God breathed the breath of life into man, He gave man part of Himself, second, by giving His Son as atonement for man’s sins, and Jesus gave His life for humanity. What love? See, Christ’s birth was no accident, this was a planned event. He is our redeemer -- we are the redeemed.

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