Bought Back by Blood and Battle (Ephesians 1:7)

EPHESIANS 1:7, "...in whom we have redemption..."

PAWN SHOP

"Redemption" is a big, intimidating type of word, but the meaning is fairly straight-forward. When we think of redeeming something, we think of 'buying something back', 'regaining possession of something that was once ours'. In fact, in classical Greek, the most common use of the word is to "redeem" a pledge, such as someone's clothes; cloak; or property, which was left in 'pawn', or 'pledged' with someone. If we think of the modern day pawn shop, that is kind of the imagery. You have something that you leave in pawn, and then you come back at a later date and buy back what rightfully, still belongs to you.

RIGHTFULLY YOURS

The most important aspect of this concept is the fact that the item rightfully belongs to the owner, and it has left their possession, but now they are doing something to get it back.

COMPLETENESS

The Greek word is (apolutrosis), 629 [Strong's], a combination of (apo), "off", or "away from" something, and (lutron), "to loose". (Apo) has the force of 'completeness', meaning that 'it is done, an accomplished fact'.

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

In Ephesians 1:7, the verb is in the 'present tense', but durative in action, meaning that there was 'an action in the past, that continues in the present, and will continue into the future'. In other words, we have had; are having; and will continue to have, our redemption. In fact, "...we have.." is (echomen), 2192 [Strong's], meaning, "present possession, on a continual basis".

TRANSLATION

To translate the combination of the phrase of words, "...we presently possess, on a continual basis, our redemption, which took place; is actively taking place; and we will always, and forever, continually, be redeemed!".

ROOT WORD

The root word of (lutron), is (lyo), 3089 [Strong's], which simply means to "loose", or "untie" something. The root is used in a number of different contexts:

LUKE 13:15-16, "...on the Sabbath, does not each one of you untie (lyo) his ox or donkey from the stable, and lead it away to water? Must not this one, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, behold, for 18 years, be untied (lyo) from this bond, on the Sabbath day?"

JOHN 11:44, Jesus said, concerning Lazarus, "...untie (lyo) him, and let him go..."

ACTS 22:30, the Roman soldier, concerning Paul, "...loosed (lyo) him from the bonds.."

MATTHEW 16:19, "...I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens; and whatever you should have bound upon the earth, it shall be, have been bound in the heavens; and whatever you should have untied (lyo) upon the earth, it shall have been untied (lyo) in the heavens".

MATTHEW 18:18, "...as much as you should tie upon the earth, it will be tied in the heavens; and as much as you should untie (lyo) upon the earth, it will be untied (lyo) in the heavens"

UNTIED - LOOSED

Implicit in the word (lyo), is that the subject is "untied", or "loosed", from something, but (apolutrosis) is very emphatic, stating:

FREED from CAPTIVITY

1) that we are untied, and loosed, "away from", something that held us in bondage; that we were in slavery to, but an action took place, that once, and for all, freed us from that captivity, never again to be imprisoned to it.

RESTORED

2) not only are we forever free, but we are also "loosed from" the consequences of the captivity. This is a reversal of fortune, common in many aspects of our Father's actions on our behalf, where the idea of "redemption" is not only a buying back, but a restoration to our former position or status.

FIVE MEANINGS

Generally, there are 5 different uses of the word in the Old Testament scriptures:

1) God redeemed Israel from the bondage of Egyptian slavery. This is a constant theme throughout the scriptures, that (Yahweh), the creator; the breather and giver of life and breath, the one true (EL), the all powerful one, with all authority, rescued His people from the captivity of Egypt, a type of our salvation through Jesus Christ (Ex.6:6; Dt.7:8; 13:5; 15:15; 24:18)

2) The final act in Egypt, was the destruction of the firstborn, which were preserved in Israel by the blood over the mantle and doorposts. All the firstborn in Israel belonged to God, from that moment, purchased by blood, and Israel was to redeem, or buy back their firstborn sons from sacrifice (Ex.13:14-16; 34:19-20).

3) Redemption of property was a right, to gain back what was sold, but belonged, rightfully, to the owner, by inheritance (Lev.25:25-27).

4) Provision was also made to buy back something that was devoted to God, that you wanted for yourself (Lev.27:14-34)

5) Generally, God is seen as the Redeemer, delivering His people from destruction; calamity; and trouble, from their enemies (Ps.25:22; 26:11; 69:18; 130:8).

DELIVERANCE

Despite the overwhelming use, in classical Greek, of redeeming something that was pawned, there is also the very dominant referral to deliverance from captivity and slavery, where someone is being rescued out of bondage, from some hostile power or force.

SLAVES

Ironically, wars were often fought to gain a labor force, so that prisoners of another were ransomed, by battle or payment, only to become the slaves of another ruling despot. The maxim stated, "The one who is taken in war belongs to the conqueror". Basically, war transformed many prisoners into slaves of another.

BOLD PURCHASE

We too have become "slaves" to our Father, through His bold purchase of us, by the blood of Christ, from the claims of justice, and His victorious conquest over death and the devil, to keep us in freedom.

BUYING BACK

What is significant, is that (apolutrosis) contains both the theme of 'purchase', or 'buying back', as in the gaining back of one's property through payment, and yet there is also

the theme of 'war, and violent aggression', that takes by force, that which is desired.

PURCHASED

In delivering Israel from the bondage of Egypt, the Lord had them apply the blood of a lamb to the doorposts, and their obedient action, preserved the life of all of the first born, and through this action, the Lord forever "purchased" the right, from Israel, to all the firstborn of man and beast, among His people. However, this cost of purchase does not negate the fact that with an outstretched arm, and mighty signs and wonders, the Lord crushed the nation of Egypt into total submission to His will and releasing of His people, by military conquest.

DEUTERONOMY 6:21-23, "...we were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; and the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and severe, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes; and He brought us out from there that He might bring us in, to give us the land which He swore to give unto our fathers."

THEME

This theme of Purchase and Conquest is echoed in the sacrifice of Christ.

PURCHASE:

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"

1 PETER 1:18-19, "...you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain manner of life, received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot..."

HISTORIC RECORD

[It is interesting that there is historical record, in fact, a custom, where in cases of grave danger, the leaders of a city, in order to avert the destruction of everyone, would hand over their most beloved children to be sacrificed, as a ransom to the avenging gods. Though obviously a barbaric practice, honoring demons, and not the one true God, in a similar fashion, Jesus Christ, God's only son, was sacrificed to avert the destruction of everyone. (It is amazing that spiritual law contains so many opposites to natural human thinking. Death brings life; giving results in receiving; what is unseen and unfelt, controls what is physically seen and felt)].

CONQUEST:

COLOSSIANS 2:15, "...having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them..."

EPHESIANS 1:19-23, "...according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come; and has put all under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all, to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all."

PHILIPPIANS 1:9-11, "...God [El] also has highly exalted Him, and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of beings in heaven, and beings in earth, and beings under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [Yahweh], to the glory of God [El], the Father."

EPHESIANS 4:8-10, "...when He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things)."

RIGHTFUL POSITION

We rightfully belonged to our Father, but through sin and Satan, we were lost to Him. Through sacrifice and conquest He restored us back to Himself, and our rightful position and inheritance in Him. Not only is the legal bondage broken, but our former position; authority; and status, is reinstated, according to His original purpose and intent. We are redeemed.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours