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Redemption and Restoration in God's Plan of Salvation

Redemption, in its biblical sense, refers to the act of purchasing back something that was lost through the payment of a ransom [1]. The Greek term apolytrosis consistently carries this meaning, implying a price (lytron) paid for release [1]. This concept is evident in both the Old and New Testaments, where lytron is used in contexts of human-to-human transactions (e.g., Leviticus 19:20, Exodus 21:30) and in the relationship between humanity and God (e.g., Numbers 3:49, 18:15) [1]. The names Geuel and Iphedeiah, meaning "God's redemption" and "redemption of the Lord" respectively, further illustrate the deep roots of this concept in ancient Israelite thought [3, 4].

Salvation, a broader term, encompasses deliverance from evil or danger, as seen in the Israelites' liberation from the Egyptians (Exodus 14:13) [2]. In the New Testament, salvation specifically denotes the profound deliverance from the guilt and pollution of sin achieved through Jesus Christ, often referred to as "the great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3) [2]. This deliverance is a central theme, with passages like Luke 1:77 speaking of "knowledge of salvation... in remission of their sins" [9]. God is consistently portrayed as the source of this deliverance, as stated in Psalms 68:20, "Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death" [7].

The New Testament explicitly links redemption to Christ's work. Jesus himself stated that he came "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28; Mark 10:45) [1]. This redemption is accomplished "by the blood of Christ" (Acts 20:28; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:9) [6]. Paul emphasizes that Christ is "made, to us" redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30) [6]. Through Christ, believers have "redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14) [10]. This redemption frees individuals from various forms of bondage, including the law, its curse, the power of sin, the grave, and all iniquity (Galatians 3:13, 4:5; Romans 6:18, 22; Psalms 49:15, 130:8; Titus 2:14) [6]. It is a deliverance from the present evil world and vain conduct (Galatians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:18) [6].

The concept of restoration is intimately connected with redemption and salvation. While redemption addresses the payment for release from sin's penalty and power, restoration speaks to the renewal and transformation of the individual and, ultimately, creation itself. The Psalmist cries out, "Restore us, O God of our salvation" (Psalms 85:4) [8]. This plea for restoration highlights a desire for God to reverse His indignation and bring about a state of wholeness.

The process of salvation, including redemption and restoration, is entirely a work of God's grace, not human merit [12]. Ephesians 2:5 states that believers are "made alive together with Christ" by grace [11]. This is reiterated in Ephesians 2:8-9, which clarifies that salvation is "by grace... through faith" and "not by works, so that no one can boast" [11]. The washing away of sins and the new birth are attributed to God's mercy and the work of the Holy Spirit, signifying a complete departure from a life of sin and death into a realm of life and purity (Titus 3:5) [12].

This new life involves a profound transformation, a restoration of the individual's nature. Believers are "created anew in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10) [13]. This new creation results in good works, which are the outcome of salvation, not its cause [13]. The Holy Spirit works within a transformed heart to produce a life characterized by goodness (Galatians 5:22-23) [13]. This transformation is described as stripping off the "old sinful nature" and putting on a "new nature" in Christ, allowing Him to guide one's life (Colossians 3:9-10) [15]. The believer's new nature is a manifestation of God's Spirit expressing His life within them (Ephesians 4:24) [16].

The scope of redemption and restoration extends beyond individual transformation to include the community of believers. Through Christ, Gentiles who believe are no longer considered "strangers and foreigners" but are fully accepted into God's family, becoming children of God alongside believing Jews (Ephesians 2:19; Romans 8:14-17) [14]. This highlights a restoration of relationship and community.

The ultimate purpose of redemption is to honor God through the praises of the redeemed (Isaiah 43:21; 1 Peter 2:9) [19]. John Gill, commenting on Isaiah 1:27, notes that "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment," emphasizing that redemption by Christ is the source of other blessings like justification, pardon, and conversion [18]. He clarifies that "Zion" refers to the church, not the entire world, indicating a specific people as the object of redeeming grace [18]. Gill further elaborates on Colossians 1:14, explaining that redemption is a deliverance from all sin—original and actual—and its enslaving power, freeing believers from the obligation to punishment [20].

Salvation is also presented as a future hope, a "final victory over sin and death that believers will experience when Jesus returns in glory" (Romans 13:11) [21]. This eschatological dimension of salvation points to a complete and ultimate restoration. The resurrection of Jesus serves as God's pledge and "assurance" that His revelation is true and worthy of acceptance (Acts 17:31) [5]. This assurance extends to a "full assurance of faith" and "full assurance of understanding," providing unwavering conviction in the truth of Scripture and a joyful steadfastness in grasping divine truth (Hebrews 10:22; Colossians 2:2) [5]. The blessings of redemption and restoration are understood to flow from God the Father, the "Fountain of every blessing," through the Lord Jesus Christ, by whom even adversities become beneficial (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Romans 8:35, 37; Colossians 3:20-23) [17].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Redemption — The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man's relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man's relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Tes”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Salvation — This word is used of the deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians (Ex. 14:13), and of deliverance generally from evil or danger. In the New Testament it is specially used with reference to the great deliverance from the guilt and the pollution of sin wrought out by Jesus Christ, "the great salvation" (Heb. 2:3). (See [546]REDEMPTION; [547]REGENERATION.)”
  3. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Geuel — God's redemption”
  4. Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Iphedeiah — redemption of the Lord”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Assurance — The resurrection of Jesus (Acts 17:31) is the "assurance" (Gr. pistis, generally rendered "faith") or pledge God has given that his revelation is true and worthy of acceptance. The "full assurance [Gr. plerophoria, full bearing'] of faith" (Heb. 10:22) is a fulness of faith in God which leaves no room for doubt. The "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) is an entire unwavering conviction of the truth of the declarations of Scripture, a joyful steadfastness on the part of any one of conviction that he has grasped the very truth. The "full assurance ”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Redemption — Defined -- 1Co 6:20; 7:23. Is of God -- Isa 44:21-23; 43:1; Lu 1:68. Is by Christ -- Mt 20:28; Ga 3:13. Is by the blood of Christ -- Ac 20:28; Heb 9:12; 1Pe 1:19; Re 5:9. Christ sent to effect -- Ga 4:4,5. Christ is made, to us -- 1Co 1:30. Is from The bondage of the law. -- Ga 4:5. The curse of the law. -- Ga 3:13. The power of sin. -- Ro 6:18,22. The power of the grave. -- Ps 49:15. All troubles. -- Ps 25:22. All iniquity. -- Ps 130:8; Tit 2:14. All evil. -- Ge 48:16. The present evil world. -- Ga 1:4. Vain conversation. -- 1Pe 1:18. Enemies. -- Ps 106”
  7. Psalms “Psalms 68:20 (BSB) — Our God is a God of deliverance; the Lord GOD is our rescuer from death.”
  8. Psalms “Psalms 85:4 (NASB) — Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.”
  9. Luke “Luke 1:77 (YLT) — To give knowledge of salvation to His people In remission of their sins,”
  10. Colossians “Colossians 1:14 (BSB) — in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
  11. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:5: 2:5 gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead (literally made us alive together with Christ): Joined with Christ, believers share in his resurrection, now and in the future (see 2:6; Rom 6:4-14; Col 3:1-4). • It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved: See Eph 1:2; 2:8-9.”
  12. Titus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Titus 3:5: 3:5 not because . . . but because: The contrast is between human actions that might be thought to merit salvation and God’s grace (see Gal 2:16). Salvation is through faith in God’s mercy alone (Eph 2:8). • He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth: See Ezek 16:9; John 3:1-15; Eph 5:26; Heb 10:22; 2 Pet 1:9. • and new life through the Holy Spirit: This signifies a complete departure from the life of sin and death and a transfer into the realm of life and purity (see also Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 5:17; Col 3:10).”
  13. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:10: 2:10 He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us: Good works are the result, not the cause, of salvation. God’s Spirit, working through a transformed heart, produces a good life (Gal 5:22-23).”
  14. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:19: 2:19 Gentiles who believe are no longer strangers and foreigners (2:11-12, 17). Through Christ, they are fully accepted into God’s family. They become children of God, just like believing Jews (see Rom 8:14-17).”
  15. Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:9: 3:9-10 your old sinful nature . . . your new nature: Paul contrasts old and new identities (see also Rom 5:12-21; 6:6; Eph 4:22-24). Believers strip off their old life and put on Christ’s new life, allowing him to be Lord and to guide the way they live.”
  16. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 4:24: 4:24 A believer has a new nature: God’s Spirit expresses his life within the believer (see Col 3:10; cp. Gen 1:26; Rom 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-23). The transforming work of God’s Spirit is part of the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-10).”
  17. Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 5:20: thanks . . . for all things--even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Col 3:17; Th1 5:18). unto God and the Father--the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption. Lord Jesus Christ--by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Rom 8:35, Rom 8:37; Co1 3:20-23).”
  18. Isaiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Isaiah 1:27: Zion shall be redeemed with judgment,.... The blessing of redemption by Christ is the source and foundation of the other blessings of grace, before mentioned, the little remnant are favoured with, as justification, pardon of sin, and conversion, Isa 1:18, Isa 1:25 it is of a spiritual nature; the redemption of the soul is a deliverance from the captivity of sin, Satan, and the law, and is plenteous and eternal; the objects of redeeming grace are "Zion" and her converts; not the world, but the church is redeemed by Christ; for by Zion is meant, not a place, but peopl”
  19. Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 43:21: 43:21 One purpose of redemption is to honor God through the praises of the redeemed (see 1 Pet 2:9).”
  20. Colossians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Colossians 1:14: In whom we have redemption,.... Which is an excellent and wonderful blessing of grace saints have in and by Christ; and lies in a deliverance from sin, all sin, original and actual, under which they are held captive, in a state of nature, and by which they are made subject to the punishment of death; but through the sacrifice of Christ it is taken, and put away, finished, and made an end of; and they are freed from the damning power of it, or any obligation to punishment for it; and in consequence of this are delivered from the enslaving governing power of it by h”
  21. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 13:11: 13:11 The New Testament often speaks of salvation as the final victory over sin and death that believers will experience when Jesus returns in glory (see 5:9-10).”
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