COVENANT OF REDEMPTION

“In whom we have REDEMPTION through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” – Ephesians 1:7

GOD is committed to the COVENANT of REDEMPTION for which His Son Jesus Christ gave Himself: “In whom we have REDEMPTION through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph.1:7). Colossians 1:14 also says, “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” We have noted that the concept of Covenant is fundamental to understanding the Scriptures. It is found both explicitly and implicitly all through the Bible. God’s work in and with His creation is typically expressed in covenantal terms. Basically, a “covenant” is an agreement between two or more parties to fulfil obligations made one to another. It tends to be more potent than a promise, which is an oral or written agreement to do or not to do something. A covenant is a binding and solemn agreement.

Secularly, redemption is the act of atoning for a fault or mistake; repurchasing something; or exchanging something by using something else of value. Redemption means to free someone from bondage, often by paying a ransom – a price that makes redemption possible. The Israelites were redeemed from Egypt: “I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will RESCUE you from their bondage, and I will REDEEM you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments” (Exo.6:6). Believers have been redeemed from the power of sin and the curse of the Law: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us…” (Gal.3:13a). He perfected the contract: “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ” (Rom.3:24).

Originally meaning the payment of a price to secure the release of a prisoner of war, “redemption” came to be used also of the release of a slave or a person under sentence of death (Exo.21:28-30). This is what Jesus did by giving His life at Calvary: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Rom 5:9). His death on the cross paid a ransom price in full to set sinners free (Mk.10:45). We were bought with the price of His Blood to secure release from the slavery of sin (Jh.8:34; 1Cor.6:20; 7:23). The redeemed must now live as free people: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Gal.5:1).

The Covenant of Redemption is the eternal agreement within the Godhead in which the Father appointed the Son to become incarnate, suffer, and die for humankind, in order to bring Salvation. In return, the Father promised to raise Christ from the dead, glorify Him, and give Him a people (Jh.10:17-18). He has fulfilled it all! Now, as we repent and trust in the Saviour, God sees us through the righteousness of Jesus. We have been saved from sin and rescued from God’s wrath, as He placed the wrath that was due us upon Jesus. Finally, the Spirit agrees to apply the work of Christ to us by sealing us unto salvation (vv.13-14). It’s a Perfect Redemption that we have in Christ, as the inspired hymn says:

“To God be the glory, great things He hath done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life our redemption to win, and opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice;
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, and give Him the glory; great things He hath done.

Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.”

The Covenant of Redemption is one of the greatest manifestations of God’s Grace: The Father, Son, and Spirit pledging to each other to bring to us salvation, and guarantee the Reality of our Redemption, “to the praise of His Glory” (v.14).