I absolutely love this word!
Google the definition of the word, “redeem” and this is some of what you will find: retrieve, regain, recover, get back, reclaim, and buy back.
A biblical view of this word says all of that and more. God is in the business of redeeming, restoring and giving life. The entirety of the Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation reveals God’s grand narrative of love and calling us back into a relationship with Him. The concept of redemption acknowledges that I am in need of Someone “taking me out of”, “buying me out of”. God did for me what I could not do for myself. There is absolutely no way I could be good enough to gain right standing before Him. Someone has paid the payment due for me to live in freedom. I could not pay that price.
God sent Jesus to pay with his life the payment due to rescue me from a pit I could not escape. Death and separation from God were forever conquered by Jesus on the cross. The Bible is clear that God had me specifically in mind when His plan of redemption was set in motion. My standing upon accepting this payment for my life in darkness is secure. Romans 8:1 reminds me I am no longer under condemnation since I am in Christ. I love the words further in the same chapter that say not only am a in right standing, I’m God’s precious child and that there is absolutely nothing that can ever, ever, ever separate me from his love! What amazing words to this heart of mine, who from a young age felt like I was a disappointment to everyone around me and especially to God, and that love and acceptance were something to work for.
Today I can live my life in freedom knowing that God made a way for me through Jesus, but here’s the even better news! The enemies I now face while living in this world (fear, shame, perfectionism, that feeling of not being enough) are all taken care of by God also! David speaks so eloquently in Psalm 18 of God’s rescue and the reason behind it. David’s enemies and my enemies may be different, but the love of God resonates in both cases as He delivers.
Take this in:
Psalm 18:16-19 NLT
“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me BECAUSE HE DELIGHTS IN ME” (emphasis is mine).
As someone who lived in deep shame for many years this is astounding to me! God DELIGHTS in me as His child! Meditate on that awhile, and let that seep into your soul! A redeemed life is not a perfect life. A restored life in recovery is about living authentically, honestly, openly, and in close connection with others who choose to live whole-heartedly. Jesus spoke to the notion of striving and trying appear perfect whenever he pointed out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees’ piety in the Gospels. I am not perfect and God wants me to stop believing that I need to strive to be to be loved and accepted. This is a message that the church so needs to hold out to people. There is freedom that can be found in Christ. There is a life of freedom from pursuing perfectionism, gaining approval from achieving, and from shame.