The Meaning of ‘Redemption’ and ‘Salvation’

.... "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

(Revelation 1:8 - 96 A.D.)

.... In this passage we see Jesus as He is today: "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore." (Revelation 1:18) for He is the firstborn from the dead, and One with our heavenly Father.

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.... Jesus came to us from heaven, and returned to heaven, to the glory He had with the Father before time began. His glory, before and after, was the same, so He gained nothing for Himself through His trials. But rather, He suffered it all for our sakes that we might be reconciled to the Father through Him. And this provides a context for understanding His redemption:
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.... To ‘redeem’ something means to buy it back; to recover ownership by paying a sum – like reclaiming an item that was sold at a pawn shop. But in order to do this, the price of redemption must be equal to or greater than the object of redemption:

.... "You are worthy . . . for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood, out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God . . . worthy is the Lamb who was slain . . . "

(Revelation 5:9-12 - eternity)

.... In this case, the object of redemption was mankind itself, for we had sold ourselves under sin and the wages of our sin was death (Romans 6:23; 7:14). But Jesus gave His life in our place as our substitute. The inherent value of Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, was of such great magnitude, of such inestimable worth, that He was able to redeem every man, woman and child who has ever lived by giving Himself in our place. In other words Jesus was more holy than all of we, put together, were sinful, and because of this He was able to become a ransom for us all.

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.... And here is an important consideration for you, personally. If Jesus was able to redeem all of mankind from our sins – every last one of us put together, from the beginning of time until the end of days – then surely His sacrifice was enough for you, as simply one individual. If it was Jesus who gave Himself for your sins – Christ Himself who died for you – then it was truly enough. So whatever your sins may have been, your price has been paid in full by Him:

.... "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him."

(Hebrews 7:25 - 65 A.D.)

.... Jesus redeemed us from sin through His death on the cross; but even more important was His resurrection, three days later. So great was the essence of His life that death itself could not hold Him (Acts 2:24; 3:15). And in like manner, if we have died to our sins through Jesus, we will live with Him through a clean, new life that He gives to all who believe in Him and who call on His name:

.... "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

(2 Corinthians 5:17 - 57 A.D.)

.... The resurrection of Jesus Christ was the greatest moment of all history, the most profound occurrence that will ever effect any man. It is through the new life of His resurrection that we are given the power to walk with God in peace today (Romans 5:10). This ongoing relationship is called our salvation.
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.... Of this salvation the prophets spoke, and carefully searched, who foretold these things which would come to us; the apostles also, who walked with Jesus on the earth, became witnesses when these things were fulfilled (1 Pet 1:10; Luke 24:46-49). Between their two testimonies, every word concerning the Christ could be matched to, and confirmed in, Jesus of Nazareth, whom we have preached to you (Matthew 18:16; Ephesians 2:20; Amos 3:7; Acts 10:38-42).

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