Redeemed by the Blood

Col 1:13-14 ESV

(13) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the
kingdom of his beloved Son,
(14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

“What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” The blood of Jesus
was necessary to obtain our reconciliation with God. There are two words to describe
what takes place: redemption and atonement. Both of these words have their origin in
the Hebrew word – kaphar – or covering. The origin of the word comes from Egypt
where the root word means “red” and came to mean the red nail polish favored by
Egyptian women. In the Hebrew, the usual sense is blood covering or blood redemption.

Exo 12:13 ESV

(13) The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see
the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I
strike the land of Egypt.

Heb 9:22 NKJV

(22) And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without
shedding of blood there is no remission.

God set forth His plan of reconciliation between man and Himself. The plan was a blood
atonement. Under the old covenant, the animal stood in the place of the sinner. It’s
blood was shed instead of the man’s. This is called substitutionary atonement – one for
one. The Law is just and fair – once sin has been committed, it must be atoned for – it
cannot be just overlooked.

Because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – all must come by way of
the blood in order to be made right with God.

Rom 3:21-25 ESV

(21) But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law,
although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
(22) the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there
is no distinction:
(23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
(24) and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus,
(25) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This
was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed
over former sins.

Col 1:20 ESV

(20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven,
making peace by the blood of his cross.

The blood of the cross is what makes peace between God and mankind. In this case,
think of peace as a judicial settlement or a final verdict. We stand before the Eternal
God of the Universe who is just and righteous altogether. The charges are listed against
us: lying, not honoring God, not keeping His commandments… We cringe inside as we
hear the charges read knowing we are guilty of every single one.

God leans over the bench as asks “How do you plead?” and in shame, we bow our head
and whisper “guilty Lord”. At that moment, Jesus our Advocate, announces to the
courtroom “Father, my client wishes to change their plea.” The heavenly courtroom
grows quiet as the Son of God speaks “My client wishes to plead the blood.”

It’s not that sin is overlooked or brushed under the carpet. Someone had to pay the
price for our sin. Jesus paid the ransom – with His own blood. Now the final verdict is in
– there is peace (or finality) in the courtroom. I stand righteous before God, not because
I’m innocent but because I plead the blood of Jesus.

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Eph 2:12-13 ESV
(12) remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope
and without God in the world.
(13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the
blood of Christ.

Heb 9:11-12 ESV

(11) But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then
through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this
creation)
(12) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and
calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

1Pe 1:18-19 ESV

(18) knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your
forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,
(19) but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Having obtained eternal redemption for us - That is, by the shedding of his blood.
On the meaning of the word “redemption,” see notes on Gal_3:13. The redemption
which the Lord Jesus effected for his people is eternal. It will continue forever. It is not a
temporary deliverance leaving the redeemed in danger of falling into sin and ruin, but it
makes salvation secure, and in its effects extends through eternity. Who can estimate
the extent of that love which purchased for us “such” a redemption? Who can be
sufficiently grateful that he is thus redeemed? The doctrine in this verse is, that the blood
of Christ is the means of redemption, or atones for sin. In the following verses the
apostle shows that it not only makes atonement for sin, but that it is the means of
sanctifying or purifying the soul. Barnes

having obtained eternal redemption; for us, from sin, Satan, the law, and death, to
which his people were in bondage, and which he obtained by paying a ransom price for
them; which was not corruptible things, as silver and gold but his precious, blood: in the
original text it is, "having found eternal redemption"; there seems to be an allusion to
Job_33:24. This was what was sought for long ago by the, Old Testament saints, who
were wishing, waiting, and longing for this salvation; it is a thing very precious and
difficult to find; it is to be had nowhere but in Christ, and when found in him, is matter of
great joy to sensible sinners; God found it in him, and found him to be a proper person to
effect it; and Christ has found it by being the author of it: this is called an eternal
redemption, because it extends to the saints in all ages; backwards and forwards; it
includes eternal life and happiness; and such as are sharers in it shall never perish, but
shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; it is so called in opposition to the carnal
expiations of the high priests, and in distinction from temporal redemptions,
deliverances, and salvations. Remarkable is the paraphrase of Jonathan ben Uzziel on
Gen_49:18.

"Jacob said, when he saw Gideon the son of Joash, and Samson the son of Manoah,
who should be redeemers; not for the redemption of Gideon am I waiting, nor for the
redemption of Samson am I looking, for their redemption is a temporal redemption; but
for thy redemption am I waiting and looking, O Lord, because thy redemption is ‫פורקן‬
‫עלמין‬, "an everlasting redemption":'' Gill

Rom 3:24 -

Redemption

Redemption, "to deliver by paying a price." The New Testament doctrine. The New
Testament records the fulfillment of the Old Testament types and prophecies of
redemption through the sacrifice of Christ. The completed truth is set forth in the three
words which are translated redemption

(1) Greek, "agorazo", "to purchase in the market." The underlying thought is of a slave-
market. The subjects of redemption are "sold under sin" (Rom_7:14) but are, moreover,
under sentence of death; (Eze_18:4); (Joh_3:18); (Joh_3:19); (Rom_3:19); (Gal_3:10);
and the purchase price is the blood of the Redeemer who dies in their stead; (Gal_3:13);
(2Co_5:21); (Mat_20:28); (Mar_10:45); (1Ti_2:6); (1Pe_1:18).

(2) Greek, "exagorazo", "to buy out of the market." The redeemed are never again to be
exposed to sale;

(3) Greek, "lutroo", "to loose," "to set free by paying a price" (Joh_8:32); (Gal_4:4);
(Gal_4:5); (Gal_4:31); (Gal_5:13); (Rom_8:21). Redemption is by sacrifice and by
power. Scofield

The first and most important thing we are redeemed from is our alienation from God that
came about because of the Fall. Before we accepted Jesus as our Savior, we were “afar
off” and alienated from God – without hope in the world.

The blood of Jesus forms the bedrock or foundation of our understanding of the doctrine
of atonement. In this study we will examine where Jesus shed His blood and what each
drop means for us today.