Bought with A Price… Redeemed

What does it mean to be ‘redeemed’? It means to purchase something with a price. It also means to gain or to regain possession.
Let’s say you are in a grocery store or a street market and you spot some beautiful, ripe oranges. You purchase a full bag of the oranges and immediately see potential for the citrusy fruit. As you head home your mind begins to think about how wonderful the oranges are going to taste. Maybe you’ll make orange juice or perhaps you will poke a few of them with cloves to create a crisp and spicy aroma in your home. Yes, the oranges you purchased have great creative potential and so do you.
 
What about the second meaning of the word redeemed which means to regain possession of something. Did you know that when you give your life to Jesus and ask Him to be your Savior He regains possession of you from the prince of this fallen world? That’s right, without Jesus, you cannot enter the kingdom of God.

On Calvary’s tree (cross), Jesus Christ redeemed all men unto God by His perfect sacrifice.  His last words were, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) What did He mean? When we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we are saved and our eternal life with God begins! (Romans 10:9,10) Our spirit is saved, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Our soul (mind) is being renewed day by day through the Word of God, but our bodies will not fully be redeemed until we are with the Lord (at the rapture or as the dead in Christ arise). (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)

Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV) In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee[a] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[b] to the praise of his glory. [a. down payment; b. until God redeems His possession]

Each Spring we have an opportunity to remember Christ’s sacrifice, His triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and His glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.  The truth is, we should remember Christ’s sacrifice for us on a daily basis.  Jesus Christ paid for our salvation and wholeness… He redeemed us from the curse of the law and from the hand of the enemy!  Why did He do that? Because He loves you. He wants you to be part of His kingdom and He wants a relationship with you today.

Galatians 3:13 (NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”[a]) [a. Deut. 21:23]

Psalm 106:10 (NIV) He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.

Revelation 5 (AMPC) And [now] they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to break the seals that are on it, for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased [redeemed] men unto God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

We have been given directions from the Lord how to remember him through the Holy Communion:

Luke 22:19-20 (NKJV) And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 8:17 (AMP) so that He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES [upon Himself] AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.”

The Lord Jesus’ shed blood represents the New Covenant.  The seven ways He bled was for the forgiveness of our sins, transgressions, and iniquities.
Jesus’ body was beaten, bruised, and pierced which represents our bodily weaknesses, sicknesses and pains taken upon him on the cross.  When we remember what this means, we take communion worthily.  We were not worthy for this divine exchange, but Jesus Christ is…

1 Corinthians 11:29-30 (AMP) For anyone who eats and drinks [without solemn reverence and heartfelt gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ], eats and drinks a judgment on himself if he does not recognize the body [of Christ].30 That [careless and unworthy participation] is the reason why many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep [in death].

Of course there is much more to Holy Communion than remembrance. It is a gift from Jesus that truly speaks to our whole beings. We hope you explore these ideas further by looking at the following books we recommend with links to where they can be purchased on Amazon.com:
1. Health And Wholeness through the Holy Communion, by Joseph Prince;
2. Perfect Redemption, The Purpose of His Passion, by Dale M. Sides,
    or at lmci.org
3. The Meal That Heals, by Perry Stone

Finally, we want you to remember that in these waning days of Grace before Jesus returns to make all things new, we are still in a fallen world. You see it around you each day but know you are REDEEMED….. and God sees your potential. Rest in Him.

Joanne and Sarah