A Biblical Theology of Redemption

Our friend, Luke Rowcroft, has written an article exploring a biblical theology of Redemption:

The verb ‘redeem’ is not a word that is exclusive to the Bible. Perhaps at Christmas you received a voucher for Costa Coffee; when you go to use said voucher, you will be redeeming it. This is one meaning of the word. Another is the idea of compensating for something negative. You might say that the ‘only redeeming quality’ of a film is the action sequences for example. And yet the Bible is pleased to speak of redemption in regard to being set free. This is a transactional term: in the same way that your money is redeemed as a result of your Costa voucher, so God’s people are redeemed by His grace.

The narrative of redemption in the Bible is a glorious one, as it encompasses redemption from earthly slavery, and also redemption from spiritual slavery: our slavery to sin. In both instances, the instigator of redemption is the Almighty Creator God of heaven and earth. And whilst at Red Community our immediate focus is justice for the physically enslaved and for those who have come out of the horrors of enslavement, we are to recognise that the reason for this burden we have is that we have been saved by a God of justice, who delights in redemption. We have been set free from our sin, and as a result, by the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit, are to be leading changed lives for the glory of God. The Christian life is a journey of growing in appreciation and love and awe for just who God is, and how amazing His grace towards us is. This ought to lead us then to walk as Christ walked, with concern for the marginalised and exploited. This is by no means the Christian’s sole calling, but it is sadly, a neglected one.

First, let us consider the Exodus. Why was God moved to compassion upon the Israelite people? The answer is found in Exodus 2:24:

‘God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel – and God knew.’

The Israelite people were under bondage, trapped under the yolk of an oppressive ruler. We are told that the Egyptians made the lives of the Israelite slaves ‘bitter’ and that they ‘ruthlessly made them work as slaves’ (Ex 1:13 & 14). The result of this is that the people cried out, and God heard. God in His hearing was not found guilty of having forgotten His covenant with this people, rather He had compassion upon them. The Lord is moved in thinking of His covenant people groaning under subjection. What a glorious thought, that the cry of the covenant people of God moves Him in compassion! He loves His people. In Hosea 11, the people deserve judgement, however the Lord states that ‘My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender’ (Hos 11:8). God is love (1 John 4:8). May we always remember this. Redemption flows as a result of His compassion. We are to pray for those who are enslaved and exploited with great fervour. We, as a church, have access into His presence through Jesus our Great High Priest, and so we are to bring those people before Him.

But, you may argue at this point, God’s Redemption of Israel from Egypt was covenantal, it was to do with Salvation. The purpose of His redeeming them was in order to point forward to our spiritual redemption in Christ. Well, I am with you! Undoubtedly, this was the primary purpose of God in redeeming Israel from Egypt, that they might know Him, trust Him, and serve Him (Ex 8:1). However, we can accept this alongside knowing that exploitative slavery is abhorrent in His eyes. Often, people like to imagine that the Bible is condoning slavery, through the laws offered in regard to owning slaves in Exodus 21, and Paul’s mention of slaves within His epistles. This is worth grappling with. On first glance, we might be tempted to agree. However, whilst the Bible at no time explicitly condemns slavery, it is clear on a number of points. First, the regulations for the owning of slaves in Exodus 21 is remarkably humane for the time, making mention of terms of service (v2), care of female slaves (v7-11), and the consequences of beating the slave (v26&26). As well as this, slaves were to be provided for when set free (Deut 15:13). You may now argue, why not simply abolish slavery altogether at this point? To give what may seem an unsatisfactory answer: that is for God to know. What can be certain though, is that the conditions of modern slavery today, when placed in alignment with passages that we have considered, are in no way approved of in Scripture. We know that mankind is created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), and thus He who is of purer eyes than to behold evil (Hab 1:13), is not content with the exploitation and abuse of those He has created in His image. Exodus 21:16 speaks of the death penalty for what we would describe as trafficking: this is unbiblical and abhorrent!

The New Testament carries on this theme, as even in the face of mention of slaves, it is always in regard to the equality of men. Ephesians 5:9 tells us that God has no partiality. Galatians 3:28 shows us that in the gospel, we are one, and no one person is more valuable than another. 1 Timothy 1:10 makes clear that the ‘enslaver’ is in no way living a life approving to God. Jesus is then, the great physician. He has come to call sinners to repentance and faith: He has come to redeem us! We are set free and liberated in the gospel. And all of those around the world, slave and free need this same gospel. As we pray for justice then, let us also pray for grace and reviving, for in the gospel there is transformative power. Do you believe this? Do you believe that there is forgiveness even for the slave driver in the face of the gospel? What an awesome God we have, and as Jonah cries: Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)! Our mission as churches and Christians now then, having been saved by grace, is to seek to live lives honouring to our Redeemer. This looks like leading lives of love (1 John 4) and compassion, for He is gracious and compassionate (Ps 103:8). Are you burdened for the enslaved in God’s creation? For despite the tarnish that the fall has brought about, this is still God’s earth, created for His glory. We are to be fighting the sin in our lives, and advocating for righteousness. We are God’s light on earth, let us shine brightly for Him, remembering that he is mighty to save!

‘Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?’ – Isaiah 50:2