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Jesus Redeems. What Does That Mean?
We Christians use a lot of "insider" terminology. One of the words we frequently use is the word redeem. We say that we are "redeemed" by Christ, or that God is our Redeemer.
Whatever does that mean? Usually in today's world, the only time we see the word redeem outside of a Bible study is on a coupon! For example, "Redeem this voucher for one free Chik fil A sandwich!"We studied this word, redeem, in Bible study group this past Sunday, and I had some "ah-ha" moments. So today I wish to share some!
Of course, in Hebrew, early Latin, and in New Testament Greek, the word redeem had nothing to do with coupons for free fast food items nor other prizes. The Biblical term redeem always meant to buy something back, or to rescue from a distressful situation - usually as part of a legal-type agreement or even as a ransom.
If you check a modern Merriam-Webster English dictionary, you will see all of the early Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and the modern definitions represented.
You will see that the word redeem means to buy back or to re-purchase.
The word may also mean to free from something distressful or harmful, or
to free from captivity by the payment of a ransom, or
to extricate or rescue something or someone from a detrimental situation.