REDEEMER

A "redeemer" is one who is qualified to effect "redemption" on behalf of one in need of the same. The term "redeem" means "to buy out of," (Grk. exagorazo -- ek "out of" and agorazo, "buy"), as in the case of a slave who is bought out of the state of bondage. When Jehovah delivered his people from Egyptian slavery, it was a type of redemption (Ex. 6:6; 5:13; cf. Psa. 78:35). The Lord also promised to redeem Israel from her sins (Psa. 130:8; cf. Isa. 59:20; Rom. 11:26). Redemption reaches its richest meaning in the atoning work of Jesus Christ. (a) Job longed for a "Redeemer," and declared that he would come to earth someday (Job 19:25). (b) The Hebrew O.T. spoke of a goel, a kinsman with the right to redeem. Boaz, who married Ruth, is an example of such (Ruth 3-4). Christ, by his identification with humanity (Jn. 1:14), and his death at Calvary, became our "kinsman-Redeemer" (Lk. 1:68; Eph. 1:7). (c) Jesus redeemed the obedient Jew from the curse of the law of Moses, i.e., his inability to keep it perfectly, thus being subject to its penalty (Gal. 3:13; 4:5). God offered redemption by means of the plan involving the death of his Son (Rom. 3:24; 1 Cor. 1:30; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). (d) Eventually, at the time of his second coming, Christ will redeem the bodies of the dead from the grave (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30).