LORD OF THE REDEEMED

First published April 2009.

A Lord or Master is one who has the power to control others at will. He is one with absolute authority. He defines what is right and wrong, good and bad. He establishes boundaries of conduct.

God is Lord and Master over His Creation. He made us, we did not just appear (Psalm 100:3). It was His power that made us from the dust of the ground (Gen 2:7). He has defined what is right and wrong , good and bad based upon who He is (Exodus 20:1-17). He established a boundary of conduct (Genesis 2:15-17). But mankind has rebelled and continues to be in rebellion against God as Creator.

God has not only established His Lordship over us as our Creator, but He has established His Lordship over us as our Redeemer. To understand His Lordship as Redeemer we must have a proper picture in our minds. To do this we must picture a slave market outside of Israel (I emphasize outside of Israel because God presented Israel with humane guidelines for servitude among His people which is for a future discussion). One who was enslaved in the ancient world was stripped of his or her dignity and openly displayed naked before potential buyers. After examination, the bidding would begin and the winner would pay the redemption or ransom price and become the owner of that person. The buyer became the Lord or Master in that individual’s life because he was their redeemer. He or she was obligated to do the Master’s bidding. Paying the redemption or ransom price is the meaning of both the Hebrew and Greek word used in Scripture to describe God’s work in Israel and Christians.

This is true of Israel:

NAU Exodus 6:6 “Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.

NIV Exodus 6:6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

KJV Exodus 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.

It is true of Christians:

NAU Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

NIV Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

KJV Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

As our Redeemer, God has the right of absolute control over our lives. He is the One with absolute authority over us. He defines what is right and wrong, good and bad. He establishes our boundaries of conduct. He is a benevolent dictator.

Like slaves in the market, mankind stands exposed because of their sin before God. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6) long to be redeemed. However, not all men desire to be redeemed or to acknowledge God as their Redeemer. This leaves them as unclaimed and unredeemed slaves of sin. But for those who desire and believe in the work of Jesus’ on the cross for their redemption from the slavery of sin and its consequences it means they are servants of their Redemptive Master. He owns them and has absolute control over their lives. He is their Lord.

May we appreciate His redeeming work and demonstrate our appreciation with grateful submission to His will.

NAU 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.

NIV 1 John 5:2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

KJV 1 John 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

NAU 1 John 2:5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:

NIV 1 John 2:5 But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:

KJV 1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.