Ransom has been paid

So often, in church or as a Christian community we use these words/terms that we know are important and spiritual, but do we stop to truly understand their deeper meaning? For example, when you give your life to Christ, people will declare you are now redeemed! What does that mean, literally? And how does one apply it to their life in order that they might experience freedom and healing?

The Merriam Webster’s 1828 definition of redeemed is: “Ransomed; delivered from bondage, distress, penalty, liability, or from the possession of another, by paying an equivalent.” The very first word, ransomed, makes me think of a movie scenario in which bad guys kidnap an innocent little girl and then ask her parents for a ransom. They have no care or concern for the innocent and precious life of that child; they just want a bunch of money. This is exactly how the evil realm operates. Satan has no regard for human life. Evil spirits are jealous and vengeful toward humans (and each other). Their only desire is to gain power and glory for themselves by keeping humans in bondage. I don’t know about you, but whenever I hear of a ransom situation (usually relating to prisoners of war or because of a corrupt government leader), I tend to think, “Don’t pay it! They are evil, and if they get away with it, they will just do it again!” Then in my mind, I choose the happy ending in which the good guys find a way to rescue the hostage without giving in to the terrorists. But how does this scenario actually work out in the Kingdom of God?

Jesus paid the ransom so that each born-again believer can be set free from bondage, distress, penalty, and liability. His death and resurrection took us from the grips of Satan to the arms of the Father. The position of your captivity transferred the moment you accepted payment for your sins, through the blood of Jesus. You have been ransomed by your heavenly Daddy. You are instantly reassigned from being a prisoner of sin to a citizen of Heaven. This deeper explanation demonstrates the powerful spiritual gift of being redeemed.

(An excerpt from my lastest book, “Modern-Day Holy Woman” a 40 day Bible study on 1 Peter 3. Available now at: https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/826085-modern-day-holy-woman