Rev. Junior W. Wimbush
Pastor, Antioch Christian Church (D.O.C.)
You will find in the 44th chapter of Isaiah, 22nd verse these words, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” The main themes of this Biblical book are rescue and restoration. God is seen as the Saviour of his people. He rescues them from Egypt. He will rescue them from their coming captivity, and he will send his beloved servant to pay the penalty for the sins of all. God freely offers to forgive all who will turn to him in repentant faith. The future Kingdom of God in earth is also described in detail as a time when nations will lay down their swords and, in peace, sing praises to God their king.
Let us have an understanding of what is meant by repentance and redemption. Repentance is more than being sorrowful and merely speaking that you will never do something again. When you repent, you make a complete change in the direction of your life, a 180-degree turn….toward God. Redemption is the action of being saved from sin. We repent; God redeems.
Acts 3:19-20 (NLT), “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.” 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.”
We must understand who Jesus is; he is God; he is power; he is King of Kings. He is our Redeemer. In Jesus we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:30, it is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus said in Luke 15:7(KJV), “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” 1 Peter 1:13, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” If you are trusting in him it means you have been born again. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. It means you have been redeemed.
In the lyrical words of the late Jessy Dixon,
I am redeemed, brought with a price,
Jesus has changed my whole life.
If anybody asks you, just who I am,
Tell them I am redeemed.
Give God Glory! Trust him; he will do just what he said he would do.
