Ransomed, Redeemed and Atoned for

Author: Dave Arnold

“Down headlong from their native skies

The rebel angels fell,

And thunderbolts of flaming wrath

Pursued them deep to hell.

Down from the top of earthly bliss

Rebellious man was hurled;

And Jesus stooped beneath the grave

To reach a sinking world.”¹

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem” (Galatians 4:4, 5). “Fullness of time” means “when the proper time had come.” “Redeem” means ‘to buy out of the marketplace.’ It can also mean ‘buy back.’ The word was used frequently of ransoming slaves.”² The Amplified Bible states, “God sent His Son to ransom, redeem, and atone for.” Christ brought salvation to a sinful world.

“Not only do we know God by Jesus Christ alone, but we know ourselves only by Jesus Christ. We know life and death only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Jesus Christ, we do not know what is our life, nor our death, nor God, nor ourselves” (Blaise Pascal).³