REDEEM

• To save (a person or soul) from a state of sinfulness and its consequences
• To set free, as from slavery or kidnapping, by providing money or other compensation
• To recover ownership of by paying a specified sum
• To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of

In the passage from Isaiah that Jacob shares in 2 Nephi 8, he refers to the redeemed of the Lord: \\\”Therefore, the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy and holiness shall be upon their heads; and they shall obtain gladness and joy; sorrow and mourning shall flee away\\\” (2 Nephi 8:11). This particular verse refers to those of the House of Israel who will one day accept Christ and be gathered into Zion.

However, there are many people today who are counted among the “redeemed of the Lord.” If you have given your life to the Lord and gone through the waters of baptism, then your soul has been saved from its state of sinfulness and the eternal consequences you would have been facing — you have been redeemed!

Consider the other definitions of the word “redeem” above and appreciate what our redeemer, Jesus Christ, has done for us:

WE HAVE BEEN SET FREE

For the ransom was paid, I was freed! (from verse of “I’m Free”)

We were once slaves to sin. If you doubt that, then think how difficult it was (and is) to break out of sinful habits on your own. Numerous scriptures refer to the “chains of sin” that can bind us. When we give our lives to Christ, the chains of sin are broken — we are redeemed!

WE ARE UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood (from chorus of “Victory in Jesus”)

When we are born as innocent babies, we belong to the Lord. However, as we grow and finally reach the age of understanding, our sinful natures take over, and ownership shifts to the enemy. This is bad news. But the good news (the “gospel message”) is that Christ has already paid the price (by shedding His blood on the cross) so that the way exists for ownership of our souls to be recovered by the Lord. When we give our lives to the Lord and are baptized, we become His and, unless we walk away from Him, we are His for eternity. This process is also referred to as the “plan of redemption.”

VALUE HAS BEEN RESTORED TO OUR LIVES

He made something beautiful of my life (from chorus of “Something Beautiful”)

Although many wear sin as a badge of “honor” today, we are thankful that the day arrived for us when we recognized sin for what it was and felt shame for things we had done and how our lives had devalued as a result of those things. When the utility of our lives may have been approaching the state of “filthy rags” referenced in the Bible, our value as a son or daughter of God is beyond comprehension! This is not to encourage pride in ourselves but rather gratefulness to our redeemer who has restored value to our lives.

If you are among the redeemed of the Lord, then praise God for this! If you’re not, consider the plan of redemption — take advantage while this redeeming offer is available to you.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.