Dr. Ray Pritchard Christian Blog and Commentary

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Redeemer

  • Dr. Ray Pritchard
    Dr. Ray Pritchard is the president of Keep Believing Ministries, an Internet-based ministry serving Christians in 225 countries. He is the author of 29 books, including Stealth Attack, Fire and Rain,… More
  • Published Mar 04, 2014

“The Redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59:20).

Of all the names that the Bible gives to Jesus Christ, none is more precious than the name Redeemer. There are other names we use more often, such as Lord and Savior, and rightly so because those too are Bible terms, but no word touches the heart like the name Redeemer. When we say Lord, we are recalling that Jesus Christ is the master over sin and death. When we say Savior, we are recalling that he saved us from our sin. But when we say Redeemer, we remember what it cost him to save us. Redeemer is the name of Christ on the cross. When we say that word, the cross is placarded before our eyes. We remember not only that he gave us salvation, but that he paid a mighty price for it.

Herbert Locker said it this way, “Redemption is chief among the doctrines of grace for from it all the rivers of grace flow.”

We are exceedingly valuable to God not because of what we are but because of what it cost Jesus to purchase us. It is not as if God looked down from heaven and said, “Well, these people are worth so much, I have to go down and save them.” No, we all deserve punishment and hell.

Sometimes you will go to an auction and see some little trinket. You might think it is the biggest piece of junk you have ever seen in your life. You say to yourself, “Even if they paid me, I wouldn’t take that.” The bidding starts and you think they will never sell it. The first guy offers $50. The next guy says $100. The next says $200. You just want to stand up and shout, “What’s the matter with you? Have you lost your minds? That’s a worthless piece of junk!” And it ends up selling for $1000 because it is an heirloom that a great sculptor made two hundred years ago. What was junk to you turns out to be precious to somebody else. In an auction a thing is worth what a person will pay for it. Think what we must be worth to God. Jesus paid for our salvation with his own blood.

We were cowering in the lowest part of the dungeon, chained hand and foot. We hadn’t seen the sunlight since the day we were born. But one day Jesus came and light flooded in. He had the key, he unlocked the chains, opened the door, and we followed him out.

That’s redemption. We have been set free!

Fanny Crosby wrote about it in this beloved gospel song:

Redeemed—how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.

Blessed Redeemer, you have purchased my salvation at an infinite cost. By your bloody death I have been set free. Amen.

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You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free email sermon.