We have obtained redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins.

 

We have obtained redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins.

 

Colossians 1:13–14: "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."

In the phrase "redemption, that is, the forgiveness of sins," the word "that is" (or "namely") does not imply that redemption and the forgiveness of sins are synonymous; rather, it suggests a sequence—meaning that redemption must occur first for the forgiveness of sins to be received.

Here, "redemption" refers to the concept of "atonement" (or "covering") found in Leviticus 4:20: "He shall do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering, and the priest shall make atonement for the congregation, and they shall be forgiven."

When describing the five types of sacrifices, the text invariably concludes with the phrase "make atonement... and they shall be forgiven." The word for atonement (*kaphar*) corresponds to the English "redeem" (to buy back); it also encompasses concepts like vicarious atonement and deliverance. It implies being liberated after a purchase has been made. The washing away of sin is not the first step; rather, the act of purchasing the sinner and setting them free comes first. This is precisely the concept behind *Yom Kippur* (the Day of Atonement).

Genesis 6:4 states: "Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out." The noun form associated with *Yom Kippur* is related to this "pitch" (or covering substance). The word for "coat" (or "cover") is *kaphar*. In the Old Testament, a bronze altar stood in the courtyard of the sanctuary. When hands were laid upon the lamb, all sins were transferred to it; this act also embodies the concept of "redeeming." Thus, the slain lamb and the sinner became one.

This constitutes the atonement that occurs for the one who repents. Next, one washes their hands and feet at the bronze basin; only after this washing could one enter the Holy Place. Inside the Holy Place, there is a covering—and this specific covering is what the word refers to. Entry into the Most Holy Place occurs only once a year (on the 10th day of the seventh lunar month); inside, there is the Ark of the Covenant, topped by a covering known as the *Mercy Seat* or *Atonement Cover* (in Hebrew, *Kapporet*, meaning "covered by grace").

Yom Kippur was the day when the sins of all sinners were covered. Thus, once a year, the High Priest would sprinkle blood upon the Mercy Seat, effectively covering the sins with that blood. In the New Testament, this process is fulfilled as the Lord purchases sinners with the price of His own blood. Because the Lord died on the cross (tearing the veil), rose again, and ascended as High Priest to God on the throne, God is able to purchase—redeem—the sinner who repents and turns back, paying the price of blood to rescue them from Satan.

The concept of "atonement" (*sok*) implies being covered (*kapar*)—specifically, being shielded from God's judgment. Therefore, there is no forgiveness of sins without this act of redemption. The ones God redeems are those sinners who repent and turn to Him; He purchases them by having His own Son die in their place. It is an amazing grace. The price of His Son's death is paid only for those who repent. God's love is bestowed upon the repentant, and they become His own.

In this day and age, it is problematic to simply say things like, "Believe in Jesus and you will be saved," or "Accept Jesus and you will be saved," without conveying the full depth of this meaning. Repentance begins when one realizes they have been mired in darkness (evil) and experiences the resulting anguish, leading them to hope that God will rescue them from that darkness. It is not that we become saved simply by believing in Jesus; rather, it is believing that God will indeed act to save the one who repents. We do not become saved merely by the act of believing; instead, we believe in the salvation that has been granted to the repentant.

That is why this faith is called a gift. To claim that humans can bring about this state simply by believing—when it has not actually occurred—is nothing more than a deception.

The concept of "redemption" is fading from the church today. Job 19:25 states, "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth." Even today, we can face attacks from Satan, just as Job did. God permitted Satan to strike Job, and He redeems the one who repents amidst dust and ashes. God is the One who purchases our freedom.

The word for "redemption" used here is *ga'al*. In the Book of Ruth, for someone to marry Ruth, he had to be willing to pay the price to redeem the land of her deceased husband. To redeem—or purchase—something is to take responsibility for it. This is love; this is the meaning of "Redeemer." There are three Hebrew words for "Redeemer": *kopher*, *padah*, and *ga'al*. They all signify paying a price to purchase a captive or a slave and setting them free. When the Hebrew people were under Pharaoh's oppression, God liberated them; the concept of "redemption" is used to signify this liberation in Exodus 6:6 ("Therefore, say to the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment'") and in Deuteronomy 7:8 ("But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt").

Galatians 3:13 states, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole,'" and Galatians 4:5 says, "to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship."

Humans succumbed to Satan's temptation—the promise that they could become like God—and became slaves to Satan; consequently, they live in sin while serving him. However, one cannot be considered truly repentant if, while acknowledging their sin, they fail to realize that they are dwelling in evil.

God calls for the removal of evil, which is a matter even more fundamental than the issue of sin itself. This evil is the "old self," and it is identified as greed. Repentance means rooting out greed; it means dying on the cross together with Jesus. Yet, many churches today are diluting the true meaning of repentance. People often think that repentance consists merely of confessing and reflecting on their sins each day.

However, true repentance belongs to the one who dies to evil daily. Even after years of faithful church life and daily reflection on sin, a person may lack clarity because they fail to repent in a way that breaks free from evil.

Consequently, they fall into a cycle of sinning, repenting, and sinning again, all while believing they are saved. Without turning away from evil, one has not truly repented. Without repentance, greed continues to hold the heart in its grip. Only through repentance does one find true belonging and receive the forgiveness of sins.