Redeemed: the act of a closest relative (kinsman) to buy back a possession.
A little biblical history on the term “redeemed”:
The Israelites were the chosen people of the Lord, called to be his own possession. However, after becoming enslaved to the Egyptians for over 400 years, their freedom was bought back through the sacrificial lamb that represented Christ; they were redeemed.
Many years later, after decades of disobedience and the division of their nation into a Northern and Southern kingdom, the Israelites were rejected by the Lord and cast abroad throughout the nations. To the Northern Kingdom He said, “you are no longer my people”, but yet he spoke of a time when he would again gather them to himself. He said, “those who are called not my people shall again be called the people of the Lord.” Once more the Lord would redeem his possession, his chosen people.
To this day the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel remain scattered throughout the world. No account is given of their return to the Lord. Rather, only those of the Southern Kingdom (the Jews) ever returned. This is who Jesus came to when he walked the earth. However, to them he said, “I have other sheep who are not of this fold”. But who were those other sheep? Who else, but those who were called “not my people”!
Now, most would consider those of “another fold” to be the Gentile nations. And certainly “not my people” seems to be a reference implying the Gentile peoples. But if you happen to agree with this thought you couldn’t be more wrong, and right. The fact is the Old Testament prophets prophesied of a Messiah who would come and redeem his people. A savior who would restore the whole house of Israel. No longer would it be a divided Kingdom of North and South, but one Kingdom under one King, Jesus!
Now this is where we, the Gentiles fit in. The prophets of the Old Testament spoke in poetic language describing the redemption and return of the Northern Kingdom. Through references like “scattered seed, “not my people” and “barren woman” the prophets described an event that was far greater than the restoration of one nation. What they themselves could not understand but longed to see was actually the salvation of the world!
But, on what premise could this wonderful term redemption ever refer to those of the world, who were not already members of the family of God, (remember, redeemed means to be bought back by a close relative)? Well, none, unless the Gentiles had in fact become the descendants of those to whom it was said, you are “not my people”… And that is exactly what has happened. Through the centuries following the fall and scattering of the Northern Kingdom, the bloodline of Abraham has been dispersed throughout the nations. Now people all over the world carry the DNA of Abraham and truly are his physical descendants. But in addition to this, through the faith of Abraham, those who have believed have become his descendants by the Spirit and responded to the call to return to the Lord.
Even the apostles recognized this and spoke of it throughout the New Testament. In one particular reference in Acts 15, James quotes the prophet Amos saying “After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it”. Paul also makes several references to the prophetic scriptures as he enlightens his listeners on the depth and breadth of Gods love for his people.
Though we are thankful for the gift of salvation and redemption by the blood of the lamb, without understanding the origin of the many terms that have become commonplace amongst Christians, our salvation lacks depth and reason to appreciate the words of the prophets and the salvation they longed to see.
Jesus is the Messiah, savior, redeemer, and deliverer of the Israel of faith, the Israel of God. Through the miracle of faith we also have become children of the family of God, and members of the household of Israel. Now Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers, for he truly is our kinsman redeemer.