A KINSMAN REDEEMER

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

The Bible teaches that Jesus is our kinsman redeemer. However, the idea of kinsman redeemer is foreign to our modern culture so often the meaning of such truth can easily be lost to us. What is a kinsman redeemer? And why does it matter that Jesus is our kinsman redeemer? In answer to the first question, a kinsman redeemer is someone who (1) can both recover any forfeited property that has been lost and (2) who can purchase freedom for any person who has been lost to slavery. He recovers lost land and lost freedom.

Theologically, this matters because when Adam sinned, mankind lost authority as rulers of this world (Ephesians 2:2). Furthermore, our freedom from sin has also been lost because we were born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). Mankind is hopelessly and desperately in need of a kinsman redeemer.

Here’s the good news. Jesus entered into the human race by taking on human flesh. In doing this He proved that He is qualified to be our close relative/kinsman redeemer (Hebrews 2:9-15). Jesus also died on the cross, paying the required price to purchase us (Ephesians 1:7, 1 Peter 1:18). The result is that we are free from sin (Romans 8:1) and are guaranteed to receive back our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). Thank you, Jesus, for being my kinsman redeemer!

Philip Moeller