To Whom Was The Ransom Price For Our Redemption Paid?

Revelation 5:9

The ransom price for our souls was paid into the hands of God, whose justice was offended, whose law we broke, and who is the lawgiver, that is able to save and to destroy, and against whom all sin is committed, who will by no means clear the guilty unless his justice is satisfied. He is the judge of all the earth who will do right. Therefore Christ is said "to redeem" men "unto God by his blood" (Rev. 5:9). The price of redemption, which is the blood of Christ, was paid unto God whereby redemption from vindictive justice was obtained.

It was not paid into the hands of Satan, or any other enemy that had power over us. The power of Satan was only a usurped power. He had no legal right to hold us captives. Therefore the delivery of our souls out of his hand is by power and not by price.

But the justice of God had a legal right to shut us up and detain us as prisoners until satisfaction was given. Therefore redemption from avenging justice, which is the redemption that is by Christ, is redemption by a price paid to justice for the ransom of God’s elect. It is written, "Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:30-31).Jesus Christ is made of God unto us Redemption. He redeems and saves his people by three mighty works of deliverance.

1. By Ransom Price - The Son of God paid the justly demanded price of our souls’ ransom from the law’s curse. He paid both perfect, infinitely meritorious righteousness and complete, infinitely meritorious atonement.

2. By Regenerating Power - At the appointed time of love, the Lord of glory sends his Holy Spirit to regenerate, to quicken from the dead, his ransomed people. By sovereign, irresistible grace and power the Spirit of God sets chosen, redeemed sinners free from the bondage of sin, the tyranny of Satan, and the terror of the law, calling them to life and faith in Christ. That call to life and faith is not an offer, but the gift and operation of life and faith in Christ!

3. By Resurrection Glory - At the day appointed by the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ shall come again in power and great glory to gather his saints in the resurrection of the just into his heavenly kingdom. When he has raised our bodies from the grave and destroyed all our enemies and his, when he has glorified all his saints and made all things new, then, we shall forever be delivered from all the consequences of sin! Read Revelation 21:1-5. With confidence and joy we sing…

Don Fortner