Ransom

<<buy back>>

The price paid to release a slave from bondage.

Jesus paid the ransom for our lives to God (Mt 20:28; 1 Tim 2:6; 1 Pet 1:18,19). God’s declaration, “The soul that sins will die” was fully satisfied by sacrificing His son on the cross. Due to His sacrificial death, Christ substituted His life so each person on earth can have the opportunity to accept that gift of atonement and be forgiven by God (Gen 2:17; Ezek 18:4,20; Heb 9:15). This gift of grace achieves something we can’t do for ourselves as the price is too high (Ps 49:7,8; Eph 2:8,9).  If Jesus had not died for us, God’s Law would still need to be satisfied – by our own death. This price of eternal damnation is what unrepentant sinners will pay because they did not accept the only ransom available – Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16; Act 4:12).

See also: atonement, bondage, eternal damnation, freedom, redeem, release, salvation.