To redeem is to forgive; it is to cancel, to exonerate, to pardon a debt. The one who redeems absolves the debtor. He redeems who has the capacity to hand all judgment over to God. In the Old Testament there could be no remission without the shedding of blood; so Christ gave Himself once and for all for our sins.
Although to redeem or forgive is a prerogative of God alone, it is no less true that to a certain extent He has placed judgment in our hands, not to condemn, but to forgive as we were forgiven. That being so, we are forgiven in the measure that we forgive those who offend us; we are judged with the same judgment with which we judge, and measured with the same measure with which we measure; we are reconciled with God according to how we reconcile with our neighbor, and God believes in our love for Him—whom we do not see—if we love those whom we do see. Therefore, remission is a gift of love, not so much to the one who has failed—although he is the one who benefits—but to our Heavenly Father, who deserves all honor, every sacrifice. Love is paid with love, says a song, and He loved us.
We have said that without restitution there is no remission. He who makes restitution pays; he who redeems gives himself voluntarily. In fact, our Lord Jesus first restored divine justice and then gave His life, voluntarily, to redeem our sins. In other words, Christ fulfilled the law, with His spotless life, to restore divine justice, and then redeemed us from the curse of sin, to give us life by His death.
Remission, therefore, is a sacrifice that we offer to God, which is why it is called “THE REMISSION OF JEHOVAH,” for we do it for Him. And although it is a sacrifice that involves pain, renunciation, and death, in the end it is also joy, freedom, and life. It is much better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), and although making restitution is giving, redeeming is something higher because it is giving oneself completely. Let us see it next, directly from the Word:
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 Every seven years you shall make a remission. And this is the manner of the remission: every creditor who lent anything on his hand to his neighbor shall forgive his debtor; he shall not demand it again of his neighbor or his brother, because Jehovah’s remission has been proclaimed.
Deuteronomy 15:9 Beware that there be not a wicked thought in your heart, saying: The seventh year, the year of remission, is near; and you look with evil eyes on your needy brother and give him nothing; for he may cry out against you to Jehovah, and it will be counted to you as sin.
Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive men their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their offenses, neither will your Father forgive your offenses.
Matthew 18:34-35 So also My heavenly Father will do to you if each of you does not forgive his brother from the heart for his offenses. Then his lord, angry, delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that he owed him.
Matthew 26:28 …for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said to Him: Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven? Jesus said to him: I do not say to you up to seven, but even up to seventy times seven.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 7:47 Therefore I say to you that her many sins are forgiven her, because she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven, loves little.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Luke 17:3-4 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns to you, saying: I repent, forgive him.
Luke 23:34 And Jesus said: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.
Mark 11:26 For if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your offenses.
Hebrews 9:15 So, for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having occurred for the remission of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are purified with blood, according to the law; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Hebrews 10:17-18 … He adds: And I will remember their sins and transgressions no more. Now where there is remission of these, there is no more offering for sin.
John 20:23 Whose sins you remit, they are remitted to them; and whose sins you retain, they are retained.
Ephesians 4:32 Rather, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God also forgave you in Christ.
Colossians 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
