The Buyout

Just about every day these days the news is filled with reports on the supposed federal economic bailout plan for our national economy. First, the news emphasized how dire was the economic situation in our country. Next, the news said things were so bad that the federal government needed to immediately inject into the economy an extraordinary amount of capital to check the downturn and get things moving in a positive direction again. Then, the news was all about which financial institutions were critical enough to warrant receiving federal funds, how much they would receive and in what ways they would receive them. That was followed by news of possibly expanding the focus of the bailout to include other industries that wanted a piece of the pie. Now the news is alive with discussion of whether or not the funds that have already been spent were spent properly.

Such is the way with nations and their economies. But long ago there was a buyout of far greater significance and on a much grander scale. After the birth of John, cousin of Jesus, Zacharias, John's father prophesied, saying "Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people" (Lk. 1:68). Paul stated, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law..." (Gal. 3:13). He redeemed us "that we might receive the adoption as sons" (Gal. 4:5). Our Lord actually gave His life "that He might redeem us from every lawless deed..." (Tit. 2:14). It was by the shedding of "His Own blood" that He "obtained eternal redemption" for us (Heb. 9:12).

To redeem is to buy back. When mankind entered into sin, they fell under its curse of eternal condemnation (Rom. 5:12). In His love and mercy and grace God paid the price for the guilt of man's sins with the life of His Own Son (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8). The apostle Paul told the Corinthian Christians "For you were bought at a price;" (1 Cor. 6:20). Again, the "price" was the life of Jesus.

Without God's intervention, all mankind was hopelessly doomed in the guilt of their sin. As God waned the first man and woman (Gen. 2:17; 3:2-3), "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23), and those wages had to be paid. Christ died to pay the price for us. He bought out our debt of sin. It was not a temporary quick fix. It was not a tenuous act with an uncertain effect. It was the execution of a plan developed in the mind of God "before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4-7). It was a buyout that was absolutely essential to the eternal survival of mankind. If you have not yet done so, it is time for you to turn to your Saviour in repentance and obedience and accept the redemption that He purchased for you...