Note 33 at Col. 1:14: The Greek word that was translated "redemption" here (Gk. APOLYTROSIS) means "a buying back, a setting free by paying a ransom price" (Lk. 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7, 14; 4:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15; 11:35). God created us for Himself but we sold our self into slavery to the devil. The Lord bought us back through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord illustrated this in the Old Testament through Hosea (Hos. 1:2-3; 3:2).

Note 34 at Col. 1:14: It is through Christ's "blood" that redemption has been provided. No amount of effort, human works, or man's own righteousness could bring the divine favor that we needed. Therefore, Christ's "blood" was a gift of divine provision in payment for our sin.

From the Old Testament we see that "sin" is so serious that it demanded punishment by death. Ezekiel 18:20 states, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." The shedding of blood in the Old Testament sacrifices symbolized this death penalty. The blood of Jesus was not symbolic but the actual life of God (Lev. 17:11) which purchased our redemption.

The scriptures mention a number of things that the blood of Jesus accomplished for us: it purchased the church of God (Acts 20:28); it instituted the New Covenant (1 Cor. 11:25); it brought us close to God (Eph. 2:13); it provided peace (Col. 1:20). The blood of Jesus purges our conscience (Heb. 9:14), gives us boldness to enter into the Holy Place (Heb. 10:19), and cleanses us of all sin (1 Jn. 1:7; Rev. 1:5). It enables us to overcome the devil (Rev. 12:11) and provides propitiation (Rom. 3:25), justification (Rom. 5:9), remission (Heb. 9:22), sanctification (Heb. 13:12), and eternal redemption (Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:12).

Note 35 at Col. 1:14: The forgiveness of sins is one of the great themes of the Bible. There is so much that scripture says about it that it would take volumes of books to adequately deal with the subject. Suffice it to say that the blood of Jesus is what provided us with forgiveness of sins. That sacrifice was so great that it out weighed all our sins. It covered all the sins of the world - past, present, and future (see note 11 at Rom. 4:8, p. 762).

The forgiveness of our sins is not the ultimate goal of our salvation. It was just a necessary step. The real goal of salvation is relationship with the Father (see note 94 at Jn. 17:3, p. 503) and sin was a barrier to that relationship. So, it did have to be dealt with, and it was, through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those who stop with the forgiveness of sins and don't go on into eternal life are missing the heart of salvation. Our sins have been forgiven so that we may enter into intimacy with the Lord.