Part 3
(Ephesians 6:10-13 NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. (11) Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
In today’s message, we will take a look at some Greek Words that will broaden our understanding of some Biblical truths.
To illustrate how much deeper and powerful the Greek language is as compared to our English language:
(Philippians 4:19 NKJV) And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Greek Translation (From Pastor Rick Renner): “But my God will supply your needs so completely that He will eliminate all deficiencies. He will meet all your physical and tangible needs until you are so full that you have no more capacity to hold anything else. He will supply all your needs until you are totally filled, packed full and overflowing to the point of bursting at the seams and spilling over!”
- A correct view of redemption will clear up many wrong ideas about the devil and spiritual warfare.
There are four Greek words that are used to explain “redemption” in the New Testament:
- “Agoridzo” – slave marketplace
These were grossly inhuman place where people were treated in a disgusting way. They were paraded in front of potential buyers where the “merchandise” could be beat upon, slapped, spat upon to see if the slaves could take it. Slaves had no personal worth; viewed no better than animals.
Because of sin, the world had sunk to a place where the world was a global slave market, where Satan had gripped the hearts of men and filled their natures with violence and destruction.
The world Jesus was born into was a world of complete captivity.
(Romans 5:12 NKJV) Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—
(Romans 7:14 NKJV) For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. (transfer of property)
Because we were the “merchandise” of the slave market, Satan would slap, kick, beat, spit upon us and abuse us in every way that he could. Our “slaveowner” tried to damage our self-image, kill our bodies with various kinds of sin and vices, and scar us emotionally.
Once that treatment was over, he would place us back on the auction block and sell us again to some other form of bondage. Thus, we were passed from one bondage to another in a never-ending cycle of defeat.
- God sent His Son into the enemy’s “slave market” with one purpose in mind: so that Jesus could secure man’s deliverance from Satan’s bondage once and for all.
(1 Corinthians 6:20 NKJV) (20) For you were bought at a price (agoridzo); therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
(Revelation 5:9 NKJV) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
- “Exagoridzo” – removal of a slave OUT OF the slave market.
This word signifies the purchase of a slave in order to permanently set that slave FREE from that heinous place, NEVER to be put on the trading block of slavery again.
(Galatians 3:13 NKJV) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”),
Paul is saying to us that not only did Jesus’ sacrificial death not only paid the penalty for our sin, but His death also removed us from living under the curse forever.
(Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV) But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Slaves did not come cheaply. If the auctioneer knew that a buyer really wanted a particular slave, he could demand unbelievably high prices. We must therefore ask, “What price did Jesus pay for our freedom from Satan’s power.
- “Lutroo” – captive set free by the payment of a ransom, paying the demanded price.
By using this word, Paul is telling is that our salvation is not free. On the contrary, our freedom from Satan’s power was extremely expensive.
- What was the ransom that Jesus paid to procure our freedom from Satan’s bondage and ownership? His own blood!
In fact, the price Jesus paid for us was the highest price ever paid for a slave in the history of mankind.
(Ephesians 1:7 NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
(Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV) (13) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, (14) in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
(Hebrews 9:12 NKJV) Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
- “Apolutrosis” – to ransom or redeem and return us to the condition we were in before our captivity began.
- Jesus paid the price to permanently free and restore us to the full status of sons!
(Ephesians 1:7 NKJV) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
In using the word here for “redemption” Paul declares that we were forever delivered from Satan’s power – we were forever removed from that dreadful place of slavery – and now we have been fully restored by the blood of Jesus Christ and placed back into a right-standing with God.
We are fully restored and fully set free from Satan’s former grip over us!
(Galatians 4:7 NKJV) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
(Romans 8:16-17 NKJV) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
These truths let us know that the real purpose of spiritual warfare is not to fight for freed from Satan’s control over us. This has already been accomplished by the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross and by His triumphant resurrection from the dead. We are already free!