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In our survey of the scope of redemption we found that in the great types of
redemption in Scripture one of two conditions was generally assumed: (1) Forfeiture of
inheritance, or (2) Bondage. We now seek the light of Scripture upon this second
condition, Bondage.
That redemption is from bondage the following passages will show:--
"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage" (Heb. ii. 15).
"The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. viii. 21).
This deliverance is by redemption, "the redemption of the body", which is also called
the "adoption", and closely associated with being "heirs of God" (see Rom. viii. 17-23).
In Rom. vi. 6 the words "serve sin" carry with them the idea of bondage, for "serve" is
douleuo, which in John viii. 33 is rendered "in bondage". So then we have the dual
bondage of "sin and death", and this bondage is referred to under the term "dominion":--
"Death hath no more dominion over Him" (Rom. vi. 9).
"Sin shall not have dominion over you" (Rom. vi. 14).
To return to the great type of Israel in Egypt: there over and over again we hear of
"the house of bondage" (Exod. xiii. 3, 14; xx. 2, etc.). And many times they are
commanded to remember that they were "bondmen" (Deut. xv. 15; xvi. 12, etc.). From
this state they were delivered by redemption:--
"Because the Lord loved you, because He would keep the oath which He had sworn
unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you
out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt" (Deut. vii. 8).
Israel's lives were made "bitter with hard bondage" (Exod. i. 14). Israel's sigh and cry
was "by reason of their bondage . . . . . and God heard their groaning and God
remembered His covenant with Abraham . . . . ." (Exod. ii. 23, 24). The deliverance from
this bondage is placed in correspondence with redemption.
"I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians
I will rid you out of their bondage,
I will redeem you with stretched out arm and with great judgments" (Exod. vi. 6).
The close connection between the forfeited inheritance and bondage is seen in the next
verses.
"I will bring you in unto the land, concerning which I did sware to give it to Abraham,
to Isaac and to Jacob: and I will give it you for an heritage" (vi. 8).
The law indicates the cause of the bondage of sin and death under which the whole
world lies:--