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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. 2: 15).
"The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the
glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. 8: 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. 8: 17-23).
In Rom. 6: 6 the words "serve sin" carry with them the idea of bondage, for "serve" is
douleuo, which in John 8: 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. 6: 9).
"Sin shall not have dominion over you" (Rom. 6: 14).
To return to the great type of Israel in Egypt: there over and over again we hear of
"the house of bondage" (Exod. 13: 3, 14; 20: 2, etc.). And many times they are
commanded to remember that they were "bondmen" (Deut. 15: 15; 16: 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. 7: 8).
Israel's lives were made "bitter with hard bondage" (Exod. 1: 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. 2: 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. 6: 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" (6: 8).
The law indicates the cause of the bondage of sin and death under which the whole
world lies:--