Redemption – Three Minute Bible

March 27, 2026March 31, 2026

1 Timothy 2:6a – Pawn Shop

Picture of a 1960's era pawn shop store front (Grok)

… who gave himself as a ransom for all people.

Summary: Understanding biblical concepts can be a challenge. We don’t often pay a ransom, but we do occasionally pawn something, and the two are very similar.

If the Gospel is so simple, why does it always sound complicated?

Paul has just finished saying that we should pray to God because it pleases him. Then he adds that God wants all people to be saved and know the truth. After that, Paul adds that in addition to God, there is a mediator, Christ Jesus, “who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

September 15, 2025October 1, 2025

Philippians 3:3c – Something to Boast About

AI image showing Christ standing at the foot of a large glowing cross (Pixabay)

[We] … who boast in Christ Jesus…

Summary: Sometimes, to appreciate what we have, we need to look at what we wouldn’t have if we didn’t have what we have.

As we read ahead in this chapter, we find that Paul is about to give us a masterclass on the art of boasting in Christ Jesus. But for now, before we get into the details, it might be good to take a minute and consider what boasting in Christ means.

December 27, 2024December 27, 2024

Colossians 2:13a – The Greatest Gift

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.

Summary: Paul, himself, provides the summary for this meditation. In fact, this passage summarizes the entire Bible!

In this passage, Paul captures the heart of the entire Bible.

•   Genesis chapters 1–3 describe how we became “dead” in our sins.
•   Genesis 4 through the end of the Old Testament (Malachi 4) describe the uncircumcised life of the flesh.
•   The New Testament is all about God making us alive with Christ.

October 14, 2024October 14, 2024

Colossians 1:14 – The Key to Heaven

… in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Summary: Saving us from hell turns out to be a complicated business. Some we may never understand. What we do know suggests that the cost of our salvation is very high.

July 25, 2023July 25, 2023

Ephesians 4:30b – The Day of Redemption

… with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Summary: Paul takes us on a quick journey to his theological playground, where he wrestles with concepts like predestination, faith, and redemption.

February 28, 2023February 28, 2023

Ephesians 1:14b – Believing is Seeing

… until the redemption of those who are God’s possession

Summary: In this passage, Paul points us to an important aspect of our present and future condition, and our relationship with God’s Holy Spirit.

February 11, 2023February 11, 2023

Ephesians 1:7c – The Pardon

… in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.

Summary: Paul has a detailed way of conveying his thoughts. Sometimes his meanings can be lost in the words. It is worth stopping to ponder what Paul is saying and think about the story behind the words.

February 9, 2023February 11, 2023

Ephesians 1:7a – The Day God Died

In him we have redemption …

Summary: What does it mean to be redeemed? When it comes to spiritual matters, we may never fully understand them. But we can know this much; we need it!

August 30, 2021August 30, 2021

2 Peter 1:1d — The Righteousness of God

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ …

Summary: Our God is amazing. He is perfect in every aspect. Thankfully, his perfection extends to include perfect love and perfect forgiveness.

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020

1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure

Even angels long to look into these things.

Every once in awhile a verse seems to jump out of the Bible at me. This is one of those verses.

Peter is telling us about salvation. Broadly speaking “salvation” in this case refers to several things. It begins with God’s plan for redeeming His creation. Remember the story in Genesis where God says, “… you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die”? (Genesis 2: 16-17)

Interestingly, the current version of the NIV is in the minority here. Thirty-eight of fifty-two translations available at Biblegateway.com use some version of “day,” as in “… in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (ESV) As I understand the text, when Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3, God’s word holds true. They “die” from God’s point of view.