The Fulfillment of Redemption in Christ: A Return to the Heavenly Home Through the Throne of Grace

In Christian theology, redemption is a core concept intricately woven with the work and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. According to biblical tradition, the redemption that Jesus offers to humanity entails not only liberation from sin and death but also a restorative return to the believer's ultimate home: the presence of God. This vision of redemption finds notable resonances in the Old Testament, particularly in the concept of the Year of Jubilee, during which slaves were released, and properties returned to their original owners (Leviticus 25:10). In this essay, we will explore how the "eternal redemption" obtained by Christ is illuminated by viewing it as a return to freedom at home, using the Jubilee figure and examining how this theme unfolds in various New Testament passages.

In Ephesians 2:4-6, Paul explicitly discusses this redemption and restoration in celestial terms: "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." This passage highlights not only God’s salvific grace and mercy but also portrays redemption as an act that moves us to a place of honor alongside Christ in the heavenly realm. Here, redemption is presented as a return to the original state of communion with God, reminiscent of the homecoming that characterized the Jubilee.

Furthermore, in Colossians 1:13–14, Paul reinforces this idea by describing Christ's redemptive work that transfers us "from the power of darkness" to "the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Here, redemption is associated with a change in domain and ownership, which is essentially at the heart of Jubilee: a return to the original design of property and personal freedom.

The book of Hebrews offers an even more detailed and theologically rich explanation of how this redemption is accomplished. In Hebrews 9:24, we learn that "Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence." This act of appearing before God can be seen as the climax of redemption, where Christ, as our high priest, secures our definitive return home. Just as the earthly high priest entered the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the people’s sins (Leviticus 16), Christ enters the true Most Holy Place in heaven to obtain eternal redemption for us. This direct access to the Throne of Grace is the ultimate fulfillment of the Jubilee, where we are not only physically freed but spiritually restored to God’s family.

This interpretation of redemption is further reinforced in Romans 3:24, where it states that we are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Paul uses the term "redemption" (ἀπολύτρωσις, apolutrosis) which implies a liberation achieved by the payment of a ransom. This language of ransom and liberation directly connects with the concept of Jubilee, emphasizing that in Christ, not only are we allowed to return to the original state of freedom and communion with God, but this return to the Throne of Mercy (Mercy Seat) is possible through His blood.

Lastly, in Galatians 4:4-5, we read that "God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." This adoption is the definitive homecoming that Christ’s redemption offers. Like the slaves freed during the Jubilee who returned to their families and ancestral lands, we, through Christ's redemption, are restored and reunited as children of God, with all the rights and inheritance that this entails.

In conclusion, redemption in Christ is a transcendent act that not only frees us from our transgressions but also restores us to our rightful place in the presence of God. This understanding of redemption as a return to freedom at home, reflecting the ancient Year of Jubilee, provides us with a profound and hopeful vision of the relationship that God seeks to restore with His creation through the sacrifice of His Son.