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The legal and vital sides of redemption are very critical aspect of the doctrine of redemption that every Christian should know. They are key to understanding the full implications of the redemptive work of God, and to enjoying all the benefits thereof.
Redemption itself stands at the heart of Christian faith. It carries the idea of being bought back, rescued, or set free through the payment of a price. The Bible teaches that God, through Christ, redeemed us through His bodily sacrifice. But to fully comprehend the depth of redemption, we must understand that it has two distinguishable but complementary aspects—the legal and the vital sides.
Every Christian knows the truth of Jesus dying for their sins, but not everyone knows that the truth of Jesus’s sacrifice is two sided—legal and vital sides of redemption; that alongside the truth of what Jesus has already accomplished legally before God, there is also the truth of what the Holy Spirit works out vitally in their lives. As a result, many believers are only running with and rejoicing at the first truth, while missing out on the other part.
In this article, I want to examine the two sides—legal and vital sides of redemption, with a rich scriptural supports, and clearly outline their differences. By the end, you will have a clearer understanding of redemption, both as an accomplished work and as an ongoing experience.
What Redemption Means
Biblically, redemption, in classical Greek sense, means a setting free through the payment of a ransom. The New Testament’s usage of the term reflects the Greek usage. In the context of God’s salvation action, redemption was first shown in the Bible when God delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery through the blood of the paschal Lamb (Exodus 12:1–30). Then, the Bible reveals the redemption work that God began in the Old Testament as being consummated in Christ— the true paschal Lamb, who shed His blood to redeem all humanity from sin and its consequences (1 Corinthians 5:7).
Apostle Paul captures this profound truth in Ephesians 1:7:
“In Him [Jesus Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” [Parenthesis added]
You should also read:UNDERSTANDING GOD’S MOTIVATION IN SALVATION.
Redemption is often used as a synonym for salvation—and it is fine. Nonetheless, in its own right, redemption is a distinct work of God in salvation, which addresses a particular problem of fallen humanity— our enslavement to sin. Apostle Paul writes in Romans 7:14:
“For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.”
The Greek concept of redemption describes the release of a slave through the payment of a price. In Christian theology, it describes God’s gracious activity in securing the release of fallen humans from slavery under sin through the blood of Christ. The English translations of the Bible use only the word redemption or redeem, because of the limitations of English Language. But the Greek text used four Greek words which have varying implications, to explain this gracious activity of God in salvation.
Agorazō
Agorazō, from the root agora—market, is “to buy from the market”. In ancient times, slaves were taken to the market and displayed on the slave block, to be sold to the highest bidder. Agorazō highlights the richness of God to be able to afford to buy us off the slave block of sin through the payment of the price. The term agorazō appears in 1 Corinthians 6:20, translated to “bought”.
“For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
And, in 2 Peter 2:1:
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.”
The price paid to buy us off the slave block of sin was not money, but Christ’s own precious blood. I love the Amplified rendering of 1 Corinthians 6:20:
“You were bought with a price you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.”
Exagorazō
The second word used to explain God’s gracious act of redeeming us is exagorazō, a compound word from the Greek ek—“out of”, and agorazō—“to buy out” or “ransom out”. Exagorazō combines the ideas of deliverance and freedom through the payment of a price. The term appears in Galatians 3:13:
“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”).”
And, in Galatians 4:5:
“To redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”
Lutraō
The third word used to explain God’s gracious act of redeeming us lutraō, from the root lutron. Lutraō means a ransom price. Lutron, a verb, from the root luo, means “to set free”. Therefore, lutraō is “to set free by paying a price.” The emphasis of lutraō is the price paid, and the attendant freedom. In Mark 10:45, Jesus called the giving of His life a ransom for many. The term lutraō also appears in 1 Peter 1:18-19:
18 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
And, in Titus 2:14:
“Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Apolutrōsis
The fourth word is apolutrōsis, which is also a compound word from apo—“from”, and lutrosis—the noun form of lutrao. Apolutrōsis is a strong word, meaning “to set free permanently”. The word describes the permanent nature of the believers’ redemption through Christ. Apolutrōsis appears in Ephesians 1:7:
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
And, in Colossians 1:14:
“In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”
The scriptures cited for the four words are just examples of where each of the terms appear in New Testament texts.
The Legal and Vital Sides of Redemption
The term “legal and vital sides of redemption” doesn’t appear in the Bible. This clarification is crucial to help believers not be confused. The expression “legal and vital sides of redemption” doesn’t appear explicitly in the Bible. But the concept is present all through in the Bible. And, the terms “legal side” and “vital side”—though coined by theologians, yet perfectly captures what these two profound aspects of redemption are about.
Now, let’s get into what the legal and vital sides of redemption really mean.
The Legal Side of Redemption
The “legal side of redemption” describes the accomplished works of Christ—what He accomplished once-for-all for humanity on the cross in a legal/judicial sense. You see, the entire saga of redemption is a legal/judicial procedure. It is why the Bible often uses legal/judicial terms to describe redemption, e.g. condemnation, justification, judgment, propitiation, and reconciliation. Let me outline what this really implies.
- Criminals on trial
The Bible teaches that all humanity stands guilty before God, and is under His judgment (Romans 3:19; James 2:10). Sin is not just moral failure—it is a crime against God’s holiness, the violation of God’s holy law.
- God’s Justice Demands Penalty
Justice/justness is an aspect of God’s attribute (Psalm 84:19). God’s justice requires that sin be punished. Sin cannot just be excused without consequence. God would be unjust to do so. The righteous Judge can’t just dismiss the case against us without a valid legal ground.
- The Act of Substitution
The penalty was too high for us. So, God presented Jesus as our substitute. The guilty verdict against us was transferred to Him, and the penalty was carried out upon Him (2 Corinthians 5:21)
- God’s Justice Satisfied
Jesus’ death satisfies God’s justice demand—the death of the sinner. When Jesus died on the cross, justice takes it that the sinner had died. This is often called propitiation (Romans 3:25–26). God did not ignore sin. He fully judged it in Christ. Now, there is legal ground to grant humanity pardon.
- Justification: Believers Declared Righteous
Since the penalty has been paid in Christ, all who identify with Him through faith in His sacrifice are justified—acquitted, and declared righteous by the Judge (Romans 5:1). The charges are dropped, the case is closed—not for lack of evidence, but because the punishment has already been meted to Christ.
The Bible speaks of this aspect of Jesus’s redemptive works as being accomplished. Jesus is not dying everyday. Romans 6:10 says, “For in that he died, he died unto sin once…” [KJV] And, His one time death is good for all time (Hebrews 10:14). Whether people accept it or not, the price has already been paid.
Key Characteristics of the Legal Side of Redemption
1. Substitutionary Sacrifice
The nature of Jesus’s sacrifice is substitutionary. Jesus legally took our place, and took the punishment of sin on our behalf.
2 Corinthians 5:21:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
2. Full Satisfaction of God’s Justice
The legal side of redemption fully satisfied God’s justice, and turned God’s wrath away from us.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19:
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
3. Universal Provision
All humans are provided for in the legal side of redemption, though not all have received it, and not all will receive it.
1 John 2:2
“And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.”
4. A Finished Work
The last words that Jesus uttered on the cross were, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). On the legal side, nothing more needs to be done to secure humanity’s redemption.
To sum this up, the legal side of redemption is the works of God in Christ for the whole world. It guarantees that the penalty of sin has been fully paid and that forgiveness is available for all.
You should also read: BELIEVERS’ AUTHORITY: 7 ESSENTIAL TRUTHS EVERY BELIEVER MUST KNOW.
The Vital Side of Redemption
Again, the legal side of redemption is what God has already done in Jesus Christ. But the vital side of redemption is the application of the finished works of Christ to believers through the Holy Spirit. The vital side of redemption is the personal experience of redemption through the work of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus gave His life as sacrifice around 2000 years ago, most of believers who have embraced His sacrifice for our salvation were not there. Only a few percentage of all believers all through history were there. But God made Jesus’s sacrifice to be long lasting. The one time sacrifice of Jesus was designed to be good and efficacious for all time. Hebrews 10:14 says,
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Jesus’s sacrifice transcends generations and times. As people in all generations believe the gospel, the Holy Spirit administers the fruits of His sacrifice to them in a real sense, so that these truths become an experiential life for the believers. The vital side of redemption is subjective, individual, and ongoing.
Key Characteristics of the Vital Side of Redemption
1. Requires Human Response
The vital side of redemption requires human response—faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. John 3:16 says, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Then, the vital side of redemption requires continuous cooperation of the believer with the Holy Spirit.
2. Relationship with God
The first application of Jesus’s sacrifice to the believer is to birth us anew (regeneration) and bring us into relationship with God.
John 1:12:
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.”
3. Freedom from Sin’s Power
Through the legal side of redemption, we were legally delivered from sin, but through the vital side of redemption, believers now experiences deliverance practically. Romans 6:14 says:
“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
4. Progressive Transformation
The vital side of redemption is progressive. Daily, God transforms and make us better people, through the Holy Spirit’s sanctification works. Philippians 2:12–13 says:
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Unlike the legal side of redemption—which was perfected at the cross, the vital side of redemption continues as we walk with God. It happens daily. And, it is seen in our spiritual growth, victory over sin, and becoming more like Christ.
So, the vital side of redemption is God’s work in the believer by the Holy Spirit. It makes the benefits of redemption real and practical in everyday life.
Key Differences Between the Legal and Vital Sides of Redemption
To help you better understand the legal and vital sides of redemption, here is a side-by-side comparison:
- Nature: The legal side of redemption is objective—it is accomplished outside of us, while the vital side of redemption is subjective—experienced by us.
- Scope: The legal side of redemption is universal—done for the whole world (John 3:16), but the vital side of redemption is personal—for those who believe (John 1:12).
- Work: The legal side of redemption is perfected once-for-all on the cross (Hebrews 10:10–14) but the vital side of redemption is ongoing—being applied to believers by the Spirit daily (Philippians 2:12–13).
- Focus: The legal side of redemption deals with our position before God—we are justified, therefore blameless, but the vital side of redemption deals with our condition in life— we are being sanctificed.
An apt illustration to grasp the legal sideis a fine paid in a court on behalf of a poor offender. And, an apt illustration to grasp the vital side is the offender released and walking about freely.
Why the Legal and Vital Sides of Redemption Matter
Understanding the difference between the legal and vital sides of redemption is crucial:
To Avoid Imbalance
Knowing only one aspect of redemption will create an imbalance in our Christian living. Knowing only the legal side may make us think that salvation is automatic for everyone. But knowing only the vital side may make us think that salvation is solely dependent on us.
To Strengthen Assurance
Understanding the legal side of redemption produces confidence and assurance in the salvation that we receive through Christ.
To Inspire Transformation
Understanding the vital side of redemption positions us to walk daily in the reality of redemption.
Redemption is both a finished work and a living reality. The legal side of redemption says Christ has paid the price for all humanity once and for all. And, the vital side of redemption makes what Jesus did real in the life of the believer.
To ignore one is to miss the fullness of God’s plan. The legal side of redemption shows us our secure position in Christ, while the vital side of redemption empowers us to live out that position daily. The two paint a complete picture of the beauty of redemption.
You are redeemed legally and vitally—rest in that truth, and walk it out daily. Christ has already paid the full price for your salvation, and the Holy Spirit is ready to make that redemption a living reality in your daily walk. Don’t just know about redemption—experience it.
👉 If you have never received Jesus, today is the perfect time. John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” Open your heart to Him now.
🙏 Already a believer? Walk boldly in the freedom that Christ has purchased for you. Let His Spirit guide you daily into victory, growth, and transformation.
📖 Share this truth with others—because redemption is too powerful to keep to yourself. You can also share your thoughts with me in the comments section.
I love you with the love of Christ!
Additional resources to help you:
Ligonier – R.C. Sproul’s ministry, highly respected in Reformed theology; excellent for explaining the legal side (justification).
Desiring God – John Piper’s ministry; strong on union with Christ and the vital side (sanctification, life application).
TGC– Widely used among evangelicals; theological essays on redemption, covenant, and Christ’s work.
