“Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.” (Leviticus 25:49).

Under Old Testament law one who had failed in business could sell himself, or be sold, into slavery, his master paying off his debts in lieu of salary. The slave could be redeemed, however, by his uncle or any near relative who could afford to pay off his debts, or, says our passage: “if he be able, he may redeem himself.”

“If he be able”! But, what bankrupt slave was ever able to redeem himself!

In this way, God would teach us an important lesson about salvation from sin. All of us have failed in business, as it were. We have amassed a huge sin-debt against God and our fellowmen; we have become morally and spiritually bankrupt.

We have many relatives who are “nigh of kin” to us, but they are unable to redeem us of this debt of sin because they themselves are bankrupt sinners.

There is One, however, who has an infinite store of righteousness with which to pay our debt and redeem us. And, He did pay the penalty for all our sin-debt when He, the Holy One, Jesus Christ, died in shame and disgrace as a sinner on Calvary’s cross.

He, the Lord Jesus Christ, is our blessed Kinsman Redeemer, for as Adam’s children “are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same” (Heb. 2:14) that He might redeem Jew and Gentile; “made [for] a little [while] lower than the angels for the suffering of death …that He by the grace of God, should taste death for every man” (Heb. 2:9).

There are many people who will not face up to their condition. They somehow think that they can still redeem themselves… by doing enough good. To them God says: “Do it, if you are able!” To the rich young ruler who asked, “What must I do to inherit eternal life,” the Lord said “You know the law… this do, and you will live.” Of course, we know that nobody can keep the Law, and that James tell us if we’ve offended one pint of the law we have offended it all. Perfection is required. This the Bible calls “the curse” of the Law.

So, who of us has perfectly kept the law of God? Who of us is not a repeated law-breaker in the sight of God? Who is able to redeem himself? NONE!

Why not then turn from self to Christ, our rich Kinsman and Redeemer?

“In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7).