Redemption means to buy back. Buy back what? That which was lost, because the Lord came to save what was lost. What was lost? Mankind, the human race: “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money” (Isa. 52:3).
"The offense of the cross is that the cross is a confession of human frailty and sin and of inability to do any good thing. To take the cross of Christ means to depend solely on Him for everything, and this is the abasement of all human pride. Men love to fancy themselves independent. But let the cross be preached, let it be made known that in man dwells no good thing and that all must be received as a gift, and straightway someone is offended."