Section 8
could try to redeem himself. However, if he could not redeem himself before the year of jubilee, he was to be released in that year. "If he be not re deemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, both he, and his children with him" (Lev. 25:54). This means that in the fiftieth year, in the year of jubilee, the one who had sold himself as a slave was freed from his slavery.
The picture in Leviticus 25 is very meaning ful. This picture indicates that from the time of the fall man has sold himself as a slave, in par ticular as a slave of sin. Although man tried to redeem himself, he was not able to do so. In the dispensations of conscience, human government, promise, and law, man was not able to redeem himself. But then the dispensation of grace came, a dispensation typified by the fiftieth year. In this dispensation fallen man can be released from bondage.
The New Testament reveals that fallen man has been sold to sin as its slave. In Romans 7:14 Paul declares, "I am fleshly, sold under sin." In John 8:34 the Lord Jesus says, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin." God's jubilee frees fallen man from sin. For this reason, the Lord says, "If then the Son shall set you free, you shall be really free" (John 8:36).