Devotions: Personally Redeemed

 

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.

Ephesians 1:7-8 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 

Verses 5 and 6 in this chapter are really just an extension of 3 and 4, further affirming God’s love and election of us through Christ, stating that we were adopted into His family through His original plan from the beginning.

Through Christ we are redeemed. This phrase does not hold the power it used to because of our society’s aversion to the idea of sin. Without sin, without guilt, there is no need for redemption because redemption is being saved from the penalty of sin which is death. We all deserve to pay that penalty, but we don’t have to. Jesus paid it for us. He died to pay the penalty for our sin so that He could redeem us. Imagine owing a debt so great a person was sold into slavery to pay it. In essence, Jesus traded places with that person so they could be free. He not only paid the debt, but actually bore the penalty physically on His body. That redemption made it possible for God to offer us forgiveness for what we have done if we believe in what Jesus has done and repent (that is admit we are wrong, ask forgiveness and strive to turn away from our sin.) We don’t have to pay the penalty for our sin. We may experience consequences for what we have done while still on earth, that is the natural course of life, but we will not experience the ultimate penalty for sin which is death and eternal separation from God. And our consequences are not as severe as they could be; only enough to bring us back to Him in repentance. God did all of this out of His love, out of the richness of His grace. Notice the language used here; richness, grace, lavished. Paul wanted us to understand how extravagantly God bestows His love and grace on us. It isn’t a stingy gift, but one far surpassing what we could hope or imagine. God is not cruel or exacting, waiting to pin us with another mistake or unwilling to be kind to us. He is so much more loving and generous than any earthly father could be.

And He did this for YOU. It wasn’t something He did for all humanity trying to do as little as possible so He made one act do for all. He would have done it if YOU were the only one who needed it. His actions are intimately personal and perfectly loving. He did this because of His love for YOU. Do you believe that Jesus died for YOU? Do you believe that He loves you enough to redeem YOU personally? Have you repented of your sin and accepted His forgiveness? He offers it freely.

 

 

 

 

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