Redeemed

Ephesians 1:7-10

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment-to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ." Ephesians 1:7-10 NIV

In Christ, we have been liberated, set free from the oppressive power of sin, Satan, and death. The inescapable condemnation and guilt holding us down by sin no longer own us because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He has paid our ransom. He has paid the steep price for our sins.

There is a beautiful idea here in and that idea is redemption. It is as if someone who was a slave was transferred to a new master, but the old master pays a handsome price to have that slave redeemed and brought  into his own family.

That is the theme that is packed up here in these verses are how does God redeem us? How does God buy us for Himself? How does God purchase us to be His own? We have been redeemed at the cost of God's own Son.

And although the blessings of redemption are things that we presently enjoy, they include so much more than that. We have yet to see redemption in its fullest glory.

The Lord is working in us to conform us more and more to His image, and to bring us out of slavery. And one day, all things will be made new.

Jesus Christ, through His own blood, will ultimately redeem all things to Himself, and bring them back together again perfectly. Praise God that our redemption is not just something we enjoy in the here and now.

Paul says here that the redemption that Christians experience in Christ is actually one of the greatest spiritual blessings we can receive. To be Christ's possession is to have our sins forgiven, meaning we won't face the same judgment that awaits those who are not in Christ.

To be redeemed includes giving us assurance of the grace of God that we can be certain of our salvation not because of how good we behave, but simply because of what God has done for us in Christ.

In all these ways, Christ demonstrates His love for us. As a result of that, our main response should be gratitude. Gratitude, then, lays the groundwork for holiness and devotion.

The cross brings unity amongst His people, not division amongst His people. In Christ, God is creating for Himself a diverse and united family. We walk in unity now as a church and look ahead to a future day of union, where all things in heaven and earth will be united in Christ.

There is coming a day when all of the redeemed, those in heaven and on earth, will be united forever. There is coming a day when the entire universe that is groaning for its redemption will be united with the redeemed church under the good rule of Christ for all eternity.

Jesus is Lord. God's plan was purposed in Christ. God's plan centered on Christ coming at the right time. God's plan was to bring unity in Christ by making Him Lord of all.

What's more, this plan that brings our salvation brings God great pleasure. God is the only saving God. Jesus is both our Savior and Lord. So the real issue we face today is this. What area of our lives, our hearts, our secrets, our sin, our rebellion, have we not submitted to His Lordship?

Pray that the Lord would bury the hope and the joy of redemption in our hearts and we would see this redemption worked out in our families, lives, communities, nation, and world that seek Him!!!

Father thank You for this day andfor the strength and confidence to walk through it. Lord let Your abundant blessings pour out over my friend and family today. Lord for those of us who believe, we pray, this morning, our hearts would be newly awakened to the wonder of the cross. Lord for those of us who have received such grace, we pray that the eyes of our heart would be enlightened to the glory of Your grace. And we pray that from this we would experience the freedom You have purchased to the fullest possible extent and that in this freedom we would live to the praise of his glorious grace. Lord use my friend to be a voice crying out prepare the way of the Lord, He is coming back, to this lost and decaying world.

Father, we love You amen. !