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 fulfilment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. Ephesians 1: 7-10, NIV

There is a beautiful idea here in this section of Scripture 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 back into his own family!

That is the theme that is packed up here in these few verses from Ephesians 1. 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 in Ephesians 1 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.

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

Father, thank You for this day and for the strength and confidence to walk through it. Lord, let Your abundant blessings pour out over us and our family today. Lord, for those of us who believe, I pray that, this morning, our hearts would be newly awakened to the wonder of the cross. Lord, for those of us who have received such grace, I pray that the eyes of our heart would be enlightened to the glory of His grace. And I pray that from this we would experience the freedom He has fully purchased, and that in this freedom we would live to the praise of His glorious grace. Lord, use us 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.