REDEEMED AND FORGIVEN

Ephesians 1:7-8; 9-14

Redemption and Forgiveness are two big words that are so joined together as if they
were the same thing. But, they are not, even though interlocked together, to say, you could
not have the one without the other one.

To look at the concept of Redemption, we need to know the definition of the word in
order to understand its meaning.

What is Redemption? Extracting its meaning from the Greek words (agorazo, exagorazo
and lutroo = Apolutrosis), which translate Redemption. Taking into consideration the word
meaning of these three greek words, we got the maning of the word Redemption which simply
means, “To buy out of the market place (In Cagayan de Oro City, there has a place called
“agora”, in our own dialect it is commonly known as “taboan”, where commodities are on
display and for sale), or, “To purchase something, to buy something to make it yours or in some
cases, “to set free.”

In those days, during the Roman Empire, slavery was a common practice. Slaves were
like ordinary commodities on display and are for sale for a certain amount of money. They
were considered as properties, no will, no worth of their own. They were disposable anytime at
the pleasure of their masters, like furnitures, for a certain monetary consideration at the
market place or “agora.” What is common thing in the market place is the buying and selling of
slaves. They did this, like they bought animals and sold animals. I said, it is very rare to happen
to buy a slave for the purpose of setting them free.

You purchase the slave from the owner for the certain amount and you set him free.
You say, “I just purchase your freedom, you are no longer a slave, go free!” Redemption then,
is the deliverance by payment of the price.

Theologically, according to the Scripture, “All men born in this world are captives.” We
are slaves. No one is free and in their sinful state. The question is, slaves by whom? If every
single person on this world is captive, who is the captor? Now, listen to the revelation of the
Scripture, John 8:34 says, “Men are slaves to sin”, Romans 6:17 says, “Men are servant to sin”,
Romans 7:14, “sold under sin”, Romans 8:21, “in bondage to corruption”.

How then, it happened? “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man,
and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned –“ Romans 5:12
 So, in order for God, to set them free, or to become His own, He must buy them. He
must purchase them. He must redeem them. He must paid the price of sin to free the slave, to
set him free.

This is the significant meaning of Redemption. God paid the price to set us free. In
Him” meaning, “In the Beloved” or “In Christ Jesus”, we have our redemption. He is the full
payment. The full amount to set us free is paid in full. There was now the cancellation of debt
or blotted out. Galatians 5:1 says, “For freedom Christ has set us free: Therefore, stand fast,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” “Galatians 1:4 says, “Who gave Himself
for our sin that He might deliver us from this present evil age.” Free from the evil age, free
from corruption, free from the yoke of bondage, free from sin, by paying the price that sin
demanded. That’s Redemption!

THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION – THROUGH THE BLOOD

Let me draw your attention in our text, “In Him we have redemption through His
blood”.

Maybe, you would ask, why is it that the only payment accepted and satisfying for the
freedom and deliverance from a slave market of sin is only through the blood? Why not the
payment of money? Why not my pious work as required by my religion? Such as faithful
prayers, penitence, abstinence, good works and everything that this world and religion could
offer? In exchange of my pardon? Of the forgiveness of my trespasses? Can a loving and just
God overlooked and consider these things and all of my doings?

Yes, we have a loving God that so desires, to save sinners and would be free from the
captivity and slavery of sin but not on the terms and condition of man. It should be in
accordance with His holiness and righteousness. He sets a decree according to His Sovereign
decree that the payment of sin is death, through the shedding of blood. The Scripture says,
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. “Romans 6:23 “And the
wages of sin is death”, Hebrews 9:22, “Indeed under the law almost everything is purified with
blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” 1 Peter 1:18-19,
“Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your
aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot.” In John 1:29, it says, “The next day, John (the
Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the
sins of the world.”
 The Jewish people understood whom John is referring to when he said about the Lamb
of God. Every year, during the celebration of the Passover festival, devoted Jews coming from
different parts of the world will come to the Temple of Jerusalem and make sacrificial offering
through the blood of the Lamb by the high priest having it sprinkled on the altar for the
forgiveness of sins.

They had understood and accepted what John is saying about sacrificial offering of the
blood of the animal, the lamb, but not the Lamb of God, who is Jesus the Christ. The Great High
Priest Himself, entered the holy of holies and offered not sacrificial blood of animals but his
own blood, once for all, taking away all our sins for all eternity

You asks, why “through the blood?” It is because, it is only the most precious, priceless,
valuable currency which is satisfying and acceptable in heaven to purchase our redemption and
forgiveness of our sins. On earth money talks, in heaven blood worth. Not on your earthly
terms but by heavenly terms. Not by man’s doing but by God’s doing to the praise of His
glorious grace.

THE RESULT OF REDEMPTION – FORGIVENESS

The cleansing agent in Jesus’ blood removes every trace and effect that sin could have
on us. This means, we are not only forgiven but all traces of the guilt and condemnation
because of sin have also been removed.

What a grand spiritual blessing, what a great truth from God the Father Himself through
His words that among the great things of His electing love, His adoption of us, His acceptance
of us in the Beloved; side be side of His infinite mercy, He puts it into one, that we have the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. This is God’s original intent and
purpose for us according to His grand master plan from eternity to eternity.

What a divine favor that He bestowed upon us, to the one who is a transgressor of the
law, trespasses the will of God, a hell deserving sinner, righteously condemned and is under the
wrath of God, the righteous Judge. But now all the debt had been cancelled and paid in full.
The substitutionary death of Christ on the cross satisfied the holy anger of God and condemned
the guilty no more.

Praise God the Father of all mercies and comfort, for in Him, in the Beloved, we are
redeemed and forgiven. A new man in Christ, walking in the newness of life, as Paul said,
“forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”. Forgiven – God forgive
and forget my old self for it was dead already and now alive in Christ Jesus. Now, I can freely
serve the Lord in the Spirit of love and of great joy with thanksgiving in my heart for I am
blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ, chosen in love, predestined for adoption,
accepted in the Beloved, redeemed through His blood and forgiven according to the riches of
His grace.

THE BLESSEDNESS OF FORGIVENESS

. Psalms 103:11, 12, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast
love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east from the west, so far does He remove our
transgression from us.” In His infinite mercy, sins are remembered no more.

Much more from His word, “Blessed are the Forgiven”. Psalm 132:1, 2 it says, “Blessed
is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered,” “Blessed is the man whom the
Lord counts no iniquity and whose spirit there is no deceit.” Romans 8:1, “There is therefore,
now no condemnation to them which are in Jesus Christ.” And in verse 35a and 39, “Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ?” . . . “No one else, nor anything else in all creation will be
able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

HOW MUCH FORGIVENESS?

“According to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us”. Understanding GRACE
– is undeserved or unmerited favor. It’s all grace by His love. 1 Peter 4:8, it says, ‘love covers a
multitude of sins”.

HOW MUCH RICHES OF HIS GRACE?

Lavish riches! Beyond measure, unspeakable riches of His grace. He has infinite grace
to forgive our sins. No amount of sin that surpasses the lavish riches of God’s grace.

I think, I could not go beyond any further, for no words could be found to describe the
matchless grace of Jesus except the word of God through Prophet Jeremiah 17:13, God said,
“Israel have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the Lord.” In John 7:37a, 38, Jesus said,
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Our of his heart will flow rivers
of living water.” Fountain of living water, Rivers of living water, refers to the boundless, infinite
reservoir of God’s amazing grace that He lavish upon us in the Beloved. In Him, we are
Redeemed and Forgiven. Praise be to His glorious grace!
 GOD REDEEMED US FOR HIS KINGDOM PURPOSES

God’s grace made us accepted in the Beloved. We have been redeemed and forgiven
because He want to use us/you for His kingdom purposes. Christians, beloved of God, do not
lose sight of that. Grateful that we are now free from the bondage of the slavery of sin but now
a bond servant to His eternal purpose for His kingdom glory.

As a matter of personal testimony, I never desire nor would want to, never in my bizarre
and wildest dream to become what I am now, a sinner saved by grace, standing and preaching
right in front of you, carrying out the mission of the Beloved; to let the world know that in Him
we have our redemption through His blood and forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the
riches of His grace.

God want to use us in big ways and or small ways, as we think, to further His kingdom,
to edify His church and display His glory to the world. We may not even see how He is using us,
but by faith we keep stepping out opening our mouth being available anytime.

I didn’t know but I trusted God. You may not know either but keep trusting Him and
walk each day in the Spirit and you will be surprise how God will use you. And one day you will
find out He used you in ways you had no idea. God works in a mysterious way to fulfill and
complete His purpose in you.

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE?

CONFESS YOUR SINS

- Refuse to live in secrecy sin loves the most, but bring sin to light of confession and
repentance. Do it now, first to God and if needed to a person who had been
offended and affected of your sins.

FAITH IN GOD

- Faith in God that lead to a bold decisions to leave behind what is oast and move
forward by following Jesus.
- Faith in God of being confident and committed to serve Him for who He is and what
He has done in your life.

Join with Paul, as the Spirit convict you at this very moment. Resolved with God now, “ I
have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.
And the live I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Would you be willing to do it now? The word of faith had been proclaimed to
you.

“Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God
raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Redeemed and forgiven in the Beloved according to the riches of His grace.
Praise be to God our Father through Christ Jesus the Lord. Amen!!!