200. Redemption and Forgiveness
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Redemption is equated with forgiveness of sins. When sins are forgiven we are redeemed, bought back from slavery to sin, from kidnapping by the devil, and from subjection to fear of death.The grace of Christ is so rich that by Christ’s work we have been given freedom and life. In Christ we have redemption and forgiveness; we cannot buy our own emancipation nor can we earn forgiveness.
Grace is so amazing that we cannot comprehend how many riches it earns for us. Grace is everything that Christ has done for us, bought for us, and given to us. We cannot plumb the depths of grace by our own understanding so that we must pray to comprehend how broad and long and high and deep. We cannot see it all; we must believe it is bigger than we ever imagined before.
One reason we cannot understand the riches of grace is that we cannot believe it has nothing to do with us. Shouldn’t I have to do something? Another reason we cannot believe it is that we cannot imagine anyone being that good. We have not experienced anyone being that gracious. Another reason we cannot understand the grace of God is that we don’t want to believe how evil we really are, how awful sin actually is, and how far away from God we have strayed. Grace is not so big if I am not so bad. Another reason we do not comprehend grace is that we do not know the real cost of the redemption price. It is more than the death of a man or even the death of the Son of God. It is more than suffering and dying innocently; it is also the separation of the God-man from God because of my sin. Another reason we don’t understand grace is because we don’t see the power of mercy and forgiveness; we don’t feel the power moving through the depths of our own being.
We are redeemed; we are forgiven. That’s a promise God has kept.