Sorry for the delay in posting! We left for Florida on Thursday, Friday I didn't have time, and then I just forgot until today. :)
Ephesians 1:7
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Accompanying David Legge sermon: Praise the Lord for Redemption
Accompanying Mark Driscoll sermon: I am Blessed
Accompanying John MacArthur sermon: Redemption Through His Blood
Paul is writing the book of Ephesian to the church about how we are to be the church in the world - collectively we are to be Jesus in the world and our head is Christ. The first amazing truth was that the body was formed before the foundation of the world. We were chosen in eternity past to be a part of the body of Christ. But in order to make that happen, we had to be redeemed, because our sin separated us from Holy God.
According to MacArthur....
Redemption is an act of God by which He Himself pays as a ransom the price of human sin which has outraged His holiness.
We are all born slaves to sin. And the wages of sin is death. And that price was owed to God. Jesus paid the price of sin to free the slave from sin and death, by His blood.
The wondrous miracle of salvation includes so many things. Consider...
In justification the sinner stands before God accused but he is declared righteous. In justification he stands before God accused but he is declared righteous.
In forgiveness, the second word, the sinner stands before God as a debtor and receives a cancellation of his debt.
In adoption the sinner stands before God as a stranger but he is made a...what? ... son.
In reconciliation the sinner stands before God as an enemy but he is made friend.
In redemption the sinner stands before God as a slave and he is receiving his freedom
He has redeemed us, by the shedding of His life blood.
He has purchased us - and it's a one time purchase that lasts for eternity.
He has purchased us - and it frees us from the grip of sin, and from the judgment of the law, and from the wrath of our holy God.
We are His twice over - He made us and He bought us.
And what are the results of this redemption? Forgiveness by the riches of His grace. We are forgiven. Our sins are forgiven. All of them. They are as far as the east is from the west - that is infinity! He has forgiven us from before the foundation of the world for as long as we live!
And it's just what Jesus said to Peter, "If you've once had a bath, all you need each day is just kind of wash your feet off a little bit when they get dusty." And as you walk through the world and day to day you sin the Holy Spirit does a little dusting work, just to keep you clean. And that's what I John 1:9; 'He is faithful and just to keep on cleansing us," see. It's constant
I appreciated Legge's explanation of the difference between eternal forgiveness and restorative forgiveness. Eternal forgiveness means that all our sins - past, present, and future - are forgiven in the blood of Christ when we receive salvation. But we continue to need restorative forgiveness.
because you are a child of God, you are no longer in a relationship between God who is a judge and you who are a guilty sinner. Do you understand? That relationship's gone. It is now God who is your Father and you that are His child. Your sins are gone: past, present and future; but what you need is restorative forgiveness. That means this: that sin, when we commit it as Christians, goes between our fellowship and God - not our salvation, but our fellowship between us and God.
Forgiveness does not, however, erase consequences. Sin still does damage, it still has consequences that remain even after eternal and restorative forgiveness has taken place. Sin is never to be viewed lightly.
Redemption is all grace. Grace is undeserved favour. We don't deserve this forgiveness. He did not choose us because we deserved to be chosen. He chose us out of love. He poured out undeserved grace out of love. And out of His unlimited riches.
Praise and honour and glory to our Saviour!
Monday's scripture focus: Ephesians 1:8-10
Sunday's passage: Deuteronomy 23-24
Monday's passage: Deuteronomy 25-26, Psalm 64, Luke 20
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