Ephesians 1:7 / Redeemed by Christ

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

“In Him we have redemption...”

Him = Christ (of course)

What is “redemption”?

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἀπολύτρωσις

‘buying back’ a slave or captive, i.e. ‘making free’ by payment of a ransom

The OT example is the Exodus

Jewish people were literally enslaved to the pharoah.

God sent Moses to sent them free.

If I have been redeemed then what am I a slave to?

Bible describes us as being a slave to sin.

This is sometimes were I would lose people.

For othe

Now...This might be where look to exit the conversation. You might be thinking...

“Pastor Justin, I know I’m not perfect. But I’m not a “slave” to sin.”

So let me ask you this question.

Have you ever really tried to live a life without sin.

Have you ever really tried to live a life without sin.

Your going to need to establish what sin is.

Bible tells us that God sets that standard.

(that were postmodern argument originates)

Warning: THERE IS NO LEARNING CURVE.

(Jewish people couldn’t do it either.)

How were we redeemed?

“In him (Christ) we have redemption through his blood...”

So our redemption is a freedom from

Deeper explanation is found in Romans

Romans 3:23–24 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

All have sinned…justified by grace … through the redemption

Explains an act where we are freed for a certain state.

that state being bondage to sin.

This redemption (freedom) was made available solely by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross.

If you have been hearing our worship services recently, you’ve heard about atonement.

Process where God established a way for the Jewish people to atone (cover) the sins they commit each year.

But in Christ we have atonement once and for all.

If our ATONEMENT IS FINAL

Then our REDEMPTION IS FINAL

What some other examples of redemption?

“the forgiveness of our trespasses...”

This is a really important point in the story of our redemption.

Looking ONLY at redemption

We are kind of the victims here.

We are slaves to sin…right?

But the whole story tells the truth.

We put ourselves in this situation.

Another important example for the OT regarding our redemption.

Hosea (God) and his wife Gomer (Jewish Nation)

Gomer was a prostitute

Hosea

Hosea went to payoff HER debt to her lovers.

Hosea REDEEMED Gomer from HER debt.

Story was about OT JEWS but lets be real

It perfectly applies to us also.

So why would God offer

We are not VICTIMS in this story. We are perpetrators. We are the guilty party.

How can we be guilty if we aren’t able to “NOT SIN”?

We do have a choice. Not to live a sinless life (not yet) but our choice is to accept God’s redemption through Christ and live for Him.

Why would God provide this redemption then?

He did it ...

“…according to the riches of his grace.”

God provided redemption for you because

HE IS GRACEFUL

HIS GRACE IS OFFERED TO YOU BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU.

So now what?

Admit that you are a sinner

Understand that God has provided redemption

Accept His offer.

I’d like to hear from you.

Do you need redemption?

comment on the stream.

or go to our website and drop us an email.