“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.” Ephesians 1:7-8
The first 14 verses of Ephesians 1 have been called a song of celebration for who God is and what He has given his children through the good news of Jesus Christ.
Verses 7 & 8 celebrate three foundational gifts of the gospel: redemption, forgiveness, and grace. We must understand these gospel essentials to grasp the good news of what Christ has done for us.
There will never be a time in our lives when we don’t need to hear this good news.
So let’s lean into the gifts Christ has offered you and me:
- In Him, we have redemption through His blood.
Redemption can be defined as ransoming someone from captivity or rescuing someone from the bondage of slavery. A ransom is a price that is paid to release someone or set them free. The blood of Jesus is the price that has been paid for our ransom. Jesus gave His life so that we could be redeemed and set free from the bondage of our sins. In the words of the great hymn, “Jesus paid it all – all to him I owe – sin had left a crimson stain – he washed it white as snow.”
- In Him, we have the forgiveness of our trespasses.
Do you truly believe you have received total and complete forgiveness for your sins?
Do you ever find yourself drifting back to guilt and shame over the things you have done in your past? Or find yourself reliving your mistakes and your failures? Are you sometimes overwhelmed with regret and find yourself trying to make penance? Is it hard to move on from the shame of things you have done?
The Word of God shows us His forgiveness which is total and complete. So, why are you reliving and rehashing what God has forgiven? Why are you holding your past against yourself when God refuses to do so? Why are you inviting guilt and shame to consume your thoughts when through Him we have been s totally and completely forgiven of our trespasses? Our sin has been paid in full! If you are in Christ, the debt has been paid.
- In Him, we have the riches of His grace
The grace of God is a well that never runs dry. There is no limit on how much grace we can receive. The riches of God’s grace never run out. We are empowered to live in freedom because the forgiveness He offers and the redemption He provides through the blood of Christ flow from the riches of His grace!
Today, how will you consider all the gifts God has lavished upon you?
I pray these gifts will lead you to worship, praise, and thankfulness for the grace of Jesus.
Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Birmingham, Alabama
