-April 4, 2022-
Good morning, happy Monday,
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
(Ephesians 1:7).
The Apostle Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians. By his writing in this precious book, Bible scholars believe it was a circular letter intended to be read by other several churches in Asia besides the church at Ephesus. It has no personal references as his other epistles, but it is for all believers. The theme of Ephesians is “In the heavenly places.” The first three chapters are doctrinal and the last three are practical. Today’s verse is so encouraging on the subject of our redemption and forgiveness that we have in Christ.
Everything we have is because of being in Christ. In Ephesians 1:3, Paul wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” We are so incredibly blessed. These blessings are ours now to be enjoyed on earth and for all eternity eternity in heaven.
There is a common theme of redemption through the blood of the Lamb that runs all through Scripture pointing to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Our Lord and Savior shed His blood to redeem us to God and bring us forgiveness of all our sins. It is all according to the riches of His grace.
The word redeem means to buy back. When Christ shed His blood He died for us, in our place on the cross to save us. Fanny Crosby, the prolific blind hymn writer wrote, “Redeemed how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; Redeemed through His infinite mercy, His child, and forever, I am.” He cleansed us by His precious blood.
Not only are we redeemed, but we are also forgiven of our sins, past, present, and future. Jesus paid our sin debt in full to bring us all His fulness, and grace upon grace. Someone said, “He paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay.” A number of years ago, there was a bumper sticker that read, “Christians aren’t perfect just forgiven.” This so so true. We aren’t better than anyone else, but we are children of God and we have a personal relationship with Jesus.
We should never use the fact that we aren’t perfect, just forgiven to justify ourselves in our character, words, or actions. In fact, we need to live according to a heavenly standard. Our redemption and forgiveness is all according to the riches of God’s grace. Paul wrote later in the epistle, “For by grace you have saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). None of deserve anything, yet God has given us everything.
May the Lord help us to remember where we once were and where we are now: redeemed and forgiven by the blood of Christ, all by God’s grace. There is no reason to brag or boast, when Christ died to save us from the uttermost.
Have a blessed day living by grace, thankful for our redemption and forgiveness through the blood and by His grace. Stay safe and healthy.
By His grace freely given,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 