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Redeemed!

Words of Faith Final

Redeemed!

Words of Faith 1-19-2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Ephesians 1

[7] In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace   [8] that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.   [9] And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,   [10] to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. 

 

    When we hear the word “redemption," our thoughts might be drawn to an image in which we “redeem” the value of a certificate or a coupon for some sort of discount or special deal.  Years ago, we used to “redeem” books of green stamps at the grocery store to get a special award or prize.  But the redemption that Paul writes of here has moved Paul deeply into praise.  It is quite another matter.

    In our church circles, we may even toss around the word redemption and phrases like “by the blood” to the point that we lose track of the real meaning.  The word translated “redemption” was related to slavery in the ancient Roman world.  Redemption describes the paid release of a person from a state of slavery.  To be “redeemed” means to be purchased for the purpose of freedom.

     The technical part of redemption has to do with the blood of Jesus and His sacrificial death.  Redemption from sin is described in the book of Hebrews-- "Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant" (9:15).  The means of redemption is the sacrificial, substitutionary death of Christ through His blood, which completely satisfied God's justice.

      That sounds pretty theological, but the simple result of this redemption is freedom from sin and closeness to God.  We, who were once far away from God, have been brought near through the blood of Jesus (Eph 2:13).  We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished--(Romans 3:24-25).

     The ancient Roman world did not typically have a “slave auction” like that practiced in the 17th and 18th centuries.  Rome would enslave whole peoples through conquest.  Some people indentured themselves because of a debt, and they could be “redeemed” by payment of that debt. 

     But it is helpful to think of the image of an auction block.  We were on the auction block, and sin was our “owner.”  The world bid on us, attempting to purchase us for its uses.  But suddenly, there was one bid called out boldly into the fray.  It was the bid of God, our Father.  It was a bid so high in value that it left the room speechless.  Many gasped at the huge bid.  No one could challenge the high bid because it was matchless.  The auctioneer declared the deal to be done.  The bid?  The price paid by the Father?  His one and only Son. 

      On the cross, Jesus uttered the word “tetelestai," which means “It is Finished.”  The word literally declares--all debt is paid.  In that moment, the bidding was over, and you were redeemed, bought, and paid for.  That was a reason to rejoice.  It was an act of mercy that we could not earn or deserve.  It was a gift of grace that calls for only one response--receive and trust it.

     It may sound crazy, but some choose to stay on the auction block!  They wait to see if there is a “better offer.” We could wait, hoping that we might someday earn or attain the cost of our own redemption, but the cost will always be beyond our reach.  Our only hope is to receive the grace of Jesus and trust in His payment alone.  The Father has purchased us.  It is time now to go home with the Father and abide with Him.  

 

     Father God, I am overwhelmed by Your grace and mercy.  Thank You for bidding for me.  Thank You for winning the bid at all cost.  Thank You for paying the price.  Thank You for finishing my redemption.  Thank You for adopting me as Your own.  In Jesus’ Name.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2010, 2021

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.