“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us” (Eph. 1: 7-8a).
Yesterday we looked at the concept of redemption. We discovered that redemption has a price to be paid to “buy back” sinful man and that the price was the death of God’s perfect Son. The sinless Son of God died as a sacrifice for sin, we can speak of that death as sin’s defeat and thus providing the release of man from sin’s bondage.
The sacrifice of Christ is thus the means of redemption which requires the forgiveness of sins. Sin involves bondage which includes the mind, will, and the members of our physical body. The word for forgiveness means the loosing of a person from that which binds him or her. We know from observation and from experience that sin has an addictive power. Good News! Redemption has the power to free you from the power of that sin which binds you.
Don’t miss the last phrase—“according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” Our forgiveness is based on grace which is rich beyond our human comprehension. Six times in this letter Paul will speak of the riches of God which have been made available to mankind. Our forgiveness was not grudgingly given but lavished on us. Oh, the unsearchable grace of God.
Prayer: Father, I am continually amazed by Your grace. May I live as a recipient of that grace. Amen