Remember,the theme of Ephesians is about the riches that we have in Christ Jesus. We arein Christ the moment we trust Him to be our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spiritbaptizes us into the body of Christ (Romans 6:3). In the first long sentence,verse 2-6, we have seen how God the Father has given us at least threewonderful rich blessings. The first blessing was we are “chosen”. We are“chosen… to be holy and without blame before Him in love” (v. 4). Secondly,we are “adopted” into His family as His children (v. 5). We appreciatethe fact that we can go to Him as our Father in heaven.
Next,we are blessed with being “accepted in the beloved” (v. 6). No matterwhat happens in our life, or what goes on around us, God has accepted us notbecause of our goodness, our good deeds, or our perfection. No. He's acceptedus in Christ Jesus forever. And we have an advocate in heaven, Jesus Christ therighteous, who is always there interceding on our behalf. We are accepted, myfriend. What great blessings from God the Father.
Now,in verses 7-12, we see where we have blessings from God the Son. Now, we mustalso remember that each Person of the Godhead does not work independently ofthe other. No, my friend, they all work together to make possible everythingthat pertains to our salvation. But each Person of the Trinity, God the Father,God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, are still one. And each person has a specialministry to perform and a special deposit to make into our lives. Through theministry and finished work of Jesus the Son we are blessed with being redeemed.
Theword redeem basically means to “purchase to set free by paying the price”.During the time of Christ and the apostles there were 60 million slaves in theRoman Empire and they were bought and sold like pieces of furniture. But a man couldpurchase a slave and set him free. And this is what Jesus did for us. In theNew Testament there are three words that are in the Greek that highlight thedifferent aspects of this redemption.
Thefirst Greek word is agorazō which means “to buy” or “to purchase” andespecially typically in a marketplace setting. It describes the aspect ofredemption as the initial acquisition of buying of humanity from the slavemarket of sin where Christ pays the price by His blood to claim believers asHis own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Revelation 5:9). Colossians 1:13-14 also tellsus: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into thekingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,the forgiveness of sins.”
Thenext Greek word is exagorazō, a compound form meaning “to buy out of” or “toredeem from”. This emphasizes the aspect of permanently removing the purchasedindividual from the market or the bondage of sin. The individual is no longersubject to resale or the curse of the law, delivering them from ongoingenslavement to sin.
Thenthe last Greek word is lutroō, which means “to ransom”, “to loose” or “to setfree” because the ransom price has been paid. And it focuses on the aspect ofcomplete liberation, emancipation from captivity, your release from the powerand the guilt and the shame of sin. You are set free.
Thatis what it means when it says in the scripture, we are redeemed by His blood. “InHim we have redemption through His blood”. Redemption is only possible throughHis blood. Jesus paid the price. He satisfied God's wrath for sin. Now myfriend, we are set free to love Him, to live for Him, to be free to serve Him,to serve others, to love God, and to love others like we should.
Ilove the old hymn by Fanny Crosby: “Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it! Redeemedby the blood of the Lamb! Redeemed through His infinite mercy—His child, andforever, I am.”
Whata wonderful, wonderful blessing we have from Jesus Christ. Have you everexperienced this redemption?
Godbless!
