God's Faithful Blessings P2 Series

“God’s Faithful Blessings 2"

Ephesians 1:7-8

Redemption

Real Wisdom and Knowledge

Redemption

Ephes. 1:7 (NIV)

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

God has blessed us by redeeming us and forgiving our sins.

The word “redemption” apolutrosis, Gk., means ransom in full, deliverance, what a beautiful word of God.

God was required to offer himself a “full sacrifice” for all our sin.

You and I have been set free because Jesus Christ has paid the ransom for all who believe in Him.

What are your thoughts on your redemption?

You want to know what God’s thoughts are?

God thought you were worthy…

A story told by Paul Lee Tan illustrates the meaning of redemption. He said that when A.J. Gordon was pastor of a church in Boston, he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied, "I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?" "I’m going to play with them, and then I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have at home." When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, "Mister, you don’t want them, they’re just little old wild birds and can’t sing very well." Gordon replied, "I’ll give you $2 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it’s a deal, but you’re making a bad bargain." The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate his sermon about Christ’s coming to seek and to save the lost -- paying for them with His own precious blood. "That boy told me the birds were not songsters," said Gordon, "but when I released them and they winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, ’Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!"

You and I have been held captive to sin, but Christ has purchased our pardon and set us at liberty. When a person has this life-changing experience, he will want to sing, "Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed! By the blood of the Lamb." Our Daily Bread.

Many are still dealing with forces around them…

of sin… Sin has captivated them (Rom 3:23;7:14).

of corruption… The whole creation is corrupt (Romans 8:21).

of death… Everything wastes away; deteriorates, decays, ages, and eventually dies. (1 Cor. 15:42, 50; Galatians 6:8; 2 Peter 1:4; 2 Peter 2:12, 19.)

of Satan… All unbelievers are under the power and influence of Satan. He has blinded their minds to the gospel (2 Cor. 4:4). He works in the children of disobedience (Ephes. 2:2). They are captivated by him (1 John 5:19).

Praise God, He has made a way to deal with these forces around us.

We need be liberated, delivered, and set free.

We can’t do it ourselves.

We don’t have the energy, power, or ability to free ourselves.

We are only able to be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28 (NIV)

and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24 (NIV)

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 (NIV)

you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Cor. 6:20 (NIV)

We are to be like Christ, our lamb, without blemish.

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Phil. 2:15).

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight” (Col. 1:21-22).

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

I pray that you have taken full advantage of God’s redemption today.

Real Wisdom and Knowledge

Ephes. 1:8 (NIV)

that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

God blesses us with all wisdom “sophia”, both the wisdom of this world and the spiritual wisdom of the world to come.

God also blesses us with understanding “phronesis” Gk., which means mental action or activity, intellectual or moral insight; prudence.