WEEK 4 | BLESSING 3: REDEEMED
Ephesians 1:7
“In him we have REDEMPTION through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace”
What does it mean to be redeemed?
Early on in my life, I thought that I had to go on a journey to achieve redemption. I thought if only I do what is right or if only I act a certain way, then maybe, just maybe I can achieve redemption. In this verse, we learn that redemption is not achieved by anything that we do. Throughout scripture we read of how God has been trying to bring His creation back into relationship with Him. Jesus is our bridge to God. Through Jesus we have redemption of our sin. We have the chance to be redeemed and create something new. In the Old Testament we see how God sought for people to come to him and repent of their ways. Jesus in the New Testament shows us that we need to come as we are to him and in him we begin to experience a transformation toward who God created us to be. In the acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus we are redeemed of our shame and sin—past, present, and future. The God of the universe wants us to know that we are redeemed of our greatest failures. Jesus blesses us in his death with the incredible gift of redemption.
REFLECTION AND QUESTIONS
How does this change or confirm your idea of redemption?
What in your life do you need to give to Jesus and allow yourself to be redeemed of?
If you truly believed you were redeemed or were given redemption, how would it change how you live?