The word redemption speaks of being delivered from the debt and dominion of sin in our lives, by grace, through faith in the ransom payment made by Jesus Christ. In other words, the price The Father paid to redeem our souls was the sacrifice of His Son Jesus. More specifically, it was the blood of Jesus that paid the ransom, for “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin.” (Hebrews 9:22)
As we have already seen, all of this redemptive work took place according to God’s predestinated purpose and grace (Ephesians 1:4,5,11). Because the gospel is a message of grace, there is no room for any human merit of any kind (Romans 4:1-6), which is referred to as “the election of grace.” (Romans 11:5,6) What love and mercy is revealed in the sacrifice of The Lord Jesus Christ on the cross for our sin! “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10) Paul writes that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, despite the fact that we were ungodly and His enemies (Romans 5:6-10).
God’s gracious and unconditional favor towards sinful man is summed up in “the Word made flesh, and dwelt amongst us” (John 1:14). Everything that God has provided for our salvation is in Christ Jesus, be it wisdom, righteousness, sanctification or redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). Thus, as we come to The Lord’s Supper today, we must remember that salvation is more than an experience; it is a relationship with The Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:3-14). The Lord’s Supper is more than an observance; it is more than a ritual. It is a covenant meal whereby we remember the ransom paid by Christ for us. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Reader, do you know this forgiveness? Repent of your sin and trust Christ today.
