“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”Ephesians 1:7 ESV
Reflection: if you were free, what would you do differently?
Freedom is a very interesting concept. We like to think that we are free, right? But, just because we technically are free, doesn’t mean we necessarily live free. Let’s think of a few simple examples. As an adult, we are free to watch whatever we want on TV or social media. But if you spend most of your time doing that, is that freedom or slavery? Same can be said for spending your time gaming, gambling, using alcohol and drugs. Just because you are free to do it, doesn’t make you free. Another example we are all too familiar with is having to work. Now, in principle work is good. But most of what we earn is to pay for things we don’t own, because we cannot afford them. So we borrow money to buy a house and a car, and spend almost a lifetime trying to pay it back. If we lose our job and income, what we thought we owned is quickly taken from us. So, we work hard, giving of ourselves to some business that might not even align with our values. While we are technically “free” to just leave our jobs, practically we are stuck needing an income. And, finally if we think of religion and church, even there we find more rules to live by. If you think about it, most churches define when to come, what to wear (unspoken), when to stand and sit, when to speak and what to say, how to pray, how much money to give, and so on. Where is the freedom? In a way, the world only seems to be able to offer “fake freedom” – it tells you that you are free, as long as you fall in line with the rules. We are so used to various forms of bondage and slavery in all parts of society, I’m wondering,
do we even know what freedom feels like, or really is?
Today we are faced with the idea of true freedom, the freedom that we really long for. Paul wrote that “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” Ephesians 1:7 ESV. Freedom here is presented in a way that is perhaps a bit cryptic. Paul says that “in him [Christ] we have redemption through his blood”. This word redemption is used throughout the Bible, in various forms, also referring to Jesus as the Redeemer, and those who accept His redemption as the Redeemed. Strong’s biblical definition of redemption is “a releasing effected by payment of ransom”; a ransom payment which we are perhaps more familiar with, which is “a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity”. So, there is the deeper meaning for us to consider, that Christ made
a ransom payment for all in captivity.
Jesus said of Himself “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”Matthew 20:28b ESV. The ransom for those who receive it. Paul described what happened when Christ made this payment as follows “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”Colossians 2:13-15 ESV. The record of debt has been cancelled, paid in full by the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus. There is no more debt to be paid, even if we try. Account balance is zero. And, as Paul stated to the Ephesians, this gift of grace wasn’t stingy in any way. It was “according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight” Ephesians 1:7b-8 ESV. He lavished the riches of His grace upon us. No holding back, as He has then “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,” Ephesians 1:3 ESV
Not only are we redeemed from a debt we could never pay, we are also set free from sin, from wickedness, to be made holy in Him. To be free to do good works. We read about Jesus “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” Titus 2:14 ESV.
Do we live as if we have been set free?
So many still haven’t accepted the ransom payment of Christ. Not understanding that without it, they are still in captivity, until their debts have been paid in full. Perhaps so used to, so conditioned to life as a slave in the world that freedom doesn’t seem real. Doesn’t seem possible. And it isn’t, without Christ. Even many who have accepted the ransom of Christ, still live as if they are in captivity. Still live as a slave to sin. But, Jesus tells us to walk away from our past life. Walk away from sin. We no longer are defined by our past. It has been paid for. The record of debt has been settled; wiped clean. Let’s live not as a slave, but as free men and women in Christ. So today, if you know you are free, what will you do differently?
