598 - The Gospel in One Verse, Actually One Word

Leaving Laodicea

The Trinity… Right Before Our Eyes

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of His grace.

Ephesians 1:7

Critics often point out that the word “Trinity” isn’t found in the Bible, and they’re right. But the truth of the Trinity is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments, and we can see it clearly in the first 14 verses of Ephesians. Consider the following:

In the original Greek, Ephesians 1:3-14 is actually one long, complex sentence consisting of 202 words. In our English translations, this single Greek sentence is broken up into several sentences for better readability and understanding. And depending on the translation, it’s divided into anywhere from 3 to 7 sentences. When taken as a whole, these verses paint for us an incredible picture of the totality of God, in which each Person of the Godhead is active in our salvation.

For example, the work of God the Father is primarily described in verses 3 through 6, where He planned our salvation even before time began. In Ephesians 1:7-10, we see the work of the Son who achieves salvation for us by His redemptive death on the cross, or “through His blood” (Eph. 1:7). And the final few verses, Ephesians 1:11-14, highlight the role the Holy Spirit plays in applying salvation to our lives. It couldn’t be more clear. But it was all “in Him” or “in Christ” that we were granted redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus is the One responsible for all of this.

Note: I have already discussed the “in Him” or “in Christ” aspect of this verse in an earlier post. So, let me encourage you to go back and look again at that to gain a deeper understanding of Jesus’ impact on all aspects of our Christian life, not just our salvation.

And then, we move on to the incredible word, redemption.

Redemption

Redemption is an essential core theme of Christianity. In fact, this one verse, Ephesians 1:7, summarizes the entire gospel, where it says, “In Him (Jesus, the Son) we have redemption (how) through His blood, (described as) the forgiveness of sins, (on what basis) according to the riches of His grace.” If John 3:16 is the first and most important verse kids learn in Vacation Bible School, then Ephesians 1:7 runs a close second.

But how important is the idea of redemption to Christianity? It’s indispensable.

B.B. Warfield (1851-1921), a prominent American theologian and professor at Princeton Theologica, emphasized the significance of Christ’s role as Redeemer when he said:

“There is no one of the titles of Christ which is more precious to Christian hearts than ‘Redeemer.’ Whenever we pronounce it, the cross is placarded before our eyes and our hearts are filled with loving remembrance not only that Christ has given us salvation, but that He paid a mighty price for it.”

That’s right. When we think of Christ as our Redeemer, we always picture Him as the Christ of the cross, whose blood provided for our redemption.

Understanding Redemption

But what exactly does “redemption” mean? In his book “Systematic Theology,” Wayne Grudem defines redemption as “Christ’s saving work viewed as an act of ‘buying back’ sinners out of their bondage to sin and to Satan through the payment of a ransom.” Okay, that makes sense. But is there more?

The New Testament primarily uses two Greek words for redemption (and their derivatives). The first is agorazō and comes from the noun meaning marketplace, or agora. It means “to buy” or “to buy in a marketplace.” This word emphasizes the price Jesus paid for our salvation. In essence, He purchased or bought us back in the marketplace where we were sold, like slaves, based on the consequences of our sins. Pretty telling picture, isn’t it?

The second Greek word for redemption is luō, and its various derivatives, which means to “loose or set free or deliver by the payment of a price.” In other words, our Redemption was accomplished when a price was paid for our freedom at the marketplace or slave market of sin. And that price was the blood of Christ, where He purchased us and set us free from the consequences of our sins. As a result, we are justified in God’s sight, as if we had never sinned.

Ok, got that. We’ve covered the technical stuff, and I understand it academically. But how does my redemption change my life today?

Simply put, understanding your redemption should change your whole view of your salvation. You came to Christ and received all the blessings we have been studying, and more, not by mentally acknowledging a list of historical facts about Jesus and then trying to live by some moral code better than you did before. It’s recognizing that in your lost state, you were guilty, convicted, and enslaved by sin, and facing eternal death as a consequence. But Jesus, through the sacrifice of His life and the shedding of His blood on the cross, redeemed you— He paid the ransom to set you free.

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s – 1 Corinthians 6:20.

But there’s more.

The Appreciation of Redemption

Once you begin to understand the true nature of your salvation, it should deepen your appreciation for the gifts and blessings you have already received. The greatest of these blessings, and the one from which the others flow, is your election by God the Father (Eph. 1:4), the provision for your sin through the blood of His Son (Eph. 1:7), and the application of that truth to your life through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14). This should always bring a smile to your face and give you a reason to get up in the morning. After all, “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:3) includes your redemption.

And if that wasn’t enough, Christ “gave Himself as a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:6), that “He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Then Peter reminds us that we were “not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet. 1:18-19).

In fact, redemption is so incredible that it is listed among the things Christ became for us in 1 Corinthians 1:30, where it says, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God —and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Let that sink in for a moment.

Even in Revelation 5:9, when the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fall down and praise the Lord, they specifically mention redemption: “For You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

So, before we pray, let’s ask ourselves a few questions.

Renewing Your Love for Jesus

How much do you love Jesus? No, I’m serious. How much do you really love Jesus? Has your relationship with Him become commonplace— maybe even somewhat boring, taking for granted the fact you were chosen, adopted, predestined, and redeemed by His blood? Have you ever deeply considered the price He paid to redeem you from the penalty of your sin, to forgive you, and to present you faultless before God’s presence, all the while keeping you from stumbling in the process (Jude 1:24)?

One of the most dangerous things that can happen in the Christian life is allowing these profound blessings and truths to become mere footnotes to our current experiences or day-to-day habits. And when that happens, we lose the awe, wonder, and thankfulness for everything Christ has done.

Don’t let that happen to you.

So Let’s Pray

As you pray, consider anew the depth of what Jesus has done for you. For when you do, you will love Him more, yield to Him more, and abide in Him more. You’ll put aside everything in this world and embrace Him and His kingdom alone. And as you do this, you’ll experience Him like never before. The abundant life, that sometimes seems so fleeting, will become your normal life, as He allows you to bear fruit for the glory of His Father.

Nothing compares to this. Nothing. So consider who you were and what Christ has done for you. Think about the place He’s prepared for you in His home, and how He did all this, and so much more, by the wonderful word, redemption. Submit everything in your life to His Lordship, and hold on tight— because there’s a wild ride ahead!

And we will talk more soon.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

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