Ephesians 1: 7-8
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
One of the most profound and memorable statements I remember from my first Bible teacher was this: Words have meaning. Now this is a statement that we can all agree on and a fact that we already knew but let's consider what that really means. Concerning the Bible it means that every word has its particular place and meaning, that not one word is empty or useless and I'm not one of the many who like to cast doubt on what the bible has said. Sadly it has become a very popular thing for scholars and commentators to correct the Bible. Phrases like: "It would have been better said..." or " The translators made a mistake here." When we do this then we become the authority of what the Bible says and if something doesn't fit our fancy we just chalk it up to a transnational error. We mentioned yesterday Matthew 5:18:
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Jesus referenced the Hebrew manuscript when He said tittle and He mentioned the Greek translation of the Hebrew manuscript when He mentioned the Jot. The Jot being the smallest part of the Greek alphabet and a tittle being the smallest part of the Hebrew alphabet. I found it very interesting that He would recognize both transcripts, the Hebrew or "Originals" and the Greek translation of it. Then at no point throughout the Gospels do you hear Jesus compare the two. He never stood up and preached on how the Hebrew text was more pure than the Greek. I've said all that to say this, we can rely on our King James Bible, I don't have to be able to read Greek and Hebrew to know what the Bible is saying. There are some who do and i'm sure that helps them enjoy the Word of God in a different way but the meanings and messages are the same. To cast doubt on what the word of God really says is the work of Satan, actually, it the oldest trick in his book. His words to Eve were "Yea, hath God said..." Don't fall into that trap or you'll find your self in danger of questioning the very reliability of the Word of God.
We'll continue with our first thought "Words have meaning." So let's consider what the words on the page are telling us. "In whom" Christ is who is being spoken of and we have established that all these spiritual blessings are only found in Christ. "We have redemption through his blood." What then is redemption? By definition: Repurchase of captured goods or prisoners. Think of a bank note that you have defaulted on. The bank has come and confiscated the property that was mortgaged, locked you out and the only way to regain access to the property is if the loan and interest and penalties are payed in full. Then and only then can you re enter the property you once enjoyed. That is what Christ done for you and I. We at one point in time enjoyed the fellowship and favor of God, that was the Garden of Eden. Man was before God with no penalties, no sin and all was well. Until they took of the forbidden fruit, the one thing they weren't supposed to, and from that time forward death entered in to the world. In a sense, man defaulted on the agreement they had with God, that's called sin, the penalty for this default was and is death. Notice Paul's explanation:
Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Outside of Christ we have an outstanding balance at the bank of righteousness. The problem is we are completely bankrupt in righteousness.{Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:}
Since we can't pay this debt of righteousness their are penalties that are accrued, that is death. Now this is the problem but let's talk about the solution. Someone that loves you comes along and pays the debt you owe to the bank so you can enjoy the property you once enjoyed but they don't have the option to pay a little, they have to pay everything, principle, interest, penalties, closing cost and any other fees that come with it, then and only then will you be granted access to the property. We have been barred from the fellowship and enjoyment of God's presence for our lack of righteousness, when we check our righteousness account it is not only empty but has a negative balance and we have no way of getting any. The penalty is death and payment is blood but our own blood won't satisfy because we are lacking righteousness. So the rich man that loves us is Jesus. When we check His righteousness account he has a infinite supply of righteousness, you could say He is rich in grace. Enough to pay my debt and your debt and your neighbors debt and the debt of the whole world. He loves us enough that not only did he give us His righteousness but he took the penalties as well. He suffered and bleed and died to pay the penalties we accrued. Now the favor and presence of God is once again made available to us because of His redemption.
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: :25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Dear reader, God has made a way for our debts and penalties to be cleared, through the righteousness of Christ and through the death, burial and Resurrection of Christ. Leave behind your righteousness believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and by faith in Jesus your debt and penalty will be settled.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
According to the riches of His Grace!!