(Ephesians 1:7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

Over the course of two postings we considered the “why” of the Messiah’s shed blood. Knowing the mind of God in the “why” of the blood of Christ is necessary in diving in to the blessings attained, through Christ’s shed blood. It must be stated from the outset, that these “Blood Blessings” are wonderful indeed, yet each one will challenge the independent self-will of the “old man” still attached to every born again soul (Romans 7:24). That being said, let us begin with “In Him we have redemption through His blood…”

The word “redemption” means to pay the purchase price of a slave, for the purchase of owning them or setting them free”. Concerning redemption, Jesus blood, redemption deals with…

1. Our being freed from slavery and
2. Our being bought as His possessions.

THE SIN DEBT MAKING US SLAVES IS PAID

In the first place, let us understand that all men, regardless of race, creed or economic status, and sex are born into the slavery of sin, as the scripture declares we are all “carnal sold under sin” (Romans 7:14). The former quote refers to Adam’s choice to disobey God’s command; a choice which sold the entire human race to sin.  In this sin slavery we were chained by and subservient to sin and its evil desire raging in our humanity. In this slavery we are born with a raging internal cancer; one which drags us away from the good and holy desires of the God that created us. This sin-slavery keeps us from freely serving God by faith and walking in true righteousness. It also leads to our death (sin, sickness) physically, and forever in the second death.

Like the inherited physical looks, mannerisms, and tendencies, we inherit from our parents, so we all inherit the look, mannerisms and tendencies of sin slavery; with the chains that enslave us to choose our will, rather than God’s. The only way this power is broken, is by the power of Christ’s shed blood and resurrection from the dead. This was the outcry Paul voiced for those seeking freedom from this slavery in Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Christ Jesus our Lord!”  It is also the truth behind the rate of exchange on the payment (or redemption price) for our sin, in Romans 6:23…

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The only way for the chains to be broken, is the debt being paid in full by death, through the shedding of sufficient blood.  The blood of Jesus the Christ was the only sufficient currency to pay our sin debt. Until the time this payment is applied by our faith in Christ, no matter how good or religious we think we are, we are under God’s wrath. Many in error regarding this truth will attempt to pay their debt by works and partaking in religious sacraments, which have value in displaying our faith, but no value in paying our sin debt, or being a channel of grace. They forget a vital truth, the truth revealing why Christ’s blood was all sufficient for our debt.

(Philippians 2:5-9)Let this mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus came in the likeness of men, as a bond servant for the purpose of living the life we could not. Therefore, each drop of Christ’s shed blood at the cross was like a gold coin falling into a treasury and sounds the chorus of our freedom in heaven. His blood was overly abundant in paying our debt, that we might no longer be slaves to sin. This is no past tense act, but present as Jesus is The Savior of all men, especially those who believe (I Timothy 4:10).

Only those who come in faith and repentance have their account cleared forever of the debt to sin they owe. Jesus’ blood alone, being perfectly righteous, pays the sin debt, opens the fountain of grace unreservedly, and brings about the second part of blood blessing #1

REDMEPTION MEANS WE BECOME HIS PURCHASE

Let us not gloss over the exquisite pain of Jesus bloodletting on our behalf and why He did it in light of the terror of that passion. Crucifixion is one of the most heinous and inhumane ways to kill a person made in the image of God. Without rehearsing details we have all heard, let us consider that Jesus’ scourging alone should have killed Him, yet He persisted through 18 hours of torture altogether. He would not let go of life, until every ounce of righteous blood needing to be shed, was shed. Only then did He declare “it is finished”. Let us remember that He WILLINGLY did this as THE act of God’s love

(Romans 5:8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we are still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Messiah finished the work necessary also for the sake of JOY.

(Hebrews 12:2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of God

What was this joy? Certainly rising from the dead, defeating the devil and being reunited on the third day with His doubting disciples, as well as ascending into heaven and being reunited with the glory of heaven, He shared before the foundation of the world. Yet, these wonderful realities were not the only source of His joy. You and I no longer being slaves to sin, filled Him with joy. I believe this for a very biblical reason… The word redemption, which means to pay the price required to purchase a slave. The joy that kept Jesus keep ‘in on in His crucifixion, was because of those who would by faith, becomes His very own possessions.

(Titus 2:11-14) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works”.

Here is the part of redemption we often overlook or ignore to our own detriment. Blood Blessing #1 is that we become Christ’s possession, plain and simple. As Jesus had no will of His own, but that of His Father, we, as His possessions are to have no will other than that of Jesus. We are to pursue His will for the sake of love, as He pursued His Father’s will, for the sake of love. From another angle, He bought us with His own blood to set us free from the dominion of sin, but for the purpose of our becoming His bond-slaves to righteousness. The N.T. is very clear about this end of redemption…

(I Corinthians 6:19-20) Or do you not know your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

To miss this truth and live as if we are His possession, yet “kings and queens” over our own lives, is to count the blood of Christ a common thing.

Let me ask a few questions:

When was the last time you witnessed the owner of a horse, being commanded by his horse, to allow the horse to ride its owner?

When was the last time, your automobile commanded you to push it to such and such a location?

When was the last time you heard of a house servant sitting in his master’s chair and demands his master serve him dinner?

The reason we probably have not heard of these scenarios is that possessions don’t demand from their owner, nor are the purchased for any other reason, than to serve at the pleasure of their owner. Why do so many of us behave as if God is our servant, where we instruct Him in what He must do for us? Why do we get frustrated when He does not do in our lives what we think is necessary? Often we are grateful for forgiveness and heaven when we die, but are we grateful for being His possessions, those set apart for Him alone? Are we grateful for the blood of Jesus and being His possession or are we treating  His blood as a necessary means to our own religious ends?