YOU ARE REDEEMED

YOU ARE REDEEMED

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)

To be redeemed means to be saved and set free after a price has been paid. In the original language, this word was used when someone paid money to free a person who was a slave or in prison. In this verse in Ephesians, the Bible says Jesus redeemed us. That means He paid the full price to save us from sin. He did this by dying on the cross and giving His blood.

You and I were stuck in sin, and we could not fix it on our own. But Jesus gave His life so we could be forgiven and free. He did this because He is full of grace.

Grace means we are given something we do not deserve. We did nothing to earn God’s love, but He gave it to us anyway. Now, when God looks at you, He does not see your past. He sees someone who belongs to Him. Someone who is redeemed.

Faith In Action
Chuck Colson had everything the world could offer. He worked in the White House for President Richard Nixon. He was powerful, smart, and known as someone who would do whatever it took to win. People called him the President’s “tough guy” because he did not care who got hurt as long as he got what he wanted. But when the Watergate scandal happened, everything fell apart. Chuck was arrested and knew he might go to prison. He felt ashamed and afraid. Around that time, a friend gave him a book about Jesus. As he read, Chuck realized that he had been living for himself and had sinned against God. He cried out to Jesus and asked for forgiveness. Right there, his life began to change.

Chuck went to prison, but even in that dark place, he found peace. He read the Bible, prayed, and shared God’s love with others. When he got out, he did not try to rebuild his old life. Instead, he started a ministry called Prison Fellowship. He spent the rest of his life helping prisoners learn about Jesus, find hope, and change their lives too. Chuck did not pretend he had been perfect. He told the truth about his past so others could see how big God’s grace is. His story shows that redemption is real. No matter how far you have fallen, Jesus can forgive you and use your life for something good.

The Bottom Line
Being redeemed means your past is not the end of your story. You have been set free from sin.

Something To Think About
What does it mean to you that Jesus paid for your freedom?

Is there recurring sin in your life? If so, what? Name it, confess it, and pray that God would help you live as someone who is free from sin, not mastered by it.