When Christ died as a sacrifice on the cross, he paid the price to make us free. Because of Christ’s death on our behalf, God has forgiven our sins. God is so very kind that he has done all this for us!
Ephesians 1:7 EASY
One of the many blessings God has lavished on us is the redemption of our souls. In fact, it is the greatest of all the blessings – the redemption of the soul from the guilt by pardon. This verse tells us of a twofold blessings – we have redemption and we have the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness makes us children of God. Meanwhile, forgiveness could only be possible because Jesus died on our behalf. Consequently, we gain unlimited access to other spiritual blessings.
This redemption denotes a state of change from bondage to liberty. It is deliverance from the power of our adversary the devil. Just like the redemption, forgiveness is also full and free. The distinctive excellency of the gospel of Jesus Christ is freeness. All the blessings it brings are as free as the air we breathe.
Imagine a man who is held captive as a prisoner, but then a ransom is paid to secure his freedom. If the ransom is sufficient and accepted, wouldn’t he be set free? Redemption in this case signifies a complete and perfect deliverance. Without experiencing deliverance, the claim of redemption cannot be valid, as the person or thing remains unredeemed.
Likewise, every human remains a prisoner of sin and are not able to pay for their redemption by themselves. The bible tells us that everyone of us – men and women, young and old alike are sinners. We are incapable of living the glorious life God wills for us (Romans 3:23). Therefore, we are all deserving God’s judgement – making us a candidate of eternal death. For God’s wrath is upon every sinner (John 3:36). But our merciful and gracious Father, who does not delight to see anyone perish in hell (2 Peter 3:9), gave His Son Jesus Christ as an atoning sacrifice for the sin of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
The blood of Jesus is the only price sufficient to pay for the redemption of all mankind. If there was any other way to save us, do you think Christ would have died? Would He have poured out His precious blood if a lesser price was enough? If you could save your children without risking your life, would you take that unnecessary risk? Surely, the Father would not have sent His beloved Son to die on the cross if there was another way to redeem sinful humanity.
However, it is important to understand that redemption, although available to all, is granted only to those who repent and believe. When Jesus died, He died for all; the price He paid with His blood, it was for all. But unless we repent of our sins and accept this provision by believing in Him, we cannot be free from bondage of sin. There is forgiveness of sin, but only in Christ Jesus.
Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.
1 John 2:2 ERV
Therefore, everyone who desires eternal life and salvation from hell must believe in Jesus. He is the only way through which anyone can have their sins forgiven and obtain eternal life.
You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’
John 3:7 NIV
