Beyond the Weekend

March 7 | The Need for Redemption

March 7, 2016

Ephesians 1.3-10

This past weekend, Pastor Jeff Manion explains an important aspect of the cross—redemption. Though somewhat unfamiliar to us, this term deeply resonated with those in the first century. A marketplace term, redemption means to buy something back. The first century marketplace not only contained goods for sale but also people. These people had two chances at freedom: being set free by their owner or being bought by someone and freed-redeemed.

Because we’re in slavery to sin (Romans 6.20), we need to be redeemed. There’s no way we can afford to pay our sin debt. Yet in his gracious love, God refused to let that be the end of the story. Take a moment to read today’s Scripture passage (Ephesians 1.3-10). Though our sin debt was more than we could possibly afford, God didn’t let us suffer in slavery and, instead, chose to suffer himself to grant us freedom.

The price for our redemption was costly—Jesus’ life (v. 7, “through his blood”).  We racked up our debt by saying stuff (things we regretted saying later, things we whispered, things we gossiped, times we raged, and things we didn’t say), taking stuff (stuff that wasn’t ours, someone’s dignity, someone’s purity, or someone’s reputation), and doing wrong things. Only by admitting how ugly our slavery to sin is will we realize the beauty of redemption. Perhaps you recognize your slavery to sin and today is the day for you to start a conversation about the redemption and forgiveness available through Jesus. To start a conversation, text “Decision Time” to 616.421.4232 or email us at btw@adabible.org.

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