We have moved from the two blessings of the past into the three blessings of the present...
To be redeemed is to be bought back or ransomed. We were lost and unable to save ourselves. But we have been rescued by Christ. He has forgiven our sin, paid the debt and cancelled the penalty.
A ransom is paid when an innocent party is kidnapped and those who love the victim pay a price to have them returned. But we were not innocent - we got ourselves into trouble. Jesus came to save (redeem) us with his life (His blood) even though we did not deserve it. This is grace.
Paul says that our first blessing of the present is that we are the objects of Christ's lavish grace. (The Greek implies "poured out in huge bucketfuls!)
And this was not done on a whim. This grace has been lavished on us with all of God's wisdom and understanding - this is a very deliberate act. God has a plan and a purpose and He is executing His plan with attention to detail and crystal clear focus.
So this blessing tells us that we are valuable to God, that He dotes on us and ponders over us, that He paid a massive price for us.
Thank you Lord for Your rich and lavish grace!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
