Forgiven and Free
Since we are now joined to Christ, we have been given the treasures of redemption by his blood—the total cancellation of our sins—all because of the cascading riches of his grace.
We don’t use the word “redeem” much in our modern vernacular. According to Dictionary.com, to redeem something means, “to buy or pay off; to clear by payment.” Someone redeems something when they pay the price for it. It also refers to buying back an item — or more specifically, a person — that would otherwise be lost, taken prisoner, or destroyed.
The concept that Christ paid a price for my salvation is sobering. In Christ I am set free from the penalty of my sin which is death (Romans 6:23). When Christ died on the cross and shed His blood, our past, present, and future sins were paid for. We have the forgiveness of our sins through the payment of His blood. He paid the debt in full. A Christ-follower is freed from the debt of sin to live life to the fullest. As I look back over my life, I realize that there are so many things I’ve done that I wish I hadn’t done. Because Christ has set me free from the penalty of my sin, I no longer have to beat myself up for the wrong things I’ve done, said, or thought. I am forgiven. Christ has freed me from sin! That’s exciting.
We have been forgiven of our sins through the grace of God by the blood of our Savior. We didn’t do anything for it; God has done something amazing for us. Then He asks that we pay that forgiveness forward to others.
Corrie ten Boom said, “Forgiveness is to set a prisoner free, and to realize the prisoner was you.” Isn’t that the truth? Many times, unforgiveness, resentment, and revenge keep us captive. Even though we’ve been freed from sin through Christ’s redemption, we keep ourselves chained up by not forgiving others. If you are living the wonderful freedom of forgiveness that comes from God, forgive others.
