TWO SIDES OF THE COIN Pt.2

WE ARE REDEEMED TO BE REDEEMED

I remember a discussion I had with a missionary years back. He is working among a tribe in Nigeria where they have a custom of selling young girls into marriage as early as age 2 to randy old men. They call it "money marriage". The fathers of these young girls sold them off to old men in their age bracket or even to older men just to raise money for alcohol or pleasure. Now, this missionary decided to buy these girls back from their supposed husbands at a price. He succeeded in buying some of those girls back from the menace of early marriage and wicked husbands. He began the work of rehabilitation and discipleship for these girls. He purchased their freedom at a price. The act of buying back/ purchasing freedom for the deliverance of a slave is redemption. That's exactly what Jesus did for you and me. Hallelujah!!! We were slaves to sin and Satan but in His rich mercy, He purchased our freedom.

Christ purchased our freedom from sin and Satan with the price of blood, His precious blood. 1 Pet 1:18-19 says, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect". Hallelujah!!! If you're born again, there's no arguing this fact, you are already redeemed even if you don't feel like it. Apostle Paul said, "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Col1:13-4. The redemption of the man in Christ from sin and the power of darkness is already a done deal. It not something to be negotiated or debated. I can boldly declare even in the face oppression and guilt that I am redeemed of the Lord through the blood of Christ. However, redemption doesn't end there for the believer.

Apostle Paul talked about another redemption that will happen on a set day: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the DAY OF REDEMPTION", Eph 4:30. Obviously, this redemption is not the same as the previous. We're yet to have/ experience this redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14 made this clear, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance UNTIL THE REDEMPTION of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory." Redemption here refers to the deliverance of God's people at the coming of Christ. When Christ appears, our final redemption will take place. The rapture of the church is God's way of redeeming the church from this sinful world and the wrath to come. This event is what Apostle Paul call the "blessed hope" in Titus 2:13-14. The hope of His appearing for our redemption should stir our hearts to live pure lives: "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope( of His appearing) in him PURIFY themselves, just as he is pure"(1John3:2-3). The knowledge of our yet to come redemption should make us live pure because Christ will come for a church without spot or wrinkle, Eph5:27. Don't live carelessly, basking in the euphoria of your imputed redemption at the expense of your expected redemption. I call you blessed.