Hope Discovery of the Day:
Redemption is the gift that keeps giving.
Scripture of the Day:
Ephesians 1:7-10
“In Him we have redemption by His blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of His grace that He lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight, He has made known to us the mystery of His will in accord with His favor that He set forth in Him as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.”
As we explore the gifts of Christ this Christmas, redemption is there adorned in red, waiting to be unwrapped by those who see their need for the gift of redemption. The gifts we admire and desire at Christmas sometimes come from a place of longing for something to change our disposition or circ*mstances. We hope for gifts that bring us lasting change – maybe joy or peace, or provision of some kind. But the gifts we give and receive on this earth are only temporary and this gift of redemption lasts for eternity.
Today, when we think of the word redemption, we tend to think of redeeming a coupon (I guess I am revealing the bargain hunter side of me), but truly the significance of redemption has been lost in a culture that has experienced freedom and grown accustomed to it.
Good ol’ Webster defines redemption as “the act of making something better or more acceptable.The act of exchanging something for money, an award, etc. In Christianity, the act of saving people from sin and evil; the fact of being saved from sin or evil.” Another definition of redemption means to repurchase or to buy back.
Everyone is in need of redemption, but everyone might not know it. Unknowingly, we can tend to buy into the pervasive humanistic thinking of our day and think we are “good enough”. But the standard of a Holy God is perfection. We could never be good enough. We need a Redeemer. We could not earn this redemption and we do not set the standards, but One was willing to meet those standards that He set and pay for our redemption.
The greatest gifts given require the greatest sacrifice. When we give, we are expressing ourattitude toward the person and theirworth. We hope that our gift will be well received and maybe even secretly hope it will give us favor. But giving is just as much about the giver as it is about the recipient. Our heart matters. Our motivation for giving matters. David had learned of the Holiness of God and dared not offer something which cost him nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24). But nothing we could ever give could compare with the gift Christ gave us of redemption.
When Christ gave, he held nothing back. He defined our worth by giving Himself – God in the flesh, in exchange for sinful mankind. He redeemed us by His blood, poured out to pay for every sin – not so we would continue in sin and feel entitled, but so we would know Him and join Him in sharing His message of redemption so others could be redeemed, too.
This redemption is the greatest gift because it is the most costly, most selfless gift and it was not a last minute gift idea. God had this gift in mind before we ever were.Our God Who set a plan of redemption in place at the very moment of the fall of man has a plan of redemption for our lives, too.
We were once slaves to sin when God saw us in our sin and redeemed us to become slaves of righteousness. Redemption is the gift that keeps giving. When we forget out way and our identity in Christ, we remember His gift lasts forever.
Related
As an expert on theology and Christian scripture, I find the article you provided deeply resonates with the profound concepts of redemption and the sacrificial nature of the gift that it entails. My extensive knowledge in this field allows me to elucidate on the various theological concepts embedded in the text.
First and foremost, the scripture referenced in the article is Ephesians 1:7-10, which articulates the Christian belief in redemption through the blood of Christ. This passage emphasizes the forgiveness of transgressions and the richness of God's grace. The concept of redemption, as outlined in the scripture, involves the act of being saved from sin and evil through the sacrifice of Christ.
The article expands on the modern perception of redemption, drawing a parallel with the act of redeeming a coupon. However, it rightly points out that the true significance of redemption extends beyond earthly transactions. Redemption, according to Christian doctrine, is about making something better or more acceptable through the act of salvation.
The author also delves into the idea that everyone is in need of redemption, even if they might not be aware of it. This notion aligns with the Christian belief in the fallen nature of humanity and the need for a redeemer. The article emphasizes the standard of a Holy God as perfection, highlighting the impossibility for humans to meet such standards on their own. This underscores the necessity of a redeemer to bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a perfect God.
Furthermore, the article emphasizes the profound nature of the gift of redemption. It posits that the greatest gifts require the greatest sacrifice, drawing a parallel between human gift-giving and the divine gift of redemption. The sacrifice of Christ, described as God in the flesh, is presented as the ultimate expression of worth and value, surpassing any human gift.
The article beautifully captures the essence of redemption as a selfless and costly gift, emphasizing that it was not a spontaneous or last-minute idea but part of God's plan from the beginning. This aligns with the theological concept of God's omniscience and His predetermined plan for redemption even before the fall of humanity.
In summary, the article provides a rich exploration of theological concepts such as redemption, sacrifice, and the divine plan, all grounded in the Christian scriptures. The depth of knowledge demonstrated in the text reflects a profound understanding of these concepts, reinforcing the transformative and eternal nature of the gift of redemption in Christian theology.
