Adapted from Jim Hay’s Sermon
3-minute read
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” Ephesians 1:7-10.
While exploring the message of redemption in this passage, we are reminded that true spiritual freedom and unity with Christ come from a great sacrifice. From the Passover lamb to Jesus’ crucifixion, these moments in history are not just stories; they are the foundation of our faith that highlights the price of our freedom and the opportunity for a renewed relationship with Christ. Delving deeper, we aim to understand how these sacrifices shape our beliefs and guide us in living a life enriched by God’s grace.
The Cost
Central to understanding this union is recognizing its significant price and the redemption it brings. Stories like the Passover lamb and the exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12) show us that redemption is fundamentally God reclaiming what is his and delivering his people from bondage. But it comes at a cost. In the Passover story, a lamb paid the price to protect God’s people from slavery and death. Now, we are free because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. This act not only delivered us from the penalty of sin but also created an avenue for us to be united with Christ again. In this unification and forgiveness, we find the greatest freedom which is the freedom to follow God’s guidance through his grace. He paid it all so that we could have endless riches.
The Cosmic Scope
While this unification is very personal, it also connects the individual to God’s greater purpose, the restoration of the paradise lost in Adam. The universe itself, which was divided by sin, yearns for this redemption (Romans 8:19-23), and even though man ultimately brought this disorder through disobedience, God uses us to unify heaven and earth once again (Colossians 1:15-20). Before the world was even formed, this was His intent which he never kept secret. He gave us instructions on how to stay in union with him and even taught us how to pray (Matthew 6:9-13). All this was revealed because we are at the center of his design.
The Commission
This restoration plan is not limited to one person’s salvation story; every believer has a role in bringing it to fruition. In this way, we are connected to the mission of our creator through a personal relationship and unity with Him. This promise of unity not only serves as a comfort for believers (Colossians 1:26-27) but is also a call to service and action. To be commissioned means to be sent out to fulfill a particular purpose, and by giving God total access to our lives, we gain access to every divine resource He can provide.
As a church, we are commissioned to unite people in Christ through confessing sins, forgiving, and reconciling with each other. While we grow as a body, we work to submit all things to Christ’s lordship to become the salt of the earth and give glory to God (Matthew 5:13-16). Our duty as members of The Fount is to joyfully delight as proclaimers of God’s grace, to live with intentionality and purpose, and ultimately advance the Kingdom of God. For those who may not claim to be Christian yet, know that God has blessed, chosen, and adopted you so that you may praise Him. He desires to remove the hold sin has in your life and give you every spiritual blessing. A world divided by man will be unified through Christ again.
All are welcome to learn more about the message of redemption by visiting The Fount’s weekly meeting on Sunday, 10 am, at the Kansas City Club.
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