Scripture Reference: Ephesians 1:3-14

All Spiritual Blessings – Continued

Adoption. The second spiritual blessing in Christ is adoption, for in love He “predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself.” Adoption means becoming God’s sons and daughters with all the privileges implied. On this basis we are said to be “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) and have the privilege of bringing all things to God in prayer and of being heard by him.

Redemption. Redemption means being delivered from the slavery of sin by the death of Christ, which Paul indicates by saying: “In Him [Christ] we have redemption through His blood.” In antiquity a person could become a slave in one of three ways. He could be born a slave; children of slaves were automatically slaves too. He could become a slave by conquest; the citizens of a city or nation captured by another city or nation would be enslaved. He could become a slave through debt; a person who could not pay a debt could be enslaved as the last possible resource for payment.

Significantly, the Bible speaks of people being slaves of sin in each of these ways. We are born in sin, receiving a sinful nature from our parents: “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). We are conquered by sin: “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me” (Psalm 19:13). We are also slaves of sin through debt: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Redemption means Jesus delivering us from this slavery to sin by His work on the cross. Before, we were held captive and could not break free to do God’s bidding. We did not even want to. Now we are freed to serve God by Jesus’ death. As Peter writes, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

Forgiveness of sins. Paul links forgiveness of sins to redemption, writing, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins.” But although they are closely linked, forgiveness of sins is something different from redemption. Redemption means being freed from sin’s power, so that it no longer rules over us. Forgiveness means having God wipe the slate clean, thus leading to redemption. The Bible seems to go out of its way to magnify the wonder of this forgiveness. David wrote, God “forgives all your iniquities” (Psalm 103:3). Jeremiah quotes God as saying, “For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). John declared, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

To Be Continued

Adapted and modified excerpts from James Montgomery Boice, Ephesians: An Expositional Commentary
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.