Here we are at the end of another study! I hope you find yourself with a deeper meaning of being redeemed and a clearer vision for your part in God's story of redemption. As a wrap up, I wanted to go back to some of the questions I asked in the first blog post and answer them.
What does it mean to be redeemed?
It means we belong to Christ. He has bought us with His precious blood. In doing so, we have been freed from sin. Christ is constantly working on us, perfecting us until that final day of redemption.
Why is redemption necessary?
Adam and Eve sold us out to sin. (Genesis 3) We were condemned to a life of sin and death. It's easy to blame them, but truth be told, if not them, then it would have been us. We are all sinful by nature. (Rom. 3:23) Sin separated us from God. Sacrifices of goats and calves were made but they only put the sin off temporarily. Eternal redemption could only be obtained by the perfect blood of Christ. (Hebrews 9:12)
What does a redeemed life look like?
It looks like the children of Israel standing at the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind them and dry ground ahead, choosing to move forward in faith rather than return to a life of complacency.
It looks like a young boy without fear, slaying a giant with just a slingshot. Then a man who had an affair with another man's wife, but then came to sorrowful repentance.
It looks like a child being afraid to sleep at night for fear of dying, and God saving her soul and giving her sweet sleep. It looks like a teenager questioning God and God showing her without a doubt He's real. It looks like a young married couple leaving everything behind and trusting their jobs, home and future to God and God providing. It looks like a Mom with a messy bun, pajama pants, and a cup of coffee pouring her soul out once more so God can fill her up with what she needs for the day.
The children of Israel were never without, even in the wilderness. David had some heartache over his sin, but ended as being known as one of Israel's greatest kings, part of Christ's bloodline and a man after God's own heart. And that child, young girl, wife, and mom - I can personally tell you out of those instances came some of her biggest blessings! A redeemed life looks like a surrendered life.
What is hindering us from being free to live the life God has called us to live?
I think perhaps the more accurate question is as Paul phrased it to the church: "...who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 5:7)
The who is ourselves; the what is anything we are putting between us and God. Christ has already freed us from all sin, so if we are holding onto it; it's not because Christ is wanting us to; it's because we are choosing to. It may seem like the safe thing to do; but in reality it is the crippling thing to do. It's stealing our joy, our peace, our freedom and the wonderful life God has for us.
What is God's plan for the redeemed now and in the future?
His plan for the redeemed is to keep molding and perfecting us until the final day of redemption when He will return and we shall live with Him forever. I think Paul does a great job in Titus 2 summing up God's plan of redemption: past, present and future.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Friend, I hope you've seen throughout this study the redeemed life is a good life, the best life! It's not about being perfect. It's about understanding that He has already conquered and freed us from sin. It's not anything about our goodness, but it's about His. God has a plan for us, but we have to get ourselves out of the way. We have to realize that apart from Him we are nothing; with Him we have everything. Being redeemed, is about being His. Allowing Him to use our good, bad and ugly for His glory. For one day our lives will be nothing but history. Then once we do, we will experience the incredible journey He has for us - HIStory for our life!
I would love to hear what God has shown you through this study!
“There are cracks in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” ~ Leonard Cohen
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