Redemption is more than forgiveness.

Ephesians 1:7
⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (NIV)

The Bible says the life of a creature is in the blood. Christ shedding His blood indicates an exchange of life for life. When we think of the redemption we have received, we immediately think of forgiveness, and certainly, forgiveness is part of the equation, but redemption is so much more.

The person’s sin dictated they be punished by death. The wages of sin is death. Death is symbolized by physical death, but the spiritual death it symbolizes is more powerful than physical death. Physical death stops us from breathing, but spiritual life keeps us from living life even as our body keeps breathing. Spiritual death blinds us to pathways that lead to a more abundant life. It has power over our minds causing us to process life issues in ways that steal our joy, kill our peace, destroy our self-image, annihilate our dreams, and erase all hope. Spiritual death enslaves our minds and crushes our spirits.

The redemption we have in Christ has power that exceeds simple forgiveness of sin. In Him, there is the power to make the blind see. He gives us the mind of Christ, the wisdom of God, eternal perspective to process circumstances differently. Redemption gives us the power to take back our joy, our life, our peace, our dreams, and find God’s dreams for us that far outweigh anything we would have dreamt for ourselves.

To be forgiven is wonderful. To break free is unmatched in wonder.

One thing we must never do is reduce redemption to simple forgiveness of sin. Sin is the evidence that proves our guilt keeping us in this spiritual prison. Forgiveness destroys the evidence so that we must be set free. Redemption is the exchange of our life for Christ. He took our sentence in exchange for His power and peace. Being without sin Himself, He could not be locked up. Instead, He took the keys and released us to freedom greater than death.

Receive the forgiveness of God, but live beyond it.  You have been redeemed so take hold of His great wisdom and exceeding power that gives peace that transcends understanding, that gives a joy too great for words, that gives a hope that cannot be destroyed.

Live in the exchange. Do not let people, circumstances, or fear keep you in death’s prison. The doors have been opened. Step into the exchange and live in the power of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, write this on my heart. Help me to live into the exchange. Help me to know more than being forgiven, I am filled with the power and peace of the One who took the keys and set me free from Death’s prison. Amen!

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