OCT 14

Colossians 1:12-14
Memorise Ephesians 1:7
“…redemption through his blood...”

Colossians 1:14 is very similar to Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” In both verses, Paul used the word “redemption”. This word has a different meaning from the common uses in our current time. Leon Morris explains that in antiquity, the victors of the battlefield often brought many of their captives back to their homeland to sell as slaves. When some of the captives were found to be rich, the victors offered them back to their families for a price. The process of buying back prisoners of war from captivity was called “redemption”, and the sum of money was called “ransom”. In a similar way, a Jew in poverty who had been sold into slavery could be redeemed and set free by his brother (Leviticus 25). However what was redeemed, in both cases, was the physical person that was in captivity or slavery. The question is, what can redeem the soul who is enslaved to sin? No amount of money can redeem a soul from sin, and any other soul born in sin cannot be its substitute.

In both verses, Paul also used the term “in whom”, to signify Christ is the Redeemer, who alone is able to set us free from sin – our previous master. Paul also points to the ransom: that the price was paid only “through his blood”. 1 Peter 1:18-19 echoes this: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things…But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” It was both the spotless life of Christ on earth and the shedding of this precious blood on the Cross that was our ransom. Finally, in both verses Paul explains that only the blood of Christ can bring us “the forgiveness of sins”; Christ has not only redeemed us from sin, but has completely forgiven all our sins which had enslaved us in the first place. It is therefore the precious blood of the Lamb that gives the gospel its power!

Do you realise, dear teen, how precious you are in the sight of God your Heavenly Father, that it was the blood of Jesus Christ that redeemed you? Are you thankful, as Paul was, or do you simply take it for granted? Do you live your life for Christ, who has redeemed you and deserves your adoration as your LORD; or do you ungratefully live for yourself? Do you realise how complete Christ’s sacrifice was for you, that you need never fear death, or do you wish to continue in the sin that necessitated Christ’s sacrifice?

Thought: Do I realise how heavy the price of my ransom is?
Prayer: May I do my best to repay this gospel debt that I owe.