I Am Redeemed & Forgiven

INTRODUCTION: Throughout the next two weeks, Time With God will be exploring who we are in Christ. Our prayer is that you will grow in confidence and hope as we unpack biblical truth about who God has made us to be. Please note that there will be no Digging Deeper section

GETTING STARTED

We are born with a sin nature, and this nature causes us to run from God. We can try to work our way to God, but, in the end, we can never be good enough. Scripture teaches that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin. We see this in Genesis when God killed an animal to provide a covering for Adam and Eve. We see it throughout the Old Testament in sacrifices and offerings made to atone for sins, and we ultimately see it in Jesus’ death on the cross.

The word redeem means “to exchange,” or “to buy back.” Jesus, through the laying down of his life for ours, exchanges our sin for his righteousness—he buys us back for God. Jesus gives us the ability to stand confidently, knowing that our sin is paid for and we have been forgiven.

READ THE WORD: COLOSSIANS 1:13-14 (ESV)

¹³He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

RESPOND TO GOD

The pressure to perform. The need to be accepted. The ambition to prove yourself. These are all normal experiences and feelings for most of us. It may even seem admirable to push yourself to succeed in these areas. But this natural, human drive is completely counter to the gospel. When we allow our pursuit of acceptance and success to creep into our walk with Jesus, we deny our need for the grace of God.

We don’t have to worry about, or work for, God’s acceptance. We already have it because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians 1:7-8a). Through faith in Jesus alone, we are made right with the Father and can have confidence in this life and the life to come. There is nothing we have to do, or can do, to accomplish this on our own. Thanks be to God that, in Jesus, we are redeemed and forgiven of our past, present, and future sins!