In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In Christ we have redemption. The word signifies a purchase … or in many cases … a re-purchase. In the Old Testament story of Ruth, we meet Boaz, who is called the kinsman-redeemer. Because Naomi’s husband and then her sons, had died, she couldn't gain access to the family holdings and they were up for sale to the highest bidder.
Boaz was able to act as her intermediary, though and as a relative, he had priority regarding the decision to re-purchase or redeem the land and properties that had been in her family. He redeemed her land and gave her back a future. He did so to an even greater degree by taking Ruth as his wife and then giving Naomi a grandson which would be the future heir to her property.
Jesus Christ acts in much the same way for us. Because of sin, in the eyes of heaven, we have lost everything. We hold no title to property in heaven, having given that up every single time we sin. Christ is our redeemer. He returns to us the right to own property, to have a home in heaven.
Paul writes that this is in accord with the riches of God’s grace that he has lavished on us. God gives us so much more than we deserve through the blood of Christ. We deserve nothing and yet we are given eternity. We receive the opportunity to be part of that day when all things on heaven and earth come together in unity under the reign of Jesus Christ.
Our redeemer is our king. Because of God’s grace, we can enter his kingdom because the king gave his life for us.
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