… in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Summary: Saving us from hell turns out to be a complicated business. Some we may never understand. What we do know suggests that the cost of our salvation is very high.
Looking back at Colossians 1:13, we read, “ For he [the Father] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,” and then he adds, “… in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
It is the Father’s will to rescue his creation from the “dominion of darkness.”
- We are his creation.
- We are his wheat (Matthew 13:1-43).
- We are his sheep (John 10:14).
When Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s command and desired to be like God (Genesis 3:5), they condemned all their descendants to be born as weeds.* Instead of letting his creation be condemned to the fire, God redeemed us by forgiving our sins.
How?
It appears there are two parts to this rescue. Prior to being rescued, we belonged to the dominion of darkness. If God had done nothing to save us, we would find ourselves eternally without the Light of God’s presence (John 8:12). We were, in effect, owned by Satan because of Adam and Eve’s sin.
To redeem us from Satan’s domain, a price had to be paid. Not a price in gold or silver, but a price in blood. Luke describes the cost this way:
“The devil led him [Jesus] up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.’” (Luke 4:5-7)
The devil owned it all, but he wanted more. He wanted control over God’s Son. Barring that, he wanted Jesus to die. Jesus would never submit to Satan, but he could submit his body to be crucified for our sins. This was the price for our redemption.
The forgiveness of sin is a different kind of price. For God to gain his creation back, he had to overcome its brokenness. Jesus came to redeem a broken world. Not only did he pay the price for our freedom, he came bringing forgiveness (Matthew 26:28).
Both parts of this formula are essential. It is no good being freed from the dominion of darkness if there is no place to go. Jesus’ offer of forgiveness is the key that opens the door to heaven.
Application: Thank Jesus!
Food for Thought: Is it fair to lump redemption and forgiveness of sins together, or is it best to look at them as two things, as Paul has laid them out? Explain.
*The technical term for the weed Jesus referred to is “tare.” A tare is a weed that looks like wheat but has no value. It is fake, unable to produce grain.
Is it fair to lump redemption and forgiveness of sins together, or is it best to look at them as two things, as Paul has laid them out? Explain.
Sorry I’m taking the easy answer on this one. It’s best to look at them as two things, as Paul has laid them out. Because it is that way in the Bible. Need I say more?
Tim,
The KW&U God has blessed you with is shining through! 🙂
I love your answer T. Always good to go with whatever is clearly laid out in the Bible 😊. Redemption is often described as a ransom paid to buy us out of slavery to sin. Forgiveness is releasing us from past debts owed as the price for our sin was paid buy Jesus’ work on the cross. So one frees us and the other cleans the slate. Both works are accomplished through the work of Christ. So I think that while they are related, they are not the same thing.
Thank you, Rich!
I appreciate the distinction between the two!
What T and R said!
I’m kidding, although I do agree with them.
Redemption and forgiveness of sin are two components of grace. I don’t believe we truly understand the magnitude of God’s grace, but we can understand key elements of it as it pertains to our sin and His plan to bring us back to Him. Forgiveness of sin is appeasement of the consequences of sin. Through Christ, and for those that believe in Him, place their faith in Him, and make Him Lord of their life, our sin is not counted against us. Redemption is the living component of grace. That is to say that God not only forgives us when we repent, He enables us to live a life pleasing to Him by redeeming our past, present, and future.
I think the difference can be illustrated in this way:
John 8:10-11 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Christ releases us from condemnation through forgiveness of sin, and through redemption, enables us to turn from sin. I think it is important to understand the two because it expresses the hope that is in Christ. We are freed from the past, and the promise of our future is guaranteed when we walk in the righteousness of Christ.
Thank you, Chris!
I like your summation: Freed from the past and given a future!
Nicely said!