How do believers receive redemption and forgiveness of sins according to Ephesians 1:7?
According to Ephesians 1:7, believers have redemption and forgiveness of sins in Christ, through His blood, according to the riches of His grace. Redemption is being bought back. This is not earned or merited by human effort; grace provides it because of God's love, not because believers deserve it.
Les teaches from Ephesians 1:7 that the believer's redemption and forgiveness are found "in whom," that is, in Christ, as mentioned earlier in verse 5. Redemption means the believer has experienced being bought back, and this comes "through His blood." The forgiveness of sins is "according to the riches of His grace." Les stresses that grace cancels out anything we can do to merit it; grace says, "I'm doing it only because I love you, not because you deserve it." He also notes that although he ordinarily does not like to take just one verse, this verse is appropriate in this instance. The same truth appears in Colossians 1:12-14, where Paul writes of being delivered from darkness and translated into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
More Questions
In Ephesians 1:7, who is the 'in whom' that gives us redemption?
In Ephesians 1:7, 'in whom' refers to Christ, who was introduced in verse 5.
Through what does the Bible say we have redemption and forgiveness of sins?
Believers have redemption through Christ's blood, which brings the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace.