13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
~ What is the dominion of darkness we have been rescued from?
~ What is the definition of redemption? What is your response to Christ as your Redeemer?
1) We have been rescued from the power of Satan over our lives.
ReplyDelete2) I looked up the definition of REDEEM:
1 a : to buy back : repurchase; b : to get or win back
2: to free from what distresses or harms: as; a : to free from captivity by payment of ransom; b : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental; c : to release from blame or debt : clear; d : to free from the consequences of sin
3: to change for the better : reform
4: repair, restore
5 a : to free from a lien by payment of an amount secured thereby; b (1) : to remove the obligation of by payment or (2) to exchange for something of value; c : to make good : fulfill
6 a : to atone for : expiate; b (1) : to offset the bad effect of (2) : to make worthwhile : retrieve
When I read over all these definitions, my response to Christ as my REDEEMER is utter humbleness and endless praise. Because of Christ we have been set free from darkness, slavery, guilt and shame. We have been brought into the light of God's grace and love.
1) satan no longer has dominion over the earth. Jesus bought back what satan stole from us (and of which we actually handed over to him) in the garden of eden. satan pretends that he still has dominion and continues to deceive many the same way he did adam and eve in the garden and STILL takes whatever dominion we give him, but, the truth is that WE now legally and rightfully have dominion over the earth just as God intended. Now it's a matter of us knowing that and using it the way God intended...
ReplyDelete2) meaning that we are no longer a "slave" to sin. Because of Jesus, there is now a way out. There is now hope.The law was hopeless cuz no one could do it. Jesus did and then gave his life: the one time ultimate sacrifice. His sacrifice was once for ALL and when He left, he sent us His Holy Spirit to help us and guide us and teach us and....convict us of sin so we can easily quickly repent and move forward. We are no longer a slave to laws that are impossible to follow but are bondservants (voluntary, ever willing, sold out, devoted servants..etc) to Jesus. I don't have to TRY to be a good girl. I don't have to PUSH to TRY to follow all the "rules". I just have to KNOW Jesus. (not know *OF* Him, but *KNOW* Him.) The result is that as I get to know Him, the more I fall in love with Him, the more I can hear the Holy Spirit (that Jesus says lives inside me now), and with that, the more I dont have to TRY to not sin but rather, how can I know Him more? Yes, I'll still sin, but that's not my focus anymore. Back then, that's all they had because they didnt have the Holy Spirit. Today we have the Holy Spirit,the ability to have a relationship with God.The more we focus on our relationship with God, the less we'll sin *but* when we do sin, His blood already paid for it. So, we learn, we repent, we grow, and continue to move closer to Him. And...all this is a daily choice :)