Study C3 Redemption and Forgiveness

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Col.1:12-14

C3.1 Redemption

In whom we have redemption. This is the language of the Exodus. To understand this, we need to look at the story of the Exodus and see how it applies to us. A full consideration is outside the scope of this study, but a brief overview will be sufficient.

Consider the following passages: Ex. 2:23-24; Ex.3:9-10. Israel was in bondage to the Egyptians. God promises, through Moses, that He will set them free. Pharaoh hardened his heart and utterly refuses to let Israel leave Egypt, Ex.4:21-23; 6:6-8. In foreseeing Pharaoh’s stubbornness, and after a series of plagues, God said that He would slay the firstborn of Egypt, and that He would and REDEEM israel.

And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.
Ex.8:23

The word division can be translated as deliverance and/or redemption.

This is a wonderful picture of our redemption in Christ. God in Jesus has removed His people from the oppression of the Devil (typified by Pharaoh). He has brought us out from the world’s system (typified by Egypt). Just as in Egypt God slew the first born so He has slain the firstborn in us (i.e., the old man, and not the old self as some translations have it!).

This was done by Christ being our Passover I Cor.5:7. And as Israel was translated out from Egypt by that redemption, so we are translated form Satan’s power by the redemption that is in Christ! The price of Israel’s redemption was the Lamb for each household, the price for our redemption is the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus I Pet.1:18-19.

Division, redemption and deliverance are just other ways of saying translated from one kingdom to another. Israel was later commanded that once in the land of promise they were not to do according to the ways of the Egyptians Lev.18:1-3. In other words, deliverance and redemption was not just the physical translation from Egypt, but rejection also of its ways and life stye.

The means of redemption for Israel was the Passover Lamb, but we have been delivered, redeemed by the precious blood of our Passover Lamb, Jesus Christ. We have been bought with His blood, delivered from the slavery of the Devil and translated from the kingdom of darkness. We are given a new heart so that we are able to live the life that God wants of us and not that of the world’s ways.

The enticing words of the world, Vain philosophy, Legalism or Mysticism cannot free us from the slavery of the Devil; nor can they free us from the tentacles of this world’s system. They are part of the very system that we are meant to be redeem from.  It is, therefore, a contradiction to say that they can deliver us from the very system they are a part of. So, let us not do after their doings.

C.3.2 Forgiveness

Paul continues by saying: even the forgiveness of sins! This is based solely on Christ’s redemptive work.

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.
Rom.3:25

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
Eph.1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I Jn.1:7

Forgiveness is such a vital part of God’s plan of salvation for us. There are three things about forgiveness that would be worth considering.

C3.2a Remembered no more

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb.8:12

This verse, apart from other truths, emphasises the fact that God remembers our sins no more. This means that on forgiveness He deliberately, by an act of His will, puts the very record of our sin away from Him.

The consequence is that God doesn’t keep bringing things up from the past. So. if the enemy brings such accusations, then we resist knowing the certainly of God’s word.

C3.2b Purged Conscience

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Heb.9:14

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Heb.10:2

The second scripture tells us that the OC sacrifices could not purge them otherwise there would be no more remembrance. If God has forgiven us then we should have a clear conscience from past sins, we should be able to forgive ourselves! If we drag the past up we are allowing Satan’s lie of:” Hath God said?” to take root. There is therefore no condemnation, and that means self-condemnation too!

C3.3c Forgive one another

And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Eph.4:32

We are to forgive each other as God has forgiven us. That is to forgive and remember no more. There is no such thing as: ‘I have forgiven but not forgotten’. Take note of the parable in Mtt.18:23-35. The debt we owed was impossible for us to pay, but God forgave us; the debt our brothers and sisters ‘owe’ us is nothing in comparison to that we owed God– we have to forgive and let go. How has God forgiven us? Freely, willingly, on the basis of Christ’s redemptive work and without reservation. Likewise, we are to forgive the brethren.