Power-filled Positive Thinking—Chapter 7b—In Christ Are Redeemed from Sin’s Chains into Joyous, Abundant Life
Redemption—to be redeemed literally means to be “bought back” and restored. Throughout the Old Testament, the word redeemed was used in reference to God redeeming a people to Himself—drawing them out, bringing them out of slavery, and mercifully forgiving their sins. All of this pointing toward the “Messiah” who would pay the price once and for all for our sins. David understood this truth and writes often about his being redeemed. David understood that it was God’s mercy and grace that would redeem David from the chains of sin and death that bound him in this world. David was a man of great passion, who loved God with a fervent love. Did that always keep David from sin? No, we know that—the Bible very clearly reports David failures as well—his moments of pride, his adultery, the ordering of Uriah’s certain death in battle, the lying to hide his sin, and his failures as a father to discipline his own son.
Still, David understood that if he were to be “redeemed” from the chains of sins, the penalties of sin, and from death’s clutches; it would be due to God’s mercy and would take more than the sacrifice of a lamb or burnt offering. It required a broken and contrite heart—a heart that had seen the depth of its own sin against God. A heart that had been stripped of all selfish, self-exalting pride
. Just like David, we can never be redeemed unless we understand that we have no hope to be unshackled from these chains without a redeemer to set us free. Look at just a few of the prayers of David recorded in the Psalms.
Psalm 19: 12 cleanse thou me from secret faults.13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 31: 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
Psalm 34: 22 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
Psalm 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah.
Furthermore, David understood what he was being redeemed for. He knew that beyond being redeemed from the grips of sin and death; he was redeemed to be crowned with the loving kindnesses of God and God’s tender mercies. Much more than just being set free, he knew that God’s loving hand would provide “all good things.” Having been freed from the guilt and shame of his own sin, David knew that his greatest treasure, his strength for the journey, and his joy was found in a relationship with God Almighty. Read this Psalm:
Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Though David did not know the extreme price that his Savior would pay on the cross, David did understand that it was God who would pay the price for his salvation without which he could never be saved. He awaited the coming Messiah. Psalm 18: “I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
David looked forward to the Messiah while we look back at the cross and the price he paid. Perfect righteousness took upon Himself all of the weight of my sin—a price way too great for a sinner such as I. Yet, in Christ I am redeemed. In Christ, I am His Beloved. In Christ, I am Blessed. And, miracle of all miracles, in Christ I am His proclaimed Saint.
Listen to I Stand Redeemed
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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