Redemption
Redemption is a thing that few Christians focus on except when they are feeling guilty about sinning, or right after they have been caught doing something they should not have been doing. Outside of those times, redemption is something for the rest of the world, it is something that others needs but something we are fine without.
Redemption however is far more then just forgiveness of sin. Redemption is restoration of the relationship that has been destroyed by sin. Understand, we are not saying forgiveness is unimportant. Forgiveness of our sin is very important, and that is made possible by Christ’s blood on the cross, it allows us to no longer be held accountable for the sins we commit and the wrongs we do. The great thing about God is that He does not just forgive our sins, He wants to forget them too, and that is where redemption comes in.
If God simply left us at the point of forgiveness we could still go to heaven and we would still have eternal life, but we not no longer be able to communicate and fellowship with God. God does not desire that for us. God desires for us to communicate, fellowship, and talk with Him, so He does more then forgive, He forgets, and that allows restoration of the one on one relationship that we have with Him to be restored.
That is the real key to being redeemed. The merely forgiven go on living, but they do so with a wall of separation between themselves and the forgiver. The redeemed go on living with the full relationship full restored to it’s pre sin state. That is what makes redemption so special.
Today celebrate not just the forgiveness that you have in Christ via the cross, but also celebrate the redemption that God gives you in restoring the relationship between yourself and Him. The creator and redeemer of the universe wants to be intimately involved in your life. Enjoy that love, and relish how special and blessed you are.
