In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).
The word, “redemption” in the verse above is translated from the Greek, “apolutrosis,” which means deliverance, redemption, and more importantly, riddance.
While these are synonyms of “apolutrosis,” it’s important to understand riddance in the context.
The Bible says, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me” (Psalm 50:15). That’s God assuring His people of deliverance. But now, He has become your riddance, meaning that it doesn’t matter what trouble you get into; He plucks you out; He’ll rid you of that trouble.
Proverbs 12:13 says, “…But the righteous shall come out of trouble” (ASV). That means the righteous may or could get into trouble, but there’s a guarantee of deliverance: Christ! Christ is his deliverance! The mess you’re in could have been self-inflicted or a result of misjudgements;
Christ is your assurance that you’re coming out of the trouble, because He’s your riddance. Glory to God!
Christ being your redemption (riddance) means He makes up for your errors. Every mistake, every sin, has been laid to His charge. He’s obligated to save you. He’ll help you out of any quagmire, not because you earned it by your works or efforts, but because you have a ransom in Christ Jesus. He plucks your feet out of the miry clay (Psalm 40:2). Hallelujah!
So, when you make a mistake or get into trouble, be bold to call on Him. He’s not intimidated by your troubles. No wonder the Psalmist said, “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16). He’s your deliverance and your Deliverer; your Rescuer; the One who plucks you out of trouble. Glory to His Name forevermore!
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Riddance is translated from the Greek word “apolutrosis,” which refers to being brought out of trouble. Therefore, Christ being our redemption, actually means He’s our deliverance; just like He said in Psalms 50:15, “…call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.”
It doesn’t matter the trouble you’ve gotten into, Christ is your riddance; He’ll rid you of your troubles. Proverbs 11:8 says, “The righteous is delivered out of trouble….” Christ is your ransom. O, how wonderful this is! Read this comforting and assuring words from the Lord Himself in Isaiah 43:2-5: “When thou passes through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walks through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:… Since thou was precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee….”
The Lord is obligated to save you. He’ll help you out of any quagmire, not because you prayed hard enough or were good enough, but because you have a ransom in Christ Jesus. He makes up for your errors. Every mistake, every sin, has been laid to His charge.
Sometimes, people look back at their lives and say, “Well, it’s because I made a blunder that this calamity happened to me”; no! You don’t have to wallow in regret any more about your sin, mistakes and errors; understand that Christ has been made your riddance. You don’t have to carry the weight of self-condemnation and guilt. You’ve paid in Christ for all your sins, mistakes, and errors.
Jesus didn’t just take care of your sins at Calvary, He also took care of every single mistake you’d make, including the ones on the job. So when you make a mistake, or get into trouble, be bold to call on Him; He’s not intimidated by your troubles. No wonder the Psalmist said, “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalm 59:16).
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
To reveal his Son in me…
(Galatians 1:15-16).
The Apostle Paul, in our opening text, testified that God was pleased to reveal His Son, Jesus Christ in him. This isn’t just for the Apostle Paul; it’s the calling of every Christian. Christ revealed or expressed in your daily walk is the essence of Christianity. The Bible says, “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
Can you see Christ in you? Can you see His life manifested in and through you? If Christ is revealed in you, there’ll be no place for defeat or weakness. There’ll be no room for sickness in your body. The hope that you’ll forever be victorious, is Christ in you. You may have been diagnosed with a terminal disease; if you can contemplate Christ in you, that’ll be the end of that infirmity. The Bible says, “But if Christ
is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10 NIV).
It doesn’t matter how large the tumour is, Christ in you will cause it to dematerialize. Peter was going through the quarters, visiting the brethren. Then he met Aeneas, who had been paralysed, bedridden for eight long years. In that condition, he received the Gospel. All that Peter said to him was, “Aeneas, Christ makes you well!” (Acts 9:34).
If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of disease or infirmity in your body, Christ makes you well. Become conscious of the indwelling Christ; He’s your strength; therefore, if you couldn’t walk, rise up and
walk. In Him, and through Him, you can do all things! You’re victorious forever. He’s your riddance, your wisdom, and your righteousness. Blessed be God!
-GSW-