Redemption IN Christ

A Brief Commentary on Ephesians 1:7-10
By Jack W. McNiel

Verse 7: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

In whom we have redemption through His blood, according to the riches of His grace... Redemption is a releasing upon payment of a ransom. A ransom is the price demanded to free a hostage or one held in bondage. When a person reaches an accountable age and commits sin, they are in bondage to sin and death. But, because of God’s love for mankind, He has allowed a ransom to be paid to free mankind from that bondage. Innocent blood was the ransom demanded. In the Old Testament, the shedding of the blood of an innocent lamb on the Day of Atonement put off payment of the ransom or rolled it forward until Christ, a more perfect sacrifice, came and shed his blood to pay the ransom in full (Mat. 20:28). Now, all who have become obedient to God’s divine will have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.

The forgiveness of sins... Once the Christian has been redeemed by the blood of Christ their sins are forgiven and they are forgotten, just as if he or she had never sinned. A Christian who commits sin, after having been redeemed, must still be brought back into contact with the blood of Christ. This is done through fervent prayer and through confession, either public or private, depending on the nature of that person’s sin. (1 John 1:9).

Verse 8: “Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;”

Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence... God has given the Christian the promise of eternal life according to the riches of His grace. In fact, he has given to those who obey Him in abundance out of the riches of His grace. He has given more than is deserved by those who have sinned and who continue to sin from time to time. God’s plan of salvation is derived out of God’s love, wisdom and prudence.

Verses 9-10: “Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:”

Having made known unto us the mystery of His will... The mystery of God’s will is His plan of salvation for man, through the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. This plan was a mystery until God revealed it to man by the Gospel. This plan was developed before the earth was formed and was concealed in the Old Testament. But now, this plan has been revealed in the pages of the New Testament.

According to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself… This mystery was revealed to man by God in the fullness of time according to God’s will or pleasure.

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times… God’s concept of time is not ours: but when it was time, according to His divine purpose, he revealed the mystery of His plan unto man.

He might gather together in one all things in Christ… It had been according to God’s plan, from the beginning, that all things pertaining to salvation be placed in Christ. Brother Jerry Moffitt wrote in his Commentary, “We are in the dispensation of the fullness of the times. It is the last hour before judgment (1 John 2:18). All things, all loose ends, are gathered together and summed up. There will be one kingdom under one head (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Philippians 2:5-11).[i]

Both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him... Under the Gospel plan of salvation, all things, both in heaven and in earth have been gathered together under Christ. The Apostles would receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven. The things that they would bind or loose on earth would already have been bound or loosed in heaven (Mat.16:19). All things, both in heaven and in earth are now under the authority of Jesus Christ (Mat. 28:18).

[i] Jerry Moffitt, Moffitts’s Bible Commentary, Thrust Publications, 1997, p. 342.