The breathtaking joy of being forgiven and set free because of the price Jesus paid

In our journey through The Good Things We Have in Christ (Ephesians 1:1–14), we now come to another rich blessing: we are redeemed and forgiven.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
(Ephesians 1:7)

Here Paul links together two closely related truths: redemption and forgiveness. Each is powerful on its own, but together they give us a picture of freedom and grace beyond measure. Redemption tells us the price that was paid to set us free. Forgiveness tells us the result—our sins wiped away, our guilt removed.

Redeemed

In the Bible, to redeem means to buy back, to set free at a cost. The background image is the slave market, where redemption meant paying the price to liberate someone from bondage.

This is what Christ has done for us. We were enslaved — to sin, guilt, fear, and death, for example. No price we could pay would ever be enough to set us free (Psalm 49:7). But God himself stepped in, and the price was paid by the blood of Christ.

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed…but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
(1 Peter 1:18–19)

Redeemed From…and To…

In the last post in this series, we saw that adoption is about being set free from slavery and brought into sonship. Redemption is closely linked, but it highlights the cost of that freedom. Adoption tells us about our new status; redemption tells us what it took to get us there.

Our redemption is not cheap or casual. It is costly. And because it is secured by Christ’s blood, it is final and unshakeable. You are no longer a slave. You are free.

Redemption means freedom—not just from something, but into something better.

• From sin to purity – We have been set free from sin’s penalty, are being freed from its power, and will one day be free from its presence (Titus 2:14).
• From curse to blessing – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law so we might receive the blessing of the Spirit (Galatians 3:13–14).
• From law to grace – We no longer strive to earn God’s favor; we live under the gift of his grace (Galatians 4:5).
• From emptiness to fullness – We have been rescued from the “empty way of life” (1 Peter 1:18) and brought into the abundant life Jesus gives (John 10:10).

Forgiven

Redemption brings with it another priceless gift: forgiveness. To be forgiven means that our sins are no longer held against us. The debt has been cancelled. The record has been wiped clean.

Forgiveness is not God turning a blind eye or pretending our sins don’t matter. It is God dealing with our sins fully and finally at the cross. He doesn’t just sweep them under the carpet. He carries out a full clean. As the psalmist says:

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
(Psalm 103:12)

Forgiveness means we can stand before God without fear, clothed not in shame but in his righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10). It restores relationship. It heals our conscience. It gives us confidence to draw near.

The Riches of His Grace

Notice how Paul describes all this: “in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” God doesn’t redeem and forgive sparingly, as though measuring out grace by the teaspoon. He lavishes it on us.

There is no sin too great, no bondage too deep, that his grace cannot redeem and forgive.

The Song of the Redeemed

Redemption gives us back our voice. Heaven itself resounds with a new song because of it:

“You are worthy…because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.”
(Revelation 5:9)

And only the redeemed can join in this song (Revelation 14:3). Don’t let yourself become enslaved again to sin, guilt, or fear — it will silence your song. Live free. Sing the song of the redeemed.

More from the Bible

Read Colossians 1:13–14:

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Note how active God is in rescuing us and bringing us into the Kingdom of his Son. Note again how God’s plan and all the good things we are exploring are centred around his beloved Son. And note that redemption and forgiveness are linked again. Central to our redemption – being set free – is the fact that we have been forgiven. He has dealt with the debt of our sins so we can be free. If there’s no forgiveness, there is no freedom. But Jesus has paid the price. We are redeemed, forgiven, free. Walk in the joy of that truth.

Questions for reflection and discussion:

1. Do we live as though we are still slaves, or as those set free?
2. Are there sins we still hold against ourselves that Christ has already forgiven?
3. How might we reflect God’s redeeming and forgiving grace to others?

Putting It Into Practice

1. Meditate on the cost of your redemption. Take time to reflect on the price Jesus paid so that you could be set free. Let this stir gratitude and deepen your worship.
2. Receive forgiveness daily. Don’t hold on to guilt that Christ has already dealt with. Bring your sins honestly before God, receive his forgiveness, and walk in the freedom he has won for you.
3. Live as the redeemed. Identify areas where you are tempted to slip back into old chains, whether sin, fear, striving, or shame. With the Spirit’s help, choose to live as one who has been set free, singing the song of the redeemed. Use the practice of singing as a way of helping you experience freedom and joy.

Remember This:

“To be forgiven is such sweetness that honey is tasteless in comparison with it. But yet there is one thing sweeter still, and that is to have the forgiveness of sin brought home to the heart by the witness of the Holy Spirit.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Further Resources

See resources from the previous articles in this series on The Good Things We Have in Christ.