REDEMPTION: A MATTER OF THE CROSS

“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.’)”—Galatians 3:13

 

We can understand from our scripture reading for today that Christ has already redeemed us.  The verb tense “has” shows us that redemption is a past tense occurrence.  Christ has already suffered the penalty for the curse of the law (see Deuteronomy 28 for details of the curse).    

 

The root word of “redemption” is “redeem” and it means to buy back - to get back – to free from what harms – to free from captivity by payment of a ransom – to free from the consequences of sin – to restore humankind to the place and position they had before sin entered – in other words to reestablish God’s original idea.

 

We, as God’s people, must recognize that when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior that are sinful nature is changed from death to life; however, the habits that we had before our salvation experience has not been redeemed—they must be changed.  For example, someone could have the habit of lying before they were “born again” they will continue to have that habit after their salvation experience until the habit attitude is changed.  “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). 

 

We exercise our redemption status when we believe more in grace than we do sin.  Habit attitudes can only be changed through the knowledge of redemption.  That is why I say that Redemption is a matter of the cross.

 

Today, reflect on the habits in your life.  Make sure that the message of REDEMPTION is applied to every habit.

 

Prayer—Father, I thank You for Your grace and the knowledge of redemption in my life to change every habit that does not reflect the message of the cross, in Jesus Name. Amen.