REDEEMED

Day 4 – Who He Says I Am Series

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” – Galatians 3:13

In Christ – 

YOU ARE REDEEMED

On a trip recently, we were visiting the downtown area of a city. While walking to our car we noticed that police cars were coming from every direction and officers were filing out of their vehicles all heading into the same building. Upon further investigation, the building they were all going to was the Police Station. All the officers in the entire city had been summoned to this one location all at the same time. My husband, Kit, and I realized that when all the law enforcement officers were in one spot, criminals could certainly take advantage of the lack of current patrol. We joked that this is our moment to commit whatever crime we had always wanted to but never could. It was funny in that moment because we realized that even though the police couldn’t see something that we did, we weren’t going to commit a crime because that’s not who we are. It reminded me of the truth that laws are only for the lawless. Once we have placed our faith in Christ, we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. We have been redeemed from the curse of lawlessness. In the Old Covenant God wrote the Law on tablets of stone because the people were lawless. But in Christ, Who is the end of the law (Romans 10:4) and Who ushered in the New Covenant, the law has been written on our hearts (Romans 2) and we are lawless no more. Whether someone tells us we can break the law or not, our honor code (Jesus) lives within us and we aren’t going to do it just because we can. I think of the words the apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:23 – “All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.” Just because we can do them and the price has already been paid in full, doesn’t mean that we will or that it would be beneficial, and because the law is written within us, we don’t even want to anymore. A few chapters later in 1 Corinthians, Paul boldly states that “The power of sin is the law.” 1 Corinthians 15:56. But we have been redeemed and set free from its power because Christ defeated it and He dwells within us. Rise up believer. You are lawless no more. You are cursed no more. You have been redeemed. You have been bought with a high price. Like an old building or house that has been reclaimed and revived, you are not who you used to be. Don’t you love to see the before and after photos of an extreme home makeover? Something inside my soul leaps when I see something that was broken, run down, and abandoned restored to its original purpose. It’s been made new. What was stolen or destroyed has been restored. Have you ever stopped to think how the house or building itself plays no part in this restoration? It’s all because of the work of the Carpenter. His work in us changes everything. Because of Jesus, we have been (past perfect tense – finished) restored, revived, renewed…redeemed. All that was broken has been made new. That is who you are.

REDEEMED – is your Identity!

Daily Reminder

You don’t have to work to be Redeemed, you already are Redeemed because Christ gave you a new identity. His identity. This is who you are because of who He is, not who you have to try to become.

– Religion tells us what to do to become, which equals self reliance – the focus is on self.

– The truth of the Gospel tells us who we are because of who Jesus is and what He did – the focus is on Jesus.

Good News  – Our Father in heaven is pleased with you because of what Jesus did – it all hinges on Him not us.

We are in union with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17). When our Daddy in heaven looks at you, He sees Jesus, and He is nothing but pleased. (Matthew 3:17)

Rest in Him today.

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for redeeming me. Thank You that sin no longer has a hold on me. In whatever I’m faced with today, remind me that You have restored me and given me the strength to face it in my new identity. Thank You Jesus!