Ephesians 1:7-12 – Redeemed by Christ

The term “redemption” is a market term, referring to the deliverance by the payment of a price. The price of the redemption for believers was the precious blood of Christ. Being redeemed, believers received forgiveness of the debt owed due to their sin, and are now freed from the judgment they should have to face. Redemption, forgiveness and adoption are all linked and are interrelated. Believers received all these because God richly and generously showered His grace upon them.

Having been redeemed, forgiven and adopted as children of God, believers now become members of God’s family. And as members of God’s family, they could freely have access to the Father and confidently come before Him. Furthermore, in His grace, God enabled believers to understand His will. He gave wisdom and insight to the believers to understand and comprehend the mystery of His will. 

What is this mystery of His will? This mystery is the plan that is concealed in time past but now made known in Christ. This mystery is about God including the Gentiles in His redemption plan and giving them equal footing as the Jews. God’s plan is to unite all things in Christ. 

When will this take place? We are told in verse 10 that it will happen when time has reached its fulfillment, meaning when time merges with eternity. God will unite all things, both things in heaven and on earth, in Christ. 

Although both Jews and Gentiles were called into this grace, it was the Jews who were first drafted into it. Paul was showing here in verse 12 that in God’s plan, He first appointed the Jews to experience this grace. God’s reason for choosing the Jews first would be the same for the Gentiles; it is so that they would live to praise His glory.

In time past God planned for our salvation, so that we can celebrate our freedom in the present, because of the redemption and forgiveness brought through what Christ had done. And of all the creatures of God, we have the best reason to praise Him, for in Christ we are His redeemed sons and daughters. Hallelujah! Let’s praise Him and give Him the glory!