In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).
“Redemption” in the verse above, is the Greek word, “apolutrosis” and it means riddance. In Christ, we have our riddance. He rids or plucks you out of trouble, and rids your life of anything that’s wrong. So, you can say, “I have my riddance in Christ, no matter what!” That’s redemption. It doesn’t matter what mess you may think you’re in, you can trust Him to get you out.
In Christ Jesus, we also have remission of sins. The King James translation uses the word “Forgiveness” of sins, but the Greek word is “aphesis” and it means remission; the total removal or blotting away of sins. God did much more than forgive us; He blotted out our sins. There’s no trace or record of your sins; it’s as though you never sinned.
That’s why it’s wrong for a Christian to keep a consciousness of sin. Some are forever praying and asking God for forgiveness, because they’re always overwhelmed by the burden of sin- consciousness. The truth is that the Bible never tells us to ask God for forgiveness. God never made provision for your “forgiveness.” This might upend some people’s theology, but it’s a present truth.
To forgive means to pardon, in which case the record of wrong remains, though you’ll not be punished. But that’s not the case with God and us. The actual Greek rendering is “to take away completely, to put away, blot out, separate from.” You might want to ask, “How about 1 John 1:9 that says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness?”
What that simply means is that if we acknowledge (confess) our sins, God is faithful and just to put them away, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. There’s an automatic cleansing going on. That’s what it says in the seventh verse: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
God wants you to walk free of guilt or condemnation! He wants you to walk in the light of your riddance, your righteousness, your justification, your holiness, and your sanctification in Christ Jesus, not snowed-under by guilt or sin-consciousness.
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