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Sermon preached on Ephesians 1:7 by Rev. W. Reid Hankins during the Morning Worship Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 10/19/2025 in Petaluma, CA.
Sermon Manuscript
Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
As we continue to work through this extended doxology in verses 3-14, we come to verse 7. Today we will consider the doctrine of redemption. This is at the very heart of the Christian gospel – remember that “gospel” means “good news”. The gospel is that Jesus has redeemed us from eternal damnation through his sacrifice on the cross. This redemption is for all who have turned and put their faith in Jesus. Today we will consider the Christian gospel by reflecting on this redemption. First we will consider the concept of redemption, second, how we are redeemed in Christ, and third, how this redemption is by grace.
Let’s begin then in our first point to define this concept of redemption. Verse 7 says that Christians “have redemption.” The word redemption, in its broadest usage, is about restoring something that was lost. More technically, it refers to buying someone out of slavery, captivity, or imprisonment. The technical term for such a payment to buy someone’s freedom is called a ransom. Redemption happens when the required ransom is paid, redeeming the person out of their stage of bondage into a state of freedom.
The word “redemption” can get used with a range of meaning. Context will explain what is in view when someone is said to be redeemed. The Old Testament illustrates this range of usage in Leviticus 25. The backdrop there is that God redeemed Israel out of Egyptian slavery. God then called Israel to institute principles of redemption among them to teach the concept of redemption. For example, they were to provide for the redemption of a human from slavery through a ransom payment. No one could be sold permanently into slavery, there must always be the opportunity to redeem them at a price. Likewise, if someone had to sell their family land, they were allowed to redeem the land through a payment. There would also be a Year of Jubilee every fifty years that would declare a national redemption and restoration. All Israelite slaves would be set free from their slavery. All sold land would be returned to the family to which God had originally given it. Leviticus 25 is helpful because it shows some examples of the wide range of usage for the term of redemption. Such old covenant principles get applied in the New Testament to help us understand how Jesus redeems us.
What then is in view here, in verse 7, when it speaks of how a Christian has experienced redemption? What specific act of redemption is in mind? Well, context gives us the answer. Verse 7 explains the redemption with the language of “the forgiveness of our trespasses.” The Greek grammar actually puts the word “forgiveness” in apposition to the term “redemption”, which means the terms describe each other. We have been redeemed in that we have been forgiven of our trespasses. To understand from what we are redeemed from we have to understand what this forgiveness of trespasses implies.
So let’s slow down and back up. God is our creator. He has revealed himself and his laws both in natural and supernatural ways. But none of us have honored God the way we should, nor have we kept his laws perfectly the way we ought. Every time we fail to keep his law, that is called a transgression or a sin. We have all disobeyed our creator and have rebelled against him. Chapter 2, verses 1-3 tells us that the outcome of such rebellion is to be under God’s wrath. We have set ourselves as God’s enemies when we should have submit to him as our Lord. That rebellion resulted in God’s condemnation of us. If nothing had changed, we would have all received the just punishment of hell in the afterlife.
When we speak of the gospel as good news, its because first there is bad news. The bad news is that we are all guilty before God because of our sin. We are all, by nature, under his wrath. We can try to get upset about that and say it’s not fair but that just further shows our rebellion against God. But you see, this is where the good news comes in. Verse 7 speaks of how the Christian has been redeemed from this. Our redemption is to be set free from God’s wrath due to our sin. Our sin brought us an imprisonment of death and damnation. But we are redeemed from that, delivered and liberated, because the Christian has been forgiven of our sins.
Now, Ephesians will go on to talk more about the significance of our redemption. Next chapter will also talk about how we are being set free from the power and dominion of sin, sin is no longer our master the way it used to be. Also, later in this chapter, in verse 14, it also speaks of a future redemption when we will be set free in the age to come from the corruption of this present world and our current corruptible bodies. We’ll talk more about that in a later sermon too. So later we’ll learn about those things too. That we are redeemed from the power and dominion of sin and that we will be redeemed from the corruption and curse of this present age. But today’s passage especially brings out how we have been redeemed from condemnation and wrath that our sin has incurred.
Let us rejoice in this. The Christian, when he dies, will not go to a hellish punishment but to a heavenly glory, because we have been redeemed from sin’s penalty. Verse 7 says this is something we already have if we are a Christian. We already have been set free from the judgment we deserved. Blessed be our God!
Let’s now turn in our second point to consider how this redemption comes to us in and through Jesus. Verse 7 begins with those words, “in him,” referring to Jesus. It then says this redemption is through the blood of Jesus. This is why we call Jesus our Redeemer. We are redeemed and forgiven in Jesus, especially through his work on the cross.
Let us appreciate the question here. Why do we need Jesus and his sacrifice in order to be redeemed from the penalty of sin? Well, it’s because of the justice of God. For God to forgive us, it requires God to be merciful, but he still has to simultaneously maintain justice. God can’t just simply forgive us and maintain justice. For example, if someone murdered your loved one, and a judge decides to forgive him and just let him go, you would be right to say that is unjust. Judges are supposed to be just. A just penalty must be paid in order to satisfy justice.
This is why our redemption requires a ransom. In order to be pardoned of our sin, justice had to be satisfied. That’s what Jesus did on the cross for us. He made atonement for our sin at the cross, with his blood shed in our place. Hebrews 9:22 says that without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sins. On the cross, Jesus offered himself as a substitute on our behalf. God’s wrath was poured out upon him in our place. As the God-man he was able to endure this and satisfy God’s wrath for us. Jesus’ blood was the ransom to redeem us from sin’s penalty, because he took on that penalty for us. Jesus’s propitiated God’s wrath through his atoning sacrifice. That is what enables God to be simultaneously merciful and just when he forgives us of our sins.
Thus, this verse says our redemption is in Jesus. It is not in ourselves. Jesus accomplished your redemption. You didn’t accomplish your redemption. Now, remember that the language of “in him” is union language. We are united to Christ. That brings so much into this verse. So, to say that redemption is “in him”, it also includes more than just the forgiveness idea. To be in Jesus means he died in our place. We could say he died, so we died, in light of our union with Christ. But that means we could also point to his resurrection and ascension. He rose again and so we rose again in him. He ascended up into heaven so we could say that we also ascended up into heaven. I mention this because next chapter will develop this, as further working out our redemption. To be set free from sin’s penalty means we are now free people. But in Christ, our freedom is not one to be used to commit more sin. No, our freedom now in Christ is to look to walk the way he has walked. Again, we’ll see that more in chapter 2. But for now, recognize that your redemption is in Jesus, and in his work to save you.
Let’s turn now in our third point to consider how this is redemption is according to grace. That’s how the verse ends, “according to the riches of his grace.” This might be stating the obvious by this point, but it is worth stating. The redemption that we have, the forgiveness of sins, is God’s grace to us. Grace refers to a gift that we are given. Grace is not earned. Next chapter will clearly contrast grace versus works. If we did something to earn our redemption, then it would not be by grace. But since Christ is the one who did the work to redeem us, it comes to us as a gift of grace.
Let me put the exclamation point on this by noting the word “riches”. This is a word about having great wealth. This pictures God as rich and wealthy in terms of grace. Imagine God’s having a huge storeroom, not of gold coins, but of grace upon grace. God is gazillionaire when it comes to grace, so to speak. This is what he has used in Christ to redeem us. Indeed, God came to us in the person of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is God in human flesh. So as John 1:16 says, we receive grace upon grace in Jesus Christ. That is because the fullness of the riches of God’s grace is in Jesus.
Let’s appreciate this as an analogy for our redemption. We’ve explained today that the idea of redemption involves a ransom. To use the earthly analogy, slaves generally can’t redeem themselves because they are poor. That is why they are enslaved, because of their poverty. Under most circumstances, they are going to need a rich friend to come along and redeem them. Because they can afford to pay the ransom. Do you understand the point of the analogy? God in Christ is that rich person who pays the ransom that we could never possibly pay. He can do that because of the riches of his grace. We could never have done that ourselves because of the poverty of our spirits. Indeed, that is why we need to recognize that poverty so we can look to his riches for help.
This third point tells us that we need to stop trying to save ourselves. That is impossible. You don’t have the riches to do it. Apart from Christ you are a poor, guilty sinner. Yet, how many people still try to save themselves. In the Bible, this was the problem with the Pharisees. They thought they were better than others, that they kept God’s laws well enough to find favor with God. But, Jesus rebuked them, saying their personal righteousness would never be enough. If they wanted to be right with God, it would only be through God’s mercy and grace. We need to continue today to safeguard the gospel so that we don’t blur the distinction between grace and works. Those were debates the Reformers had with Rome during the Reformation, and their concerns remain just as relevant and valid today. We need to continue to affirm sola gratia, grace alone.
This is the problem with the various world religions. Time and again they make religion all about good works. Take the Eastern concept of karma, for example. That essentially says you get what you deserve. Christian grace is about getting what you don’t deserve. Islam believes your good deeds will be weighed against your bad deeds, and you have to hope God will overlook enough of your bad deeds so that you measure up. Christianity says our good deeds are never enough and nothing we can do can expunge our bad deeds. That’s why we need grace. How many world religions fall back into some sort of moralistic approach. Even people who aren’t in an organized religion, will usually appeal to their works. If asked how they will stand in the judgment, they might say, “Well, I’m a pretty good person.” But none of this meets God’s standards. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. We need salvation by grace not works. Christianity is unique in its assertion of grace.
But that is good news not because it is unique in that claim. It is good news because it is true in that claim. If the Christian gospel preached salvation by grace not works, but it was not true, then you would be a fool to trust in that gospel. But if the gospel is correct, that no amount of good works can save you, that your only hope is in Jesus. Then it is essential that you heed the gospel call. I stand here today to testify that the gospel is true. Redemption in Jesus is truly according to grace not works.
While contrasting grace and works, let me address a common question. If Christians emphasize that we are saved by grace and not works, does that mean it doesn’t matter how we live? No, that doesn’t follow. In fact, God teaches that the opposite is true. As we’ll see especially next chapter, our new life in Christ calls us to walk in a new way. God forgives us of our sins, not so that we can go on sinning. God forgives us of our sins as part of him saying that he has a better life in store for us. God calls the Christian to strive to walk in obedience. But the crucial point to understand is that we are not saved if we do a good enough job at living obediently, hoping that God will find at the end that we did. No, the Christian starts from a point of God having completely forgiven him of all our past sins, for the one who is truly trusting in Jesus. We then endeavor to follow Jesus as his disciple, looking to grow in godliness. That is so freeing, because it means we can be assured of God’s love, and assured of our salvation. We can look to obey him, not always wondering if we’ve done a good enough job. Rather, we can strive to obey him knowing that he already accepted us in Christ. It might seem like a subtle difference but it is truly a profound difference and what is so unique and true about Christianity.
One reason it is important to understand this distinction is because some people are hesitant to become a Christian because they feel they have to so clean up their life perfectly before they become a Christian. But that is the wrong order. It’s like saying you won’t hire a maid to clean the house until you perfectly clean up the house first. We need to come to Jesus in recognition of how a mess we are. You then begin as a disciple knowing you are forgiven and he will come into your heart to guide you in a process of cleaning up your heart and life.
Trinity Presbyterian Church, this leads me to conclude our message with a call to faith. Today we’ve said that the gospel says there is redemption through the work of Jesus Christ. The gospel says it is received as a gift of grace. But what’s been implied in all of this is the need for faith. Faith is the way we receive this gift of grace. Faith is the way to trust in Christ so that we find redemption and forgiveness in him. This passage is very clear that we only have all these benefits in Jesus if we are in him through faith. That is the culminating point down in verse 13. Let me read to you verse 13. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.” In other words, the people described in this passage as redeemed are the people who have heard the gospel and then believed in Jesus.
Does that include you? You have heard the gospel today. Are you believing in Jesus? If you stand before the judgment seat of God, would you appeal to your own works or Christ’s works to save you? The only right answer is to appeal to Jesus. Don’t look to yourself to save you. Look to Jesus to save you. Receive this gift by putting your faith in Jesus.
What does this look like to become a Christian and know this salvation through faith? Let me walk you through things. First, you recognize that you are a sinner. You realize that you have been transgressing God’s laws. Acknowledge that in your heart. Second, turn in faith to Jesus. Believe the gospel that he has communicated to you today. Believe that he died on the cross for you and rose again on the third day. Believe that he has forgiven you and that on the last day he will come to bring you to glory. Three, express your faith to the Lord. You start by doing that in prayer to him. Call upon the Lord in prayer (Rom 10:13). But you then formalize this relationship by becoming baptized into his name and join his church. That begins a life of discipleship, where you look to follow Jesus, worship Jesus, and serve Jesus. You will learn how to walk in the way he would now have you to live. If you desire to be baptized and become a part of his church, please speak with me and I will help you to move forward with that act of faith. Heaven rejoices whenever anyone comes to the Lord, and I too will rejoice with any guest here today who wants to follow Jesus.
In conclusion, I remind you that today’s verse is part of this long section of praise that begin in verse 3 with the words, “Blessed be.” Our redemption today is a reason to bless and praise God. May that be the closing application for all today. May this glorious gospel of redemption in Jesus bring forth great praise again today from us his saved people. Indeed, blessed be our God for such a mighty redemption.
Amen.
Copyright © 2025 Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
All Rights Reserved.
