Redemption and Riches

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul the apostle writes to the believers of the Ephesian church about the power of grace and redemption in their lives. In this letter, he uses words like, "redemption", "riches", "grace", and "lavish". Each of these words contain a depth of meaning that Paul wants his audience, and that includes us, to grasp. He wants us to know the assurance and power of the gospel through this epistle.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ... ¹

Our redemption, provided by Christ on the cross, brings us release. ² The crippled woman suffering under the weight of oppression and infirmity would have experientially understood this release that Jesus provides. Luke describes the joy of a bound woman now set free from Satan, religious leaders, and her own sickness. Jesus broke her chains and released her into the rest he provides. ³ And still today, for you and me, Jesus provides release from guilt, sin, shame, and abandonment and all manner of oppression.

When we give, we behave as God, for he is the Giver. What God bestows upon us is greater than any gift we could give. The riches he provides flow and flow and flow, plunging us into the depths of his love and grace. ⁴ Unlike the riches of this world, which can skew and pervert, his riches have a cleansing quality, a purity and health. His riches are true riches; truly abundant life untied to the insidious and deceptive promises of this world.

I remember a time while still employed that I had received a profit-sharing bonus. Out of that bonus, I bestowed upon each of my children a share of the wealth I had received. They didn't earn that gift, and I was pleased to give it to them. It excited me (and it excited them!) Half of the fun of that bestowing was the anticipation. My children didn't know what I would be giving them, only that the "bestowment night" was coming.

We all sat around in the living room on that bestowment night as I passed out this bestowment. Each of them reacted differently, and I'm sure each of them spent it quite differently. But I gave it, not knowing how they would spend it and with no expectation on how they should spend it. No strings attached, favor flowed unhindered.

God's riches are not sparsely dispersed to his children as if the source is limited. His riches flow, they plunge us into their wealth; they are in abundance. They are riches that find their source in his favor, in his leaning into us, in his pleasure towards us. And he is disposed to this, to lean towards us richly, to pour out riches. He finds joy in this. We find joy in this.

And what should stop the riches of his grace from flowing down to us in great rivers? What should we fear? That we've sinned and are unworthy? Never. Our redemption, our full and costly ransom, has released us from guilt, shame, sin, and bondage. And his wrath? It has been satisfied by the Lamb's holy blood shed for us, the completely satisfactory payment for our sins. His blood has satisfied the wrath of God. Our sins shall never need to be paid for again, for our debts have been paid in full, once, for all time.

And God's grace, the source of his riches, has not been irresponsibly spent, though it may seem foolish and wasted in our view. No, his grace has been lavished upon us not thoughtlessly, not recklessly, not foolishly, but with all wisdom. ⁵ And not without forethought, but rather with a complete view to our need and the consideration of the reputation of his name. In all wisdom and insight, he poured, he reached, he leaned in. To us. To you. To me.

"You didn't have to do that much! There was more than enough!" Lavish. ⁶ Think of the woman who poured the oil out on Jesus' feet. She gave it all, more than enough. She responded to the God who lavishes, and she lavished. Think of David's cup, overflowing at the table before him in the presence of his enemies. Think of the wedding feast at Cana, more than enough of the best wine. Think of Jesus' shed blood, his holy sacrifice, all sufficient, permanence of provision, more than enough for every sin.

You might want to read that verse again,

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ... ¹

References

¹ Ephesians 1:7-8 (ESV)

² Redemption

Strong's #629 

ἀπολύτρωσιν ()

Ransom in full. Acquire, redeem, redemption, release.

³ Luke 13:10-17

⁴ Riches

Strong's #4149 

πλοῦτος ()

From 4130, wealth, flow, plunge, launder, clean. (literal) money, possessions. (figurative) abundance, richness, valuable bestowment. [a land overflowing with milk and honey]

⁵ Grace

Strong's #5485 

The Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").

χάριτος ()

⁶ Lavish

Strong's #4052

ἐπερίσσευσεν ()

To superabound, be in excess, be superfluous (unnecessary, especially through being more than enough). [my cup runs over]