Chris K.

I have been reading Romans recently and parts of it address the idea of redemption as well. I have been redeemed from slavery to sin and "have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." Rom 7:6. I have been freed from my old life. My life would not have been as fulfilling and I would not have been content without redemption. I love my wife and children dearly, but I truly do not know how people can stay married for 20, 30, 50 years without GOD. There are times when love is not emotion but a choice. We made a commitment and by GOD's grace and with His help, we will keep it. Before Christ, I do not know if I would have made it. In fact, I recall in High School deciding I would probably be divorced once in my life. Without redemption, where would the hope be? If there was any belief in GOD, what would it matter. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die and it does not matter what happens in the meantime because there is no redemption. There are people that live like this now. Always a victim of the circumstances around them. Never happy or content. Trapped in the same cycles of bad choices and sin. They are slaves to the lies they believe.

GOD has only had one true child - His only begotten son, Jesus. Because of this, the only way to be legitimately added to His family is to be adopted. God wants all of us to turn to Him in faith and call Him Father. For those who do - those who truly are children of GOD - we can be encouraged because now our family ancestry is holy. My saviour is, in effect, also my brother. As His child, I can experience His love, grace, and mercy instead of His wrath. When I experience hard times, I know I am being shaped and disciplined by a loving Father.

To be holy is to be different from the rest; set apart; righteous; blameless; dedicated to God's service. Jesus made a sacrifice that wipes the slate clean of my sins. As I stand before GOD recognizing my only hope of salvation lies in Christ and what He has done, GOD sees me as clean and spotless. As a son wholeheartedly seeking to serve his father would take a dish, wipe away the old mess, and set it before his father perfectly clean, so Jesus has done with me. Presenting me to the Father as one who was once covered in sludge and grime but now washed clean. It is not that I was never dirty, but Jesus took me, washed me, and said, "Here, Father, I have cleaned this one for you."

Having been chosen by GOD, it could be easy to say there is nothing scary about predestination. However, to consider that it means something has been decided beforehand, it can be scary. Especially when thinking about loved ones who (at least as of now) have not accepted Christ Jesus as their savior. Who wants to think about them spending eternity in hell and there is nothing they can do about it? However, it is comforting because GOD is running the universe and certainly knows more any any of us do. I trust that all of His decisions are the best decisions. It also feels good to know that I was chosen to be on His side of eternity. I think Paul brought this up and praised GOD for it because he wanted to start the letter off by putting everything in its proper perspective. I don't think he was making the point of predestination here so much as expressing the reasons we were set aside - "to be holy and blameless" and "to be adopted as His sons...for His pleasure and will."

To be in Christ is to dwell with Him. It is written in Romans 12, we are all members of one body. This is not to say every member of a "church" is a member of the body and therefore is in Christ, but rather all who are a member of THE church are members of the body. To be in Christ is to be one of God's children. To have been saved from our lives of sin. It is to be found living in His will for our lives. This does not mean we will always live our lives or make decisions "in Christ". We have our sinful human nature to contend with as well. We all often find ourselves living in the flesh. When GOD looks at those of us who are saved, He sees us through the filter of Jesus. Like wearing rose colored glasses. He sees us and therefore treats us and blesses us as though we really are a part of His Son. The implication is that it is now my honor and duty to serve Him as best I can. To use the gifts He has given me as best I can. To do all things as though doing them for Him (because I am). When I look at GOD, I must also look through the filter of Jesus. I must be a faithful, blameless servant. As best I can.