through faith in Jesus Christ. What a tremendous thing is this subject of redemption. Do you remember years ago a radio program called "The Quiz Kids"? Now that may date me, but we used to love to listen to that favorite broadcast. These were young people, anywhere from sev en on up through teenage years who had fabulous minds. They were able to answer almost any question on any conceivable sub ject sent in by listeners. One day the emcee, Mr. Kelly, asked the query of the children, "What is the most wonderful thing in all of the world?" He expected one answer might be radar which was just coming into the fore then, as was television. Or surely someone would think of airplanes or even the wheel, which some hold to be the most significant invention of all times. One little boy responded by saying, "Mr. Kelly, I think that the greatest thing in all of the world i s . . . is redemption." There was noticeable silence for a mo ment. Then Joe Kelly had to reply in the affirmative and very solemn ly he agreed, "Son, I believe you are right." We have redemption. We have been purchased from the slave markets of sin, never to be put on sale again. We have been bought back with a price no one else could have paid. We have been com pletely liberated. We have been loosed from the bondage of death. But what did it all take? One thing, the blood of Jesus Christ, Cod's only begotten Son. No less a ran som would do. It was not a case of just a good man's blood. There have been untold thousands of good men and good women who Page 23
involvement, with all of the cares and concerns of each day's activi ties. Take time to look up! Because of the grace of Cod we are now accepted in the beloved. That word "beloved," as it appears here in Ephesians, is found no where else in Scripture. It is true that at the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ we hear the voice of God pronouncing the benediction, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." Yet, again, as it stands here, "beloved" apart and alone, symbolizes all that Cod is in His moral character and in finitude. We are accepted in God's sight only because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Our accep tance by God is always and only through Christ. There can be absolutely no doubt how we, as believers, receive this election, predestination, adoption and salvation, as well as all the many other spiritual blessings of the Lord. Notice verse seven of Ephesians 1. It says, "In whom [that is, Christ] we have redemp tion through his blood, the forgive ness of sins, according to the riches of his grace." Even further, in the original the words "we have re demption" are in the present tense. We might say, and we would be very correct although it may sound strange, "In whom we are having our redemption." It is one thing to find Jesus Christ as Saviour at the moment of our initial salva tion. That is the past tense. In the days ahead, we know from Scrip ture, Cod is going to take us to be with Himself forevermore. That wonderful contemplation is also salvation in the future. But there is a need for salvation right here and now. This comes as we said
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