HE REDEMPTION FULFILLED FOR US through the blood of Christ was not mere

obedience to the Father, but Christ revealed through His blood shed for the sake of

sinners the riches of His grace which lead Him till the cross, continuing to flow over sinners of

all generations. For blood alone is redeeming and forgiving. But the blood of Christ had within

it grace, nay the riches of sacrificial grace, as if the blood overflows on the head of the sinner

with the riches of the grace of Christ, grace being taken from the nature of Christ and His

body. The blood that acts with grace redeems and enriches. We through the blood of Christ

and His grace are redeemed from our sins and filled with the grace of Christ making

redemption a promotion from the level of sinner whose sins are forgiven to the level of

beloved raised to the glory of the Son, because blood is life. We drink with the blood the grace

of life in Christ, Christ’s life being a rise from glory to glory. In that manner Christ is

illustrated in us, and our image changes from glory to glory. It is the new man whose image

changes to turn into the image of his Creator,1 not randomly but through the work of the living

word that is active and actually able to permeate our creation, building and forming it.

A student of the Gospel must inevitably take on the image of Christ, grace leading

him to bring the word to those who deserve and are conscious of its value and action.

The words of the Apostle Paul “redemption according to the riches of His grace” therefore

means redemption and along with it associated works that make out of redemption a building

and renewal. The riches of Christ in redemption and forgiveness is a bounty that includes the

sinner, holding his hand after redeeming him, to lead him on the way of salvation that leads to

life. The shed blood of Christ also inevitably means the overflow of life that is Christ’s for the

dead in sin to live. Christ overflows with His blood and life to raise from death and build the

new man. Because the life of the new man is the outpour of the life of Christ over those

redeemed from the anointed so as to accept forgiveness together with the new life. For that

reason Christ is called the Head of the new creation.

The redemption fulfilled by Christ on the cross through His blood is accompanied by

the outpour of His Spirit on those raised from death in order to acquire the new life. The

riches of the grace of Christ who shed His blood for the forgiveness of sin accompany

him whose sins were forgiven for him to gain a life worthy of redemption.

Those who were redeemed and accepted the grace of Christ with their renewed life

have in heaven their own special ranks, with choruses that do not cease to thank Him

who is seated on the throne for the redemption they gained with grace. They are

considered witnesses of the redemption and the riches of the grace of Christ to whom

they unceasingly offer praise, worship and thanks.

The heaven is considered to be rich with saints who form the biggest chorus praising

the glory of Christ for the redemption He fulfilled and the grace He overflowed on them.

They wear white clothes in allusion to their new life that was purified by blood. They

are in a position of honor, esteem, and praise from all the saints due to the blood of

Christ they were anointed with. For they are the martyrs of Christ in glory.

Prayer

O crucified for us, we are scented with the scent of Your blood,

Your blood is now in us, the sign of purification, holiness, and redemption.

You bought us at the most precious cost, on earth and in heaven.

Your cross has become a sign of pride to us, with which we conquer our enemies.

As it is the greatest power of God for free salvation,

it has become our pride on earth and in heaven.

Your name has become sweet in our mouths, as a perfume of great expense.

Your grace outpoured on us, which opened the way before us to follow You.

July 10, 2005

 

1 Note Col 3:10.

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