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Colossians 1:14 (NASB95) — 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

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Did you ever watch the movie Warrior? If not it's a great movie, you should see it.

It hit me that the entire plot of the movie is about forgiveness. Men desperately wanting, seeking, needing forgiveness.

At the core of our humanity is a need to be forgiven. The verse today addresses that need.

The verse begins sort of in the middle of a sentence so here's the context...

Colossians 1:13–14 (NASB95) — 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Today's verse is modifying/expounding on the implications of "being in Christ."

...redemption...

Redemption is a word that has profound meaning. Redeeming something gives it value. Think about a coupon, it's worthless until you redeem it. Redeeming it gives the little scrap of paper worth, value and purpose.

A Redeemer is someone that has bought back a possession. In Old Testament times, if you were poor and had to sell your land, a close relative could play the role of redeemer and buy the land back for you.

Also in the Old Testament the Bible tells us that the LORD redeemed the Israelites from enslavement to the Egyptian Pharaoh.

Deuteronomy 7:8 (NASB95) — 8 but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

A Redeemer is someone that steps into a situation and has the power to change it, to pay the ransom/price, to bestow value.

This text is saying that for those who are in Jesus, He is our Redeemer. He has given us worth, value and purpose and He has bought us with his own life as a ransom.

Mark 10:45 (NASB95) — 45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Titus 2:13–14 (NASB95) — 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

  ...forgiveness of sins.

Let's not even go Bible on this...I just want you to briefly think of all the times you've broken your own moral standards. Times when you've let a friend down, or told a lie even when you didn't want to. Times when you should have remembered something important but didn't. Times when you let your anger get the best of you. Times when you slipped up or made the wrong call and the situation went down the tubes.

We carry the weight of that around with us everywhere we go....sometimes for a lifetime.

These are sins that are just against our peers, our friends, our family...fellow humans. What if I told you all of those things are primarily sins against God?

David recognizes this truth in one of his Psalms...

Psalm 51:3–4 (NLT) — 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just.

This is what David says when he is repenting to God for sleeping with another man's wife. Not only did he sleep with his wife, but he got her pregnant. Not only did he get her pregnant, but he had the man killed.
When David comes before God to ask forgiveness from that mess.....that is how he prays. "Against you, and you alone, have I sinned."

Our mistakes are primarily an offense to God, not our fellow humans.

Think about this, if you hit your neighbor's car while driving you own....you can settle the matter relatively easily.

If you hit the president's car/limo...the matter isn't settled as easily.

The "crime" was the same, but the person whom you offended with the "crime" was different. One was much more important than the other. So to it is with God.

Sins against God are infinitely more offensive because of who he is.

Isaiah 40:28 (NASB95) — 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.

This being is who we sin against...


Today's verse offers us hope. For those who are in Christ, there is forgiveness from our sins against God and our sins to others.

Romans 8:1 (NLT) — 1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 1:18b (NLT) — 18 ...“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

If you would like to experience redemption and forgiveness, they are freely offered. Come to Jesus and be healed!

Matthew 11:28 (NLT) — 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.