Redemption is a central theme in the Bible. As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross redeemed humanity from sin and death. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive the gift of salvation and eternal life with God. As redeemed people, it is fitting for us to live with gratitude and thankfulness towards God.
In this essay, I will reflect on the meaning of redemption, offer biblical support about why we should be thankful for God’s redemptive work, provide examples of prayers of thankfulness, and discuss how to live a redeemed life marked by gratitude. My goal is to inspire more praise and less complaint – to cultivate hearts overflowing with thanksgiving for the undeserved gift of redemption we have in Jesus.
The Meaning of Redemption
Redemption refers to the act of buying back something or paying a ransom to free someone held captive. As sinners, we were in bondage to sin and death, unable to free ourselves. We owed a debt we could not pay. But Jesus paid the price for our redemption through His sinless life, sacrificial death on the cross, and triumphant resurrection from the grave.
Romans 3:23-24 explains, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” The key aspects of redemption include:
- We are justified freely: We didn’t earn salvation; it was an undeserved gift.
- We are redeemed by Christ: He alone paid the price for our ransom.
- We are justified by God’s grace: He showed us undeserved favor.
In Jesus, we are bought back from slavery to sin and given new life in right relationship with God. This is an incredible display of God’s love, mercy and grace.
Why We Should Be Thankful
We owed a debt we could not pay, yet Jesus paid it all on the cross. He sacrificed His life so we could be free. We should overflow with gratitude for this incredible gift! Here are some biblical reasons to be thankful:
We are forgiven and declared righteous
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them. (Romans 4:7-8)
Even though we are sinners, God does not count our sins against us. He wipes our slates clean and cloaks us in Jesus’ perfect righteousness. This is reason enough to be endlessly thankful!
We are adopted into God’s family
You received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” (Romans 8:15 NLT)
Not only does God forgive us, but He welcomes us into His family! We get to relate to him as a perfect Heavenly Father. He takes care of our needs, guides us, comforts us, and will one day welcome us into our eternal home.
We have a living hope and glorious inheritance
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (1 Peter 1:3-4)
The redemptive work of Christ guarantees our future resurrection and an imperishable inheritance in eternity with God. No more pain, sickness, tears or death – just complete restoration, joy and life to the fullest!
As we glimpse the wonder of our future hope, how can we not erupt in praise?
Examples of Thankful Prayers
Gratitude should permeate our personal prayers and corporate worship. Here are some examples of thanksgiving prayers from the Psalms:
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever. (Psalm 30:11-12)Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! (Psalm 66:1-3)
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe (Psalm 107:1-2)
These praise-filled prayers help us fix our eyes on God’s goodness. They remind us of His mighty redemption and move our hearts to respond in thanksgiving. I encourage memorizing and praying these psalms often as an act of worship.
Living Thankfully
Gratefulness should translate into action. Our lives will show what we value most. An attitude of thankfulness leads to changed priorities and new purpose.
Generosity
The redeemed life overflows with generosity in response to God’s lavish grace towards us. We echo His selfless love by giving freely without expectation of return. We invest generously into kingdom work knowing that our true inheritance is in heaven.
Worship
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. (Psalm 100:1-2)
Redeemed people praise God with singing, dancing, shouting, and creativity. We worship Him for who He is and what He has done. Our gratitude propels us into deeper intimacy with God.
Evangelism
We cannot contain the good news that Jesus saves! Our stories of redemption have power to impact eternity. We must tell everyone about the extravagant love of Christ that ransomed us from darkness into light. Our lives, words and actions point people towards the redeemer.
In Closing
We have barely scratched the surface of all there is to be thankful for as God’s redeemed people. I encourage you to take time reflecting on the full meaning of redemption through Christ. Let your heart overflow with praise to God. Turn your gratitude into generous living, extravagant worship, and bold evangelism.
Our right response to being bought back by Jesus is a life wholly devoted to Him and marked by thankfulness in every season. May our songs never cease!