14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus is the source of our redemption. But what is redemption. Redemption means to purchase back from somewhere. We were sold in the slave market of sin. We had no choice but to sin before we came to Christ. Sin was our nature. Just as a dog acts like a dog, and not like a cat, showing its nature, so we were sinners and therefore we sinned. But Jesus came and paid the price so that we could be removed from that slave market of sin. The thing that kept us sinning was the penalty that was not paid. Jesus paid the price we could never pay. And as a result of that payment, forgiveness became available to us. Forgiveness is about right relationship. As long as there is unforgiveness, there is a barrier in the relationship. Redemption brought us back into right relationship with God. The past is not brought up. We get treated as though the sin never took place. In our human relationships we know the importance of forgiveness. When a relationship has been strained because of a sin by one party against the other, forgiveness becomes an important element in the restoration of the relationship. Confession, repentance and forgiveness. All three are necessary for the relationship to be restored. Both must know what happened: confession. The one who did the wrong must turn away from the past action and consistently move in a different, non-sinning direction. Then the one who was wronged needs to offer forgiveness and move beyond the past. Because Jesus died and paid the price for our sins, we can now live lives of obedience.
The Arnold Journey 