Just thinking about this phrase today from Isaiah 43:1b, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you."
Today, while sitting in a business training session this phrase from Isaiah 43:1b quite suddenly appeared to me as good news. Why should I not have anxieties about my standing before God? Because that standing is not of my own doing. It is not conditional upon my successes or failures each day with respect to sin and my sin-prone heart. My standing with God, and the peace I know in its certainty, has everything to do with what God did on my behalf. He redeemed me.
How did he redeem me? God redeemed me through precious blood, through the blood-bought sacrifice, of his only begotten Son (the fully-man fully-God, Son of infinite worth and glory). This is a sacrifice (or, offering) beyond question. God is bound to treat this sacrifice with all the respect it is due, and it is due every last bit of his respect, as the Son fully reflects the all of the Father's own glory.
So, when doubts and anxieties arise about my standing with God or my eternal security, I should remind myself of the good news that I was redeemed, not by any effort of my own, nor do I remain so through any effort of my own. I was redeemed by God himself through the precious atoning work of his Son. God's faithfulness in preserving my position before him is not conditional upon me. It is conditional upon who the Son is and what he has accomplished.
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child, and forever, I am.[Chorus]
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child, and forever, I am.Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose way I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.
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