THINK TOGETHER
Have you ever heard any of these big words before: righteousness, sanctification, redemption? Do you know what any of them mean?
READ TOGETHER
When we have Jesus we have everything he has. Listen to how Paul says it to the Corinthian Christians here in 1 Corinthians chapter 1:
1 Corinthians 1:30. And because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Paul uses three big words to tell us what we have in Christ Jesus: righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Let’s look at each of these words in reverse order.
Redemption. To be redeemed means to be set free. Like a criminal who is let out of jail, or a slave that is given her freedom, Jesus sets us free from sin. Jesus has paid for every sin, forgiven every sin, and has even changed our hearts so that we will slowly want to stop sinning. Jesus is our redemption.
Sanctification. This word means set apart for a special purpose. Do you have a special stuffed animal that you sleep with every night? That stuffed animal is sanctified. It has been set apart for a very special purpose – to be your sleeping friend. By his love Jesus redeemed us and then he sanctified us. He set us apart for a special purpose – to love others and tell them about his love.
Righteousness. This word simply means to do the right thing. To be kind, and helpful. To do good for others. God wants us to be righteous, and to do good things,so he gave us Jesus to be our righteousness.Now we can do righteous things too.
Jesus doesn’t just tell us how to earn our redemption, or how to be sanctified, or how to be righteous. Jesus IS all these things for us. Now we can be all these things too. How? Because we are IN CHRIST. And that’s the best place to be.
Because of Jesus we are redeemed, sanctified, and righteous.
With Jesus we can live free, set apart, and righteous lives for God.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Watch the movie Annie together. This is a great story of redemption from the orphanage/foster home, and sanctification in her new home, and righteousness as she helps the other children.
PRAY TOGETHER.
Jesus, you are my redemption from sin. You give me a special purpose. You make me good and help me do right. Thank you. Amen.
TLICfamily 