the Son of God has not only redeemed us and made it possible
for us to share His inheritance to the praise of His Glory, but it has
also purchased both the heavenlies and the earth. The heavenlies as
well as the things on earth have been defiled by sin and needed the
purchase; the blood of the Son of God alone could accomplish that. In
the same sense we read in the first chapter of Colossians of the
reconciliation of all things, the things in heaven and the things on
the earth.

It is an interesting fact that we find the same word "the purchased
possession" as it is translated here at four other places in the New
Testament. Twice in Thessalonians, once in Hebrews and once in 1st
Peter. Each time it refers to the future.

1 Thess. v:9. "God has not set us for wrath, but (literally) unto
acquiring salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has died for us
that whether we may be watching or sleep, we may live together with
Him. The "acquiring of salvation" is future and corresponds to the
"purchased possession."

2 Thess. ii:14. "Unto which He called you through our Gospel, unto an
acquiring of the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Peter ii:19.... "A people for an acquisition;" that is, a people
formed for a possession corresponding to Isaiah xliii:2. "This people
have I formed for myself, they shall show forth my praise." This is
spoken, of course, concerning Israel. It also finds an application in
the church, the royal Priesthood. In the possession of our inheritance
we shall make known His excellencies, His Glory.

Hebrews x:39. The word is likewise found also relating to the future,
"the preservation of the soul," the same as salvation in the future
sense.

2. And now we reach the main thought of the Scripture before us. The
purchased possession, the inheritance, though it has been fully paid
for, is completely purchased, is yet to be redeemed. While we said
that our inheritance and the expression "the purchased possession" are
the same, it is not so with "purchase" and "redemption." These are two
different things. The purchase is by blood, but the redemption here is
by power. The purchased possession is to be redeemed by power.

Now as this is so the inheritance must be in a state of alienation from
God; some power has hold of it who has no right to it. If this were
not the case it would be impossible to speak of a redemption by power.
It is just like the possession of some land in a fr