Let's begin this study in prayer...
Colossians 1:21-22Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation...
In our last topic, we saw how the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ
provides us the perfect offering for our sins. We also read how the
shedding of His Blood has made the perfect atonement for our sins.
Namely, through His sacrifice on the cross He has paid the price for
our sins and hence we have been forgiven. In other words amends have
been made and through Jesus Christ we have now been reconciled to
God. To see this, let us read from,
Colossians 1:19-23
However, we find that much more was accomplished through Jesus' death
and resurrection. For we also find that in addition to making
atonement for our sins, He also redeemed us. In order for us to better
understand what this means, let us begin by a reading the definition
of redeem...OK?
I. INTRODUCTION
Webster's New World Dictionary says that to redeem means:
a. to buy back
b. to get back; recover, as by paying a fee
c. to pay off
d. to set free by paying a ransom
As can be seen from the above definition, redemption implies the
setting free or buying back of something that is being held captive
or in bondage. Given this, one is left with the following,
QUESTION: How does this apply to us? (or) More specifically, how does
this apply to me?
As it turns out there are two facets to the redemption that Jesus
Christ made for us. First we find that,
A. HE REDEEMED THE WORLD FROM THE CONTROL OF THE EVIL ONE
However, it must be noted that the actual fulfillment of this is
yet to be realized. To see this, let us go to the book of
Revelation and read one of the visions that our Lord gave to
John concerning what is yet to come.
Revelation 5:1-10
NOTE a. the scroll represents the title deed to the earth.
b. the seals represent the conditions relative to the
redemption.
c. verse 10, Jesus purchased us for God.
Later on in the book of Revelation, i.e. chapters 19, 20, 21 & 22
we are provided a vision for us to see what it will be like when
this facet of redemption is realized. We also find, which is the
topic for this study, that,
B. JESUS ALSO REDEEMED US FROM THE BONDAGE OF SIN
Here we find that this facet of our redemption has already taken
place. In order for us to see this, God has given us the
physical account of Israel's deliverance from the bondage of the
Egyptians so that we are better able to understand our spiritual
deliverance from the bondage of sin. And so let us begin by
reading about,
II. THE BONDAGE
A. EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL
By way of background, it was because of a great famine that Jacob
(Israel) and his family wound up in Egypt to live. However,
after a period of time, they wind up in bondage.
Exodus 1:6-14
B. OURS
In order for us to realize that without Jesus Christ we are in
bondage to sin, let's read what our Lord Jesus Christ once said
to a group of Jews who were listening to Him teach.
John 8:31-34
Oh my, let us just stop and think about what Jesus had said in
verse 34. Pretty serious statement, huh? Now we maybe saying to
ourselves well I can understand Jesus' statement. I can understand
when a person's passions or evil nature takes such a hold of
someone so as to drive them to murder or adultery. However, I
have not done any of these things. How does this apply to me?
Well in order to see how without Jesus Christ we are all in
bondage to sin, let us read how Jesus clarifies the requirements
of the Law and defines sin.
1. MURDER
Matthew 5:21-22
2. ADULTERY
Matthew 5:27-28
3. OATHS
Matthew 5:33-37
Can there be any doubt that every one of us is a sinner? Can any
one provide proof that one or more observations depicted within
the following scriptures are untrue?
Romans 3:10-18
Thus, we find the purpose of the Law now fulfilled in us. To see
this, let us continue our reading from,
Romans 3:19-20
Now that we recognize that without Jesus Christ we are in bondage
to sin, let us move on.
III. THE CRY FOR HELP
To read about Israel's cry for help, let us go to,
Exodus 2:23-25
In like manner we find that the Bible teaches us that when we cry out
to the Lord Jesus Christ, He will also save us. To see this, let us
read from,
Romans 10:13
As we move in our study, we find that in order to save Israel and us
from our bondage,
IV. GOD SENT HIS DELIVERER OR REDEEMER
In the case of Israel's captivity by Egypt,
A. GOD SENT MOSES
To see this, let us read from,
Exodus 3:1-10
However, for the case of our sin,
B. GOD SENT JESUS CHRIST
To see this, let us read what the angel of the Lord said to
Joseph about the Child that Mary was going to have,
Matthew 1:18-25
And now let us read and prayerfully consider,
V. THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION, i.e. THE COST
To see this, let us first begin with,
A. THE PRICE OF ISRAEL'S REDEMPTION FROM EGYPT
In order to persuade Pharaoh to set Israel free, God brings upon
Egypt plague upon plague. However, Pharaoh's heart is hardened
till finally the last plague, the plague of the first born is
sent. To read about it let's begin with,
1. GOD'S COMMAND TO ISRAEL
Exodus 12:1-13
Notice vs 7 "the blood covering"
12-13 "the blood will be a sign to pass
over and hence no destructive
plague"
2. THE PLAGUE
Exodus 12:29-30
3. ISRAEL LET GO
Exodus 12:31
And so we find that Israel's freedom cost the life of every first
born of the Egyptians and also the life of the Pascal lamb. With
this in mind, let us now read about,
B. THE PRICE PAID FOR OUR FREEDOM
In order to find out, let us read from the place where the Holy
Spirit through the apostle Peter calls us to live as strangers
in the world from which we have been redeemed,
1 Peter 1:17-19
And so we find that not only is Jesus Christ the first born of:
1. MARY
To see this, let us read from,
Luke 2:4-7
And the firstborn of,
2. GOD
Colossians 1:15
But we also find that Jesus Christ is also our Pascal Lamb to
save us from the wrath of God. We can see this from what our
Lord Jesus Christ said to His disciples as they observed their
last Passover together. NOTE: This was right at the time that
Jesus was to offer Himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
Luke 22:14-20
and again,
Matthew 26:26-28
And now we find that as we accept His sacrifice and receive
Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we become free, we
become a new creature, i.e. the old is past and the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
As we read further about the exodus of Israel from Egypt, we find
that Pharaoh has another change of heart and chases after Israel
to the shores of the Red Sea. It is here that the final
deliverance is accomplished. Namely,
VI. PASSING THROUGH THE RED SEA
In fact, let us now go and read about it in,
Exodus 14:21-31
And so we find that Israel is now finally free from the Egyptians.
Free at last to follow and serve the Lord God Almighty!
QUESTION: How does all this relate to us?
Well, as it turns out our Lord Jesus Christ, upon our deliverance,
i.e. conversion, asks us to be baptized so as to bury our old sinful
nature in order that we can be raised to a new life in Him. To see
this, let us read from,
Romans 6:4
And hence we find that we are now free and that sin is no longer
our master. To see this let us read from,
Romans 6:14
VII. CONCLUSION
So in summary, we find that as God sent Moses to physically redeem
His people from the bondage of Egypt, He sent us His only begotten
Son to redeem us from the bondage of sin so that we can have eternal
life with Him. And so let us close with the following exhortation,
1 Peter 1:13-25
Let's end this study in prayer...
Psalm 111:2-9Great are the works of the Lord, they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever. He has caused the wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever. He has shown His people the power of His works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are steadfast for ever and ever, done in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for His people; He ordained His covenant forever-- holy and awesome is His name.
Read the book by John Sweet, Jr.
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