The Price Is Paid Text: Selected Scriptures Series: The Blood of Christ (#2) Lyle L. Wahl March 22, 2015 Theme: The Blood of Christ provides redemption. Introduction Last week we began looking forward to Easter with our series The Blood of Christ. It is the blood of Christ that makes forgiveness of our sin and acceptance by God possible. Without Jesus death and resurrection, without the actual shedding of His blood on the cross of Calvary, there is no salvation, there is no Christian faith. Last week we looked at forgiveness, that the blood of Christ provides for a clean slate. Today we move on to the wonderful truth that the blood of Christ pays the price for our sin, that the price is paid. The Bible s word for that is redemption. We use that word in a variety of ways in our world. It describes regaining possession of something by making payment, such as getting something out of pawn. Then also to repay a debt. Or to exchange something for something else, such as redeeming air miles for a flight. In the Christian faith it describes the payment of the price of our sin by the blood of Christ, His purchasing us out of slavery to sin and its penalty. Redemption tells us the price is paid, the price is paid for our sin. The blood of Christ provides redemption. God s provision of redemption. To see something of God s provision of redemption let s begin with three snapshots of redemption from the Old Testament. First, the redemption of Israel from slavery in Egypt. Joseph had risen to be the prime minister of Egypt. With his power he brought his extended family to Egypt during a time of famine. They prospered and multiplied. But generations after Joseph the Egyptians made them slaves. The people cried out to God to rescue them. God sent Moses to deliver them from slavery. Pharaoh refused to release them. God sent a series of plagues on Egypt to judge them and free His people. The final plague is described in Exodus 11. Moses said, This is what the Lord says: At midnight tonight I will pass through the heart of Egypt. All the firstborn sons will die in every family in Egypt, from the oldest son of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne,
to the oldest son of his lowliest servant girl who grinds the flour. Even the firstborn of all the livestock will die (4-5, NLT). And, But among the Israelites it will be so peaceful that not even a dog will bark. Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between the Egyptians and the Israelites (7, NLT). The means for Israel being spared from this plague is recorded in chapter 12. An unblemished lamb was to be taken from the flocks and killed. It s blood was to be applied to the door posts of the home (verses 3-5). The blood of the lamb was applied as a symbol of their faith and obedience. Israelites who believed and obeyed were spared, they were redeemed from the destruction of death through the blood of that lamb. A second snapshot of redemption is the sacrificial system of Israel. Leviticus 16 describes the Sin Offering. Goats were sacrificed, their blood applied to the mercy seat to make atonement for the sins of the people (verses 5-21). The next chapter tells us For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement (17:11). This was required for them. It also pictures Jesus whose blood redeems, atones completely and finally for sin. The last snapshot of redemption is the Kinsman Redeemer. We find this in the book of Ruth chapters 3-4. There was draught and famine in Israel. A man named Elimelach and his wife Naomi went to Moab with their two sons. When Elimelach and his sons died, Naomi and her two Moabite daughter-in-laws were all alone. One of the two, Ruth, chose to stay with Naomi and return to Israel with her. When they returned, they had no resources. Boaz, a relative, protected them. He redeemed, bought back the family property for them, and later married Ruth. The requirements for a kinsman redeemer were that he must be a relative, must be able to redeem, must be free from the problem of the one who needs redemption, and must be willing to redeem. This is what Jesus has done for us in our sin. There is a beautiful picture of Christ in these three snapshots. We are redeemed from death in the Passover, redeemed from sin in the sacrifices, redeemed from destitution. Now let s move to the New Testament, focusing on the words for redeem. One word for redeem means to buy, to pay the price. At first this word described going to the market place. Then it came to mean to buy in the market place. We see it The Revelation, chapter 2
5. The scene is in heaven. Jesus takes the sealed book no one else can open. Those before His throne sing a new song : Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased [there is the word to buy in the market place, to redeem] for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. (8-9) The apostle Paul tells us, you have been bought [redeemed] with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body. 1 A second word for redeem came from the first. What is added is to buy out of, to remove from where the person or thing was. For example, a slave purchased and taken out of the market place. In Galatians 3 Paul writes that Christ redeemed us from [bought us out of] the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (13). A chapter later he tells us when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law [that He might buy us out of being under the Law], that we might receive the adoption as sons (4:4-5). Another word for redeem means to release, loose, set free. It was used to describe taking off your sandals, freeing a horse and releasing prisoners. Ephesians 1:7 tell us, In [Christ] we have redemption [we have been set free] through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. And Titus 2:14, [Jesus] gave Himself for us to redeem us [to set us free] from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These are the basics of redeem, redemption: to buy, pay the price, to buy, take out of the market place, to set free. The blood of Christ provides redemption. Believers benefits from redemption. So what does all of this mean to us? What does it mean for us in our daily life? First, it means we are freed from futility. Futility describes emptiness; something brief, passing, not lasting or satisfying; a sense of confusion or frustration. The apostle Peter wrote, 1 Peter 1:18-19, it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (NIV). 3
The book of Ecclesiastes charts King Solomon s attempts to escape his sense of futility, emptiness and frustration by trying human wisdom, pleasure, accomplishment and wealth. But all of that left him with his futility. There is no need for us to duplicate his experience! The blood of Jesus frees us from futility! We now can have meaning and fulfillment in Jesus. As well, Jesus redemption brings us freedom from being dominated by sin. Paul wrote to Titus, [Jesus] gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (2:14, NIV). In the same letter he reminds us, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us (3:3-5a, ESV). Everyone of us knows what it means to be a slave to sin, to give in to temptations when we don t want to. When we came to Christ, as Paul told the church at Rome, we died to sin. So we no longer have to continue in it, to be dominated by it. 2 Yes, we still sin. But Christ s has redeemed us from, has freed us from being dominated by, being controlled by sin. Next, Jesus redemption frees us from the curse of the Law. From what? Galatians 3:13, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us The Law itself is good. It s purpose is to point out both God s holiness and our sinfulness. So what is it s curse? In short, as a means to salvation the Law is a curse not a blessing. The apostle Paul puts it this way, those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God s Book of the Law. So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, It is through faith that a righteous person has life. This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, It is through obeying the law that a person has life. But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. 3 God is holy and perfect. The law shows us what it means for us to be like Him. Paul reminds us in Romans 7, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good (12). But the Law was not given as a means to salvation, it cannot lead to freedom from sin 4
to salvation because the standard is perfection. As James wrote, whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all (2:10). The curse ultimately is death because of our sin. Jesus redemption frees us from this curse of the Law. A fourth practical implication of our redemption in Jesus is that we are now freed to be children and servants of God. Galatians 4:4-5 tells us Christ came that He might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. The apostle John writes, as many are received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 4 And, Beloved, now we are children of God. 5 Christ redeemed us from being slaves to sin and separated from God to being His children and His servants. We are [God s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 6 Even if these are familiar words to us, stop and think about them. We now have the great privilege of doing things for God that count for eternity! And there is more! God has gone ahead of us preparing the way and the works for us to do! When you think, Who? Me? What can I do?, remember that this is true for every believer, including you. When Jesus sent His disciples out to minister He told them. whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward. 7 Do you think that providing a warm, safe place to sleep, or a bowl of soup for a needy person, for a homeless person is insignificant in the vast sea of needs and needy people? Jesus says that when we do it in His name it matters to Him. He takes note of it. He gives everlasting rewards for walking in these good works He has prepared for us. We will not know until we get to heaven what part those cups of water, places to sleep, bowls of soup and countless other small things may play in a person coming to Christ, being changed for eternity. What a privilege we have! We are children and servants of God because the blood of Christ has redeemed us. One more very practical, ongoing benefit: being redeemed by the blood of Christ frees us forever. Listen to the truth in Hebrews chapter 9. Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that 5
have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood not the blood of goats and calves he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever (11-12 NLT). Redeemed, freed forever! Christ s sacrifice of Himself is the one sacrifice for all time which redeems us from our sins forever. We experience highs and lows, times fo devotion and disobedience, but Christ s blood provides redemption that is not conditional on our performance, is not here today, gone tomorrow, is for some of our sins, but not all. Aren t you glad about that? The price is paid! We are freed from the control and punishment of our sins forever! Conclusion This is God s wonderful, amazing redemption. So what do we do? First, make sure you have received God s redemption. The price has been paid for you. God s gift of grace is available to you as you recognize and receive it. Believe that Jesus is God the Son, your Redeemer through His death and resurrection. Ask God to forgive you and give you life forever with Him. If you know Jesus and have His redemption, think about what He has done for you, make sure that He is the focus of your life, all that you dream, plan and do. There is an account about King Cyrus who ruled in the sixth century B.C. in ancient Middle East. A chieftain rebelled against him. Cyrus forces defeated him. The chieftain and his wife were brought before Cyrus for the customary death sentence. Cyrus was impressed by this man s courage. He asked, What would you do if I spared your life? The man answered, I would return to my home with gratitude and remain your obedient servant for the rest of my life. Then Cyrus asked, What would you do if I spared your wife? Your majesty, he said, if you would do that I would gladly die for you. Cyrus was impressed. He had the chieftain give an oath of loyalty, and sent him and his wife home. Some time later this chieftain asked his wife, Did you see the magnificent tapestries on the walls? No, she said. Certainly you noticed that Cyrus was sitting on a throne of gold! I didn t notice, she answered. Well, then, he asked, what did you see when we stood before the king? She told him, I saw only your face, the face of one who said he 6
would die for me. 8 What do you see? What do we see? Can you and I truly say, I see only the face of Jesus, the One who died for me, who paid the price to redeem me. Thank God now that the blood of Christ provides redemption, redemption for all who bow before Him and accept it, redemption for you. Determine to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus who redeemed you. 1 1 Corinthians 6:20. 2 Romans 6:1-4. 3 Galatians 3:10-13a, NLT. 4 John 1:12-13. 5 1 John 3:2. 6 Ephesians 2:10. 7 Mark 9:41. 8 Recounted by C. William Nichols in Day by Day Through the New Testament: Acts to Revelation. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2002, Day 46. 2015 Lyle L. Wahl Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. 7