INSIGHT
 

   There are three words that mean so much to the true believer: Redeem, Redemption and Redeemer. Redeem: to pay the required price to secure the release of a convicted criminal. Redemption: the process involved. Redeemer: The person making the payment. These three words describe what Christianity is all about: you and I (the convicted criminals), the blood shed on the cross (the process involved), and Jesus (the One making the payment). For the true disciple of Christ, the saying is true: “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you-- I, whom you have redeemed” (Ps 71:23) because he or she has come to an understanding that “...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus!” (Rom 3:23-24)

   The New Testament centers redemption in Jesus Christ. The Scripture says He purchased the church (the congregation of the saints) with His own blood (Acts 20:28), gave His flesh for the life of the world (John 6:51), as the Good Shepherd laid down His life His  sheep (John 10:11) and demonstrated the greatest love by laying down His life for His friends (John 15:13). The purpose of Jesus in the world was to make a deliberate sacrifice of Himself for human sin. He did something you and I couldn’t do for ourselves: He brought hope by providing redemption from sin and fellowship with the Eternal Father. As a Suffering Servant, His was a costly sacrifice: the shameful and agonizing death of a Roman cross. New testament redemption thus speaks of substitutionary sacrifice demonstrating divine love and righteousness. His sacrifice causes the true believer to have a Father-son relationship with God (John 1:12), a new life (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom 6:4), continual mercy through the blood of Christ (1 John 1:7-9;2:1), a call to humility (James 3:13), and a future home in heaven (John 14:1-2)! Amen!
The Life in Christ
The Redeemed Life!

Key Text:                 1 Peter 1:18-19

"For you know that 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 forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”

 

Theme:

The consideration of our redemption ought to be a constant and powerful influence to holiness and the fear of God. Neither silver nor gold, can redeem so much as one soul. They are corruptible, and therefore cannot redeem an incorruptible and immortal soul. The blood of Jesus Christ is the only price for our redemption. The design of Christ in shedding His most precious blood was to redeem us, not only from eternal misery, but from the ways of this world. Have you been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? Are you living the sanctified life?

 

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Pray daily to God! Relationships are built

    with communication. Keep an open channel

    of communication between you and God.

    Speak to Him daily!

2. Let God communicate with you!

    Communication is a two-way street.

    God wants to speak to you: Read His Word

    daily and apply it to your life!

3. Thank God for salvation! The scriptures

    teach us to be thankful in prayer (Col 4:2).

    Thank Him everyday for redeeming you!

4. Tell others! What good is it if you keep the

    love of Christ within? Therefore, share the

    wonderful redemption story with others so

    they to can know of God’s saving grace!

 

 May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

The Redeemed Life

 

I. The Redeemed

 

 A. Mephibosheth--2 Samuel

 

      1. Son of Jonathan

 

          a. Belonged to a royal line but made

              crippled by a fall (4:4)

          b. Lived in exile, remembered because

              of a covenant (1 Sam. 20:14-17;

                                    2 Sam. 9:3,4)

          c. Exalted by the merits of another

             (9:5,7)

          d. Given a glorious inheritance (9:9)

          e. The only concern was to see the king

             (19:30)

 

 B. The Saved Sinner--Eph 2

 

   1. Crippled by sin

 

     a. We were dead in our sins (vs 1)

     b. We lived in exile from God (vs 12)

     c. Because of Jesus (Son of David)

        -- We have been exalted (vs 6)

        -- We have been given a glorious

             inheritance, salvation (8)

        --Our only concern: His return

 

II. Conclusion--John 3:18

 

1. Those who believe are not condemned

 

2. Those who don’t believe are condemned

 

3. Solution: Be found in Jesus!
Small Group Study

Warm-up:

How would you feel if someone whom you avoided and feared gave you a great inheritance?

 

See To It                1 Sam. 20:14-17; 2 Sam 9:1-9            

 

1. Who was Jonathan? What agreement did David

    and Jonathan make between each other?

 

2. Long after Jonathan’s death, what did David

    sought to do? What made this inquiry unusual?

    Hint: Read 1 Sam. 18:6-9;19:1-2,11)

 

3. Who was Mephibosheth? How did you think he

    felt about David prior to meeting him?

 

4. What do you think went through Mephibosheth’s

     mind as he was en route to see the king?

 

5. What did David do? What was Mephibosheth’s

     first response towards David’s kindness?

 

6. On whose merit did Mephibosheth receive such

    great blessing?

 

Seeing It Closer:

 

1. How are we like Mephibosheth?

 

2. How is God like David in this story?

 

3. On whose merit do we receive such glorious

    blessings as mercy and eternal life?

 

4. To whom does God give His glorious grace to?

 

5. What will be the outcome of those who receive

    God’s blessing through Christ?

 

Getting To It:

 

It is vital for us to always remember our former condition: lost, hopeless, and condemned people! It was the kindness of the Lord that has saved us through the precious blood of Christ! PRAISE GOD! WE HAVE BEEN SAVED!

 

This week's Quiet Times:

The Redeemed Life!

 

MONDAY

"Redemption" (apolutrosis, Gk.) carries the idea of liberation at a great cost to the one who liberates. Redemption is linked with the price paid, and that price is "paid in full" ("it is finished," tetelestai, Gk.; cf. John 19:30) with the death of Christ. This week you are going to explore what it means to be redeemed. Remember that redemption comes through being justified by the blood of Christ, like you studied last week. To appreciate this redemption you need to take a look at what you are redeemed from. Read Col.1:13-14. What have you been rescued from if you have been justified by Christ? Is it possible to be redeemed outside the Kingdom of God? What is redemption equated to in verse 14? Is it possible to be redeemed without being forgiven? So if you indeed have been forgiven, have you been redeemed? Write 1 Co.1:30 on an index card and memorize it. Let him who boast, boast in the Lord!

 

TUESDAY                 Redemption is re-unification, intimacy with God...

Read Gal. 4:4-7. What is the outcome of being redeemed according to verse 5? Is the relationship between a father and son supposed to be distant? How does the Spirit that God gives you relate to the Father? "Abba" is the intimate Aramaic word for "father," being equivalent to the English "Daddy," or "Papa." Thus, the intimacy of the relationship between God and men, His sons through Christ, is emphasized. Since you are a son, what else has God made you according to verse 7? Look up this word in a good dictionary. Read Ephesians 1:7-10. What is redemption equated with again in verse 7? As in an intimate relationship, God reveals to us the mystery of His will. His good pleasure is to make these things known to us in due time. How intimate are you in revealing yourself to your Heavenly Father? What kind of relationship did you have with your earthly father, if you were blessed enough to have one? (Cf. Heb. 12:9,10) How do you view your relationship with God in light of your relationship with your father (parent)? Does something need to change? Write Rom.8:15 on an index card and memorize it.

               

WEDNESDAY           Redemption is reconciliation...

Look up reconcile in a good dictionary. List all the synonyms of reconcile the dictionary gives you. How do you see your relationship with God in light of these definitions (synonyms)? Read Rom. 5:10-11. When were you reconciled to God? How did this reconciliation come about? What does this reconciliation lead to? What was your state of mind when you were reconciled? Read Col.1:19-24. Reconciliation is possible through peace. How did God make peace with you? Who initiated the peace? Who paid the price for peace? Notice how the reconciliation through peace came about according to verse 22. According to this same verse, why did God choose to reconcile you? Does your holiness come about  by what you do or the kind of person that you are? How does holiness come about? According to verse 23, what is the only thing that your continued state of holiness depends on? (Cf. Heb. 6:19-20) Write Heb. 9:12 on an index card and memorize it.

 

THURSDAY              Redemption effects change...

Let’s go back to Col. 1:19-24. What was your state of mind before reconciliation according to verse 21? What did you engage in? Remember that any deed or thought that does not come about by faith is evil! Any attempts to try to be justified by any act you do, even if it is considered good, is evil to the Lord (Mat. 7:22-23)! A child of God turns the hostility the world has cultivated in him/her into reconciliation and peace. Because of our changed relationship with God we have been made into peace-making people (ministers of reconciliation--2 Co. 5:18-21). Our redemption enables us to rejoice in suffering for the sake of our brethren and those who need to be redeemed. Read Mat.5:23-24. Should you worship the Lord without resolved hostility between you and someone else? Who should be the initiator of peace? If you cannot experience peace in your heart it may be due to some outstanding hostility in your mind. Make it your goal to let the redemption of the Lord effect a change in your mind toward peace within you, so there may be peace around you--despite external circumstances. Write Psalm 119:165 on an index card and memorize it.

 

FRIDAY

Brethren, redemption from the corruption of the world is a great privilege that comes through the incredible gift of justification by Christ’s blood. Read 1 Peter 1:18-20. He makes it clear that we have been redeemed from an “empty way of life”. Life without Jesus is empty because there is no hope; no rescue from the downward spiral of corruption and deception. Since this redemption can only come about a willing desire to work with the Holy Spirit on your weaknesses I urge you, along with the Apostle Paul, not to receive this grace, this opportunity for closeness and intimacy with God, in vain. See 2 Co. 6:1. These changes in your mind and life are preparing you to meet your Lord face to face. As a child of God these changes will come through an attitude of sacrificial love and discipline. Write Romans 8:17 on an index card and memorize it. Our sonship through redemption is a fellowship in Christ’s sufferings as well as in Christ’s glory. Just like marriage vows teach us that an intimate relationship is in good times and in “bad” times--times of suffering.