Our Redeemer Lives

Dear Brethren,

Almost everyone speaks of Jesus Christ being the "Redeemer."  What does that mean and does it have any significance today?  It is an interesting fact that the word "redeemer" does not appear in the New Testament!  Much of what we know about the work of the redeemer, we receive from the Old Testament Scriptures.  Isn't it ironic that so much of the religious world considers the Old Testament to be archaic? That ancient patriarch, Job, knew about the better resurrection of the saints, and that Christ is our Redeemer.  "For I know that my Redeemer Lives and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God."  (Job 19:25-26)  Brethren, do we, like Job, believe that, “Our Redeemer Lives?”

Redemption refers to the intervention of God in the rescue of mankind – but how does it take place?  Jesus Christ paid the price to purchase human beings – setting them free from slavery to sin.  His substitutionary death and shedding of blood is the sacrifice paid for man’s ransom, making Jesus Christ our Redeemer.  Why does mankind need to be ransomed or redeemed – and from what or whom?

God developed the concept of redemption very early on in the Old Testament.  Adam and Eve knew that their sin had disqualified them, making redemption necessary.  They fully understood that the wages of sin was death, and that a very seriouis price must be paid.  The slaying of an innocent animal only pointed to the perfect Redeemer to come.  Adam and Eve taught their children the need for redemption.  “Abel also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.”  (Genesis 4:4)

Later, in Moses' day, when the Israelites were delivered from the bondage of Egypt [a type for sin], each man knew that he belonged to the Lord.  Every Israelite owed his life to God, because had he not been rescued, he would surely have died at the hands of the Egyptians or in the plagues that came on Egypt.  In the wilderness, the Levites were chosen by God to be the priestly line for service to Him.  All the men from the other eleven tribes of Israel were to be redeemed, or purchased, by redeeming the firstborn of both men and beast.

"It shall be when thy son asks you in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shall say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the Lord all that opens the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem."  (Exodus 13:14-15) 

"And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the Lord, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation."  (Numbers 18:6) 

"Every thing that opens the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the Lord, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine [the Levitical priesthood's]: nevertheless the firstborn of man shall thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shall thou redeem. [because you do not offer unclean beasts to the Lord]  (Numbers 18:15)

"But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shall not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto the Lord."  (Numbers 18:17)

Notice very carefully that these rules of redemption carried over into the New Testament.  "(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)  And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."  (Luke 2:23-24)  "The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shall bring into the house of the Lord thy God."  (Exodus 23:19)  "And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the Lord, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it."  (Numbers 18:13)

After the captivity, Israel understood their need for redemption even more.  Isaiah wrote of the time when the redeemed would possess the land again.  "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there."  (Isaiah 35:9)  "Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away."  (Isaiah 51:11)  "And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord."  (Isaiah 62:12)

New Testament Christians are every bit as much in need of redemption.  Paul says that we are “sold under sin,” showing our need of redemption from spiritual bondage.  Jesus Christ, as the Lamb of God, willingly “gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all sinful deeds, and purify unto himself a special people, zealous of good works.”  (Titus 2:14).

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Sermon:  "Our Redeemer Lives"      


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