Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 18.Thursday August 2, 2018
Title: Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 18.
One of the most vital revelations concerning Christ was that He was Himself willing to redeem.
If a father forced his son to die for a cause, we would call it immoral and atrocious, but when the son is willing, it becomes a sacrifice. In this case, the sacrifice of the Son, willingly, is the most beautiful act in the history of the world by far.
Joh 10:7 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:8 "All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
The thieves and robbers are the many leaders preceding Jesus who attempted to bring in the kingdom by violent means and to pose as Messiahs.
Joh 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.
Notice what the thief does. The false messiahs, false gospels, false means for the redemption of man – steals, kills, and destroys.
They steal: they lie and rob man of the truth.
They kill: they have no life in themselves and they take from man the life that is Christ.
They destroy: they keep man isolated from the way of life of Christ.
John in his first epistle would write about the false teachers that they were liars and murderers, for everyone who hates is a murderer. These same two characteristics, lying and murdering, were used by Jesus to describe the devil.
By allowing freedom, free-will, self-determination, God has allowed men like this to exist. They have no life in themselves. They are weak and ignorant and they attempt to make others like themselves.
All men die, but not all men really live. So many go through this life believing lies, not really living abundantly in grace, truth, and love, and pretending to have fruit in their lives, but their way is destruction.
Joh 10:11 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12 "He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees [he is a coward], and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them.
Find a false teacher who would give his life for the survival of his followers. There is only One, the rest are cowards.
Joh 10:13 "He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep.
Joh 10:14 "I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me,
Joh 10:15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 "And I have other sheep [Gentiles], which are not of this fold [Jews]; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.
One flock with one Shepherd is an application of the New Covenant in His blood.
Eph 2:11Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands —
Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Eph 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Eph 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
Eph 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
Joh 10:16 "And I have other sheep [Gentiles], which are not of this fold [Jews]; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.
Joh 10:17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.
Joh 10:18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
Tit 2:12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
Tit 2:13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus;
Tit 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
He gave Himself for us, voluntarily.
Isa 53:10 But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.
Mat 26:46 "Arise, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!"
Joh 18:4 Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth, and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"
Joh 18:5 They answered Him, "Jesus the Nazarene." He said to them, "I am He." And Judas also who was betraying Him, was standing with them.
Joh 18:6 When therefore He said to them, "I am He," they drew back, and fell to the ground.
Joh 18:7 Again therefore He asked them, "Whom do you seek?" And they said, "Jesus the Nazarene."
Joh 18:8 Jesus answered, "I told you that I am He; if therefore you seek Me, let these go their way,"
So, our Lord qualifies as a Kinsman Redeemer. He is a near kinsman; He became a man. He was able to redeem; He was impeccable as the God/Man. He was willing to redeem; He laid down His own life by His own initiative.
The great redemptive act of the Old Testament occurs when God redeems Israel from Egypt. He was qualified, willing, and able.
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