Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 6.

Tuesday July 17, 2018

 

Title: Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 6.

 

Qualifications for a kinsman redeemer:

Near kinsman - The Son of God became a man.

Able to redeem -Jesus remained impeccable.

Willing to redeem - He wilfully laid down His life.

 

The first reason for Jesus’ death on the cross was to bring believers into a state of glory.

 

HEB 2:10 For it was fitting [eminent] for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect [complete the goal] the author [Prince Ruler] of their salvation through sufferings.

 

HEB 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

 

HEB 2:12 saying,

"I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren,

In the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise."

 

HEB 2:13 And again,

"I will put My trust in Him."

And again,

"Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me."

 

The second reason for His death was to overcome the prince of death.

 

HEB 2:14 Since then the children share [are partakers] in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

Deity added something not natural it its nature, flesh and blood, so that He could be a Kinsman and so that He could die in order to render Satan’s power inoperative.

 

The hypostatic union, the birth of Christ, is the most profound event in history outside of His death and resurrection. God added humanity to Himself so that He could be judged and die. He didn’t partake of flesh and blood in order to rule, He already had all authority; or to become rich, powerful, and famous, He already had all of that as well.

 

Yet, the God/Man is before all things and the Creator of all things. He is eternal, which is what “only begotten” actually means. Therefore, the hypostatic union transcends all human understanding.

 

The third reason for the death of Christ was to free man.

 

HEB 2:15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

The fear of death, mortality, looms over every person. With the fear of death comes the fear of everything else. If my life is only my sojourning on this earth then all of the trivial matters of life become monumentally important.

 

Fear of death means fear of everything. If this life is all there is then all the trivial aspects of it become vitally important.

 

In HEB 11:10, Abraham “was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

 

Was it important to Abraham that he lived in tents and not in a permanent dwelling? Was it important to him that he would never see the nation that was promised to him?

 

Was it important to Moses that he had to leave Egypt in HEB 11:27 “By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.”

 

Where we live, in what dwelling, how much wealth we have, how sick we may become, how many friends we have, how much attention we get, etc., all of it is trivial if death is not our end.

 

HEB 11:13 All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

 

The Patriarchs eventually died and the promises were not fulfilled in their lifetime, but they were willing to look at the promises from afar, knowing that they would be fulfilled in another lifetime. Due to this they were willing to confess that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.

 

As strangers they were in a foreign land without citizenship rights. As pilgrims they had no permanent possessions. They knew that death was not their end.

 

HEB 11:14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

 

HEB 11:15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

 

Verse 14 shows us that they sought their own country, but verse 15 shows us that they were willing to wait for another lifetime. If they had grown impatient then they would have returned to their old lands, but as it were, they remained in Canaan, dwelling in tents, assured that their country would be given to them after death, which it will during the Millennial reign of Christ.

 

HEB 11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

 

Jesus is not ashamed to call you brother since He sanctified you. God the Father is not ashamed to call you son because you trust in Him.

 

HEB 2:14 Since then the children share [are partakers] in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil;

 

HEB 2:15 and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

 

The fourth reason for His death was to help man.

 

HEB 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.

 

HEB 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

 

HEB 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

 

In the OT, under the Law of Moses, there were many ways that a person could get himself in trouble, and one of these was to fall into a state of indebtedness beyond his ability to repay naturally or normally. There was only one thing left and that was to sell himself into slavery and work as a slave for at least six years. At the end of six years he would be released (Sabbath year), but there was a second possibility, a kinsman-redeemer who was willing to pay his debt, and if he did, then the person was released from slavery. He had to be a blood relative, a stranger could not redeem him. He had to pay the full price and he had to be willing to do it.

 

Our Redeemer had to become a man, and in so doing He subjected Himself to temptation and suffering. He is now able to come to our aid when we are tempted.

 

Your Redeemer has not paid your debt and then left you. He indwells you. He prays for you. He comes to your aid when you cry out.

 

We know that we do not overcome every temptation. We sometimes fall into sin. Where was the One who promised to come to our aid? When temptation is strong, how do you resist it? Did you call upon Him and when you did what did He give to you?

 

The only thing that overcomes sin is the truth that His redemption has opened up to us. The power of sin is that it is a lie. It lies that it is good.

 

Jesus famously said that “you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” but of whom was He speaking.

 

JOH 8:31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

 

JOH 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

 

It is the disciple who knows the truth who is free. He knows that sin lies to him. He sees through the lie because he is no longer a slave to sin. The Son has made him free. This doesn’t make him sinless, but powerful. He knows that he is a sinner set free and he knows that through Christ he has the power to resist sin and to walk in righteousness. He knows that he has the Holy Spirit working within him just for that purpose.

 

JOH 8:33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?"

 

JOH 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

 

They seek to kill Christ but claim to be free. Jesus plainly shows them that they are sinners and so hopelessly slaves to sin. The Mosaic Law should have already showed them this. The Assyrian annihilation of Israel and the Babylonian captivity should have already shown them this. Just being Jews did not remove their slavery to sin. The only One who could free them from slavery was the Redeemer, the One they seek to kill.

 

God told Israel through the prophets that they would be treated as other nations when judged.

 

AMO 9:7, 10

"Are you not as the sons of Ethiopia to Me, O sons of Israel?" declares the Lord … "All the sinners of My people will die by the sword, Those who say, 'The calamity will not overtake or confront us.'

 

Having the Law and the Prophets, having studied them for decades, how did they not see their need for a redeemer?

 

JOH 8:33 They answered Him, "We are Abraham's offspring, and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, 'You shall become free'?"

 

JOH 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.

 

JOH 8:35 "And the slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.

 

JOH 8:36 “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”

 

Sin lies to us that it is in fact good. The truth reveals it for what it is and so the truth makes you free.

 

HEB 2:18

For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

 

When the Lord comes to our aid, He comes with truth. When that truth is believed, God the Holy Spirit works His power within us enabling us to say no to temptation as our Lord did.