Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 23.

Thursday August 9, 2018

 

Title: Ruth 4:14-15. Kinsman Redeemer, part 23.

 

The price: the blood of Christ. Refers to the entire act of salvation.  

 

We are in 1Jo 1 where John writes that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. We are looking at this phrase in light of the entire book and especially John’s opening to the letter, which is chapter 1 in our Bibles.

 

The reason John wrote the letter was to identify the false teachers who had been wreaking havoc in the souls of some believers and to ensure to all of them that they possessed eternal life in Christ.

 

Paul had to deal with the same phenomenon in the churches that he ministered to. Falsehood concerning Christ and His work was the first attack that Satan had brought upon the church.

 

1TI 1:18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight,

 

1TI 1:19 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

 

1TI 1:20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered over to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.

 

Every believer is called by God to think, live, conduct himself, walk, do, serve, etc. as Christ, the light of the world.

 

1JO 1:1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we beheld and our hands handled, concerning the Word of Life — 

 

1JO 1:2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us — 

 

1JO 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

 

We are proclaiming the eternal life (person of Christ) to you so that you (believers in the church) may have fellowship (same love, mind, spirit, and purpose) with us, or of the same kind; fellowship with the Father and the Son.

 

1JO 1:4 And these things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

 

1JO 1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

 

We (the apostles and teachers) again announce to you (the members) what we heard from the Lord, that God is light and life and without darkness and death.

 

JOH 1:4-5

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

 

1JO 1:5 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

 

1JO 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

 

John would never say this, but someone else has, the false teachers, the antichrists who live in darkness.

 

1JO 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

Our walking in light as children of light doesn’t cause the blood of Jesus to cleanse us from all sin, in fact, it is quite the opposite. You and I and the apostle John walk in light because we are cleansed. And while it is true that not all believers conduct themselves properly, walk in a manner of their calling, and can be overcome by sin, they are still clean, they are still children of light.

 

Remember, the light is Christ. The light is His life. His life is love, joy, and peace. If all believers have the life, are the light, and they are, then outside of pure ignorance, they will walk in light.

 

John is a sinner, and yet claims to fellowship with Christ and walk in light. Therefore, John is not addressing isolated times of sin and recovery, he is talking about life in general. What and who do we love and to what purpose do we live?

 

Paul addresses the isolated times of sin:

 

GAL 6:1 Brethren, even if a man is caught [like a fish in a net] in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

GAL 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.

 

GAL 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

This is a clear statement that we are all “nothings” (Greek: meden = no one). We are sinners saved and cleansed.

 

GAL 6:4 But let each one examine [dokimazo] his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting [glorying] in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another [in comparison].

 

GAL 6:5 For each one shall bear his own load [consequences of his decisions: vs. 7 - we reap what we sow, to the flesh or to the Spirit].

 

The problem of sin, from which we need cleansing, takes us right back to the beginning, to the first sin.

 

When Adam sinned, he found that he was no longer fit for God’s eye, and so he covered himself with cheap leaves. However, God provided a covering which would enable Adam again to live in God’s presence without dismay. In other words, if God looks upon me and I am wearing the clothes that He has made for me, then I must be okay in His presence, without shame or condemnation.

 

If shame is to be effectually removed, God must do it. And the clothing in coats of skins upon Adam indicates the restoration of man, not indeed to pristine innocence, but to peace with God.

 

We’re not perfect, but we have peace with God, meaning reconciliation and propitiation. We are now free, but we do not use our freedom for our flesh.

 

GAL 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

 

GAL 5:2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

 

GAL 5:3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.

 

The Law is condemnation and not freedom. We are in union with the Fulfiller of the Law and live under the law of the Spirit in Christ Jesus.

 

GAL 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

GAL 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, " You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

The apostle John in 1Jo delights in the cleansing that the blood of Christ gives, and he knows himself to be set free and clean and forgiven, and so he follows the Lord with confidence. When he sins, he does not hide it from God, the real meaning of which is that he doesn’t hide it from himself by justifying it or blaming someone or something else for it, for he knows that he is clothed with Christ.

 

GAL 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

 

GAL 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

 

Animal blood represented the blood of Christ as animal skins represented the clothing of Christ.

 

This is also represented in the Levitical offerings.