Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleIn Whom We Have Redemption
Bible TextEphesians 1:7
Synopsis Redemption is spiritual deliverance by the payment of a ransom price. Listen.
Date17-Mar-2013
Series Ephesians 2013
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: In Whom We Have Redemption (32 kbps)
Audio CD Quality Listen: In Whom We Have Redemption (128 kbps)
Length 35 min.
 

Series: Ephesians

Title: In Whom We Have Redemption

Text: Ephesians 1: 7

Date: March 17, 2013

Place: SGBC, New Jersey

 

In verses 3-6, we looked in detail at five spiritual blessings God gave his people before the foundation of the world: 1) Election in Christ, 2) Holiness in him, 3) Predestinated us, 4) to experience the adoption of children into the family of God, and 5) Acceptance in the Beloved.

 

Today, we will begin to see the manner in which the Father chose to open this glorious mysterious to his people which was by trusting his Son to redeem us and gather us together in him.

 

Title: In Whom We Have Redemption

 

Ephesians 1:7: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

 

Divisions: 1) The Redeemer himself—“in whom”; 2) Who are redeemed—“we” 3) Redemption and its price--“redemption through his blood;” 4) The fruit of redemption—“the forgiveness of sins” 5) The source of it all—“the riches of his grace.”

 

I. THE REDEEMER HIMSELF—“In whom”--It is a must to make sure we know who this is before we speak of his work.  Paul warned of some preaching “another jesus.” (2 Corinthians 11: 4)

 

The Jesus we are speaking of is God, the second person in the trinity.

 

Acts 4:12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

Some preach a Jesus who is not God. But Jesus Christ is God, God the Son—equal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He declared in Revelation 22: 16, “I am the ROOT and the OFFSPRING of David.”  The Root means he is David’s Lord, David’s God. He gave David life. The Offspring of David means he came in the flesh through the family of David.  He was “made of the seed of David according to the flesh.” (Rom 1: 3)  Jesus Christ is both David’s Everlasting Father and the Son of David. Jesus is God and Man.

                       

Why is this so important? It important to first establish that the Jesus we are speaking of is the GodMan, Mediator, because it his eternal Godhead which makes the redemption he accomplished, ETERNAL redemption.   

 

Application: If they come to your door to tell you about Jesus. Ask them this question: “Is Jesus Christ the Son of David?” If they answer, “yes” then ask, “If David called him Lord how then is he David’s Son?”  The answer is because he is also David’s God. When the Lord Jesus asked that question, “No man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.” (Mt 22: 46) 

So first, “in whom” means Jesus Christ the GodMan. He is God and Man in one person.

 

II. NOW LET’S SEE WHO THE “WE” REFERS TO—“In whom WE have redemption…”

Having just preached “Love of Election”, we will not spend a great deal of time here. You know that the “we” are the elect: v3:…“he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,”

 

Some teach what is called “universal redemption.” They say Christ made redemption available to all sinners without exception. Most who teach universal redemption say Christ did not actually redeem anyone when he died. They say he merely made it possible for all men.  Others say there is a difference in the words “redemption through” and “redemption by.”  They teach that ALL sinners were redeemed BY Christ but the ELECT were redeemed THROUGH Christ.  This is a lie the same as the other.

 

Universal atonement is not just a minor point wherein some differ from us—it is vain free will, works religion.  It makes Christ to have died in vain, declaring that there are some for whom Christ died who perish in hell.  Also, it exalts sinners, saying ultimately the reason they are redeemed is because they decided to receive him.  Thus it is not the grace of God that saves, but the will of the sinner.  I detest any teaching that declares my successful Redeemer a failure.  And I detest any doctrine that makes my Sovereign Redeemer to depend upon a sinner for anything.  Christ does not need you to help him, you need Christ to do everything in your salvation. Salvation is of the Lord.

 

The truth of God declared in this book is that Christ accomplished the redemption of a particular people—the elect.  We call this doctrine “particular redemption” or “limited atonement.” It is the gospel. The “we” are those God chose in Christ before the foundation of the world.  Our being in Christ before the foundation is why Christ came to redeem us after we fell in Adam. It was not our redemption that made us the bride of Christ. Each elect child was in Christ before we fell in Adam.

 

Illustration: A king marries his son to a pure virgin. Then she’s carried off by thieves, tied up and held for ransom. Yet, while in that state she’s still the king's daughter and the son's wife. When her husband goes to where she is he knows who it is he going to save.  When he conquers her captors and takes her back to himself she is still his wife as she was before. Now she sees his great love for her.

 

So it was with Christ. He knew who it was he came to redeem when he came.  It was not our redemption that made us the bride of Christ. Each elect child was given to Christ—his bride—before we fell in Adam. God saves on purpose.  He did not send his Son to lay down his life in hopes someone would believe on him. It was announced before his birth, call his name “Jesus for he shall save HIS PEOPLE from their sins.”

 

John 10: 15:…I lay down my life for the sheep…26:…ye are not my sheep…

 

Isaiah 53:8: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

 

Preachers try to take the offense out of the cross but doing so they make the cross of Christ of no effect. 

 

III. REDEMPTION AND ITS PRICE—“In whom WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD…” Redemption is spiritual deliverance by the payment of the ransom price.

 

All mankind sinned in Adam.  Sin was not God’s fault, it was mans. The LORD says, 

 

Isaiah 50: 1…which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves,…

 

Sin is a debt we can never pay. The law and justice of God is the creditor we owe.  God is just.  He will not show mercy at the expense of his justice. The ransom price God’s peopled owed the law was death.  Therefore, sin held us in bondage. Our very nature was in bondage. 

 

Application: Horrible bondage!  Some of you sitting here now don’t think you’re nature is in bondage because bondage is all you have ever known. Let me try to explain what it is.

 

Before sin entered, Adam was a free man.  Fellowship with God was a joy to him.  Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed because they were free from sin,no sin to defile his conscious.

 

He didn’t need law to serve and worship God—the law was not made for a righteous man. It must have been awhile later before God gave the law to Adam because it says “out of the ground made the LORD God TO GROW every tree”, including “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”  Unless, God made the trees spring up superfast then Adam had communion with God for a long time before the law was even given. But there was no need for law to worship and serve God.  When you are one you worship and serve God in love.  Adam was perfect. God could fellowship with Adam and Adam with God.

 

But as soon as Adam transgressed, an immediate change inside him. We can tell what was in his heart, by the dead works he did outwardly. Inside, guilt shackled his conscious. Fear of punishment seized his heart. Ambition to change what he was consumed him. He wasn’t comfortable with himself anymore, sin filled his mind. He wanted to cover himself up.  A moment before, communion with God was a joy, now the thought of God made him burn. Instead of coming to the Light when he heard the Voice of God he sulked away into the darkness to hide.

 

I remember that myself. The room could be loud with everyone talking about worldly things: I would be smiling, laughing, talking.  But let a godly person walk in the room and start talking about God, within I became aggravated.  I’d try to ease out without being noticed. It was the Voice of God and I wanted to slink away into the darkness to hide from God. I thought, what would make anyone want to give up my sweet liberty for that bitter bondage of being a servant of righteousness. My mind was set on things of this earth. Spiritual things filled me with fearful thoughts.  I had no idea that was what they meant by spiritual bondage. I thought the believer was the one deceived! 

 

We owed a debt we could not pay!  Brethren, can you imagine how many sins you have committed in your lifetime.  Just the sins we know, would be incredible.  But add the sins we aren’t even aware of.  We breathe sin. And  “God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12: 14) Now think of the fact that we are utterly incapable of paying the debt we owe. How we need a Redeemer?

 

In order to give us a new heart, for God to receive us in glory, Christ had to redeem us from the curse of the law—the debt we owed to justice had to be paid—we owed death—the price was his blood--we have redemption THROUGH HIS BLOOD

 

We owed death.  Life is in the blood and “without shedding of blood is no remission” of sins (Heb 9: 22)

 

Acts 20:28:…the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

1 Peter 1: 18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

 

Election and redemption go together. Christ was foreordained to lay down his life for those God chose in him.  Even after we sinned, he still came forth because he loved us—his is precious blood.  Think how much greater the last Adam is over the first. Both began holy. Adam as a full grown man in a sin less world; but Christ grew up from an infant in a sin-filled environment.  Christ endured a contradiction of sinners against him.  Satan tempted him repeatedly.  The law looked him over for 33 years, within and without and said here is a fit man: holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. God moved Pilot to confess it with his mouth, “I find no fault in this man.”  Then our great Redeemer showed the perfection of his heart, the perfection of faith and love, trusting the Father to justify him once justice was satisfied, he willingly gave himself to be made sin for those he loved. Oh, what a Redeemer we have! And what price paid!  His blood.

 

Notice these important words “WE HAVE redemption through his blood.”  Redemption is not made effectual by the believer nor is it done the day we believe.  We have nothing to do with making the work of Christ effectual.  Christ accomplished the work himself on the cross. When Christ laid down his life for his sheep, Christ paid the price of redemption so that those for whom he died are redeemed

 

Hebrews 9: 12:…by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us.]

 

Isaiah 53:10: Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:…

 

Galatians 3:13: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

When Christ atoned for the sin of his people by his blood, justice was satisfied and every demand of the law fulfilled.  Christ comes to his people and says to Satan, “Loose him, let him go.” The Spirit gives us life and reveals in our hearts—we have redemption.

 

Illustration: I sat on the back pew. It was hard work trying to act like I was listening and shut out what was being said all at the same time.  Over the course of time something strange happened. My joy started to become sinful to me. Those words that always grieved me began to sound pleasant—down in my heart.  My freedom began to become bondage—the gospel that once sounded like bondage began to lift a heavy weight off my heart.  I became aware of my sin, that every thought was sin and against God. There was a respect for God that was not there before.  I began to believe the things Christ accomplished were done for me. Before, I pushed back. Now, my heart feel comforted.  I began to realize, God chose me.  Christ was bearing my sin on the cross.  I found myself mourning that he bore the cross because of me but at the same time I was crying for joy that he did.  I was amazed!

 

IV. THE FRUIT OF HIS REDEMPTION—“even the forgiveness of sins”

 

Colossians 2: 13: Having forgiven you all trespasses—all means past, present, and future.

 

Titus 2: 14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

 

Romans 5: 9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

Forgiveness of sins by his blood, pardon given, righteousness imputed and justification by his blood is all given to his people through his blood.

 

V. THE SOURCE OF ALL—“according to the riches of his grace.” Notice “riches” is plural.

 

Believer, do you have trouble with assurance that you now have redemption through his blood?  In Isaiah 40 verse 1, my Master tells me to speak comfortably to you, to cry unto you, that your warfare is accomplished, that your iniquity is pardoned: for you have received of the LORD’S hand DOUBLE for all your sins.  So every time ONE sin troubles you, confess your sin to the Lord and think of TWO RICHES OF HIS GRACE for that one sin.  Two sins troubling you? Go to him and confess it, think FOUR RICHES OF HIS GRACE. You say, “But ALL I am is sin.”  Then remember HE HAS REWARDED YOU DOUBLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE!  Think on him—he is precious, his blood is precious, more precious than gold and silver that perishes. “But I have sins, sins, sins—but riches, riches, riches of grace.” He says, “I remember your sins no more.”  He has done it,

 

Ephesians 2: 7: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace.

 

One day we will have that communion with our Redeemer better than Adam had—eternal!

 

Revelation 5:9: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

Now believer…

 

1 Corinthians 6:20:…ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

Amen!