Redemption: God's Wisest Plan - Part 2

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This is the fourth sermon in a series of messages on redemption. This message emphasizes the work Jesus Christ did to provide our salvation for us.

Written Excerpts:

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Introduction:

We have been talking about the plan of redemption that God ordained for our salvation. It is a subject that is promoted in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.

We’ve had three segments in the series so far;

Redemption: Heaven’s Sweetest Song

Redemption: Man’s Greatest Need

Redemption: God’s Wisest Plan

God’s overall plan of redemption is a wonderful plan. It truly is “His Wisest Plan,” and it has unfolded over a long period of time stretching from eternity past to eternity future.

Last week we talked about God designing the plan of redemption even prior to the creation of the world. We also spoke about how various parts of the Old Testament provide a foreshadowing of redemption. The “shadows,” symbols or types show up in such things as animal sacrifices, priests & temples, deliverance of Israel from bondage, etc., etc.

One of the other shadows that I failed to mention last week is the symbolism included in the laws for redemption of property. The story in the OT book of Ruth shows a great example of Boaz redeeming a piece of property, and all the details point to Christ being our “Kinsman Redeemer.”

Today, I want to move on into the NT and summarize the ways in which Jesus Christ accomplished redemption through His death and resurrection. And then, we’ll finish up by looking forward to eternity and the final achievement of redemption.

III. Redemption was achieved by Jesus Christ.

A. Jesus achieved redemption because of who He was.

1.   Son of God (deity)

Matthew 1:23 (KJV) [Angel speaking to Joseph] ²³ Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Mark 1:11 (KJV) ¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

John 1:1 (KJV) ¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 5:18 (KJV) ¹⁸ Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

These are just a few of the verses that show Jesus Christ to be divine in nature. He is equal with God.

2.   Son of man (humanity)

Dozens of references where Jesus refers to himself as the “Son of man.”

John 1:14 (KJV) ¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 Timothy 2:5 (KJV) ⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Over and over throughout the NT the humanity of Jesus is emphasized… gets tired, suffers, and expresses emotions…

Why does it matter?

If He is God, but not man, He isn’t legally qualified because He isn’t one of us. How can God (any god) assume responsibility for the sins of humans? If He is Man but not God, He isn’t morally qualified, because He can’t be a perfect sacrifice; He is tainted with the sin nature just like us.

A number of years ago I read some Jehovah’s Witness literature that was explaining the passage that I just read from 1 Tim. 2:5. In their attempt to explain that Jesus couldn’t be God, they said that a mediator couldn’t be related to either party seeking reconciliation, so Jesus couldn’t really be God, He was someone created by God. However, if we follow their argument, then the mediator couldn’t be a man either. But the verse literally calls Him the man Christ Jesus.

The truth is, the best mediator is one who is related to both parties – one who seeks the best interest of both parties because he is related to both. Which actually turns out to be another argument for the fact that He is God-man.

No other being in all the universe has the “credentials” for redeemer except Jesus Christ.

B.  Jesus achieved redemption because of what He did.

1. He died in our place. He took our sentence.

Isaiah 53:5-6 (KJV) ⁵ But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Hebrews 9:12-14 (KJV) ¹² Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: ¹⁴ How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) ¹⁸ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

Matthew 26:28 (KJV) ²⁸ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

These are just a few of the references in Scripture regarding the sacrifice that Jesus made with His own life and blood.

But, this is not all. He not only died, but

2. He rose again.

The death wouldn’t have been effective if the resurrection hadn’t happened.

See 1 Pet. 3:8 “…put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.”

See also 1 Cor. 15:17 "If Christ be not risen, then your faith is vain."

What is the significance of all this?

1.   It means Jesus is unique.

No other person in all of history predicted his own death and his own resurrection and then completely carried it out. No other person in all of history claims to be the ONLY way (path) to heaven, and then backs it up with such miraculous evidence. Jesus stands out in all history as the most unique; not because of what He did (although that was truly amazing), but because of who He was. He has “earned” the right to say, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.”

2.   It means salvation is entirely and completely adequate for the needs of humanity.

None of us has to leave this world condemned to hell because of our sin. None of us has to stand before the Judge of all the universe awaiting an eternal death sentence. The blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ is sufficient for the sins of the whole human race. His sacrifice is a perfect sacrifice.

IV. Redemption will be totally accomplished in glory.

Even though we can put our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and we can surrender to His power and control in our lives, we still experience the limitations of our fallen humanity.

We still are affected in many ways by the curse of the fall.

But one of these days… Time will end and we will all be ushered into eternity. All of the end-time events will be complete and the entire creation will be finally and utterly redeemed. The whole created order will be restored to perfection and we will eternally and perfectly serve and worship the one God and Creator.

Romans 8:18-23 (NRSV) ¹⁸ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; ²⁰ for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; ²³ and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

Paul is reminding us that there is coming a day when we will experience the “redemption of our bodies” along with all of creation that is currently in bondage to decay.

Acts 3:18-21 (NKJV) ¹⁸ But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Jesus Christ is currently in heaven until the times of all things being restored, i.e. to its original perfection.

Conclusion:

God’s wonderful plan of redemption is a perfect plan. It is the wisest plan. The sacrifices God required in the Old Testament were only a shadow of the true sacrifice that was to take place on Calvary. The blood of the perfect Lamb has been sprinkled on the heavenly altar, and forgiveness, redemption and total restoration is available for everyone.

It’s no wonder John the Baptist looked at Jesus and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29)

Back in 2014, Rodney Griffin, with “Greater Vision” wrote a song titled, “Put Out the Fire” that was recorded on a CD they released in the Spring of last year. This song vividly describes how the sacrifice of God’s Lamb has superseded all previous sacrifices and is eternally effective in washing away our sins. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Jesus Christ IS the perfect, spotless Lamb! The fires on the altar of the temple have been put out! The cross of Calvary has forever become the altar and the sacrifice is finished. His redeeming sacrifice is sufficient for every person. It’s sufficient for you and for me!

If you leave this world without Christ and lose your soul, it won’t be because the sacrifice or the plan of redemption wasn’t adequate. Everything has been perfectly planned and implemented, now it’s up to you and me to believe it, accept it, and live it.