Redemption: Believers' Highest Pursuit

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This is the final message in a series of sermons on the topic of Redemption. This sermon focuses on the need for believers who have been redeemed to live their life of faith in harmony with God's will as revealed in Scripture.

Written Excerpts:

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Introduction:

Some people tend to view salvation and redemption merely as an escape from hell and the key to heaven. Redemption does provide us with the privilege of heaven, but it is more than that. It truly relates to everyday life here on earth and the life as a disciple of Jesus Christ. God not only wants to redeem us so we can live with Him forever, but He redeems us so we can fulfill His purposes here on earth, and by doing so, bring glory to Him.

In the very first sermon of this series we talked about the song of the living creatures and elders in heaven, giving glory to the Lamb for the redemption of humanity. Giving God the glory doesn’t have to wait until we get to heaven. We can bring glory to God now as we live out the life of a redeemed person in a world that desperately needs to see His grace and love in action. We bring glory to God as we live out His purposes.

What are the purposes that God has for His redeemed disciples and followers?

I.    The Upward Purpose of the Redeemed Life

Every individual who has been redeemed has a God-given responsibility to glorify God.

Psalm 30:9-12 (NKJV) ⁹ “What profit is there in my blood, When I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth? ¹⁰ Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!" ¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, ¹² To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Ephesians 1:5-6 (NKJV) ⁵ having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, ⁶ to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.

Ephesians 2:4-7 (NKJV) ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 2:20 (NKJV) ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

Malachi 2:2 (NKJV) ² If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name," Says the LORD of hosts, "I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.

How am I showing forth His praises? Do other people around me have a higher opinion of God because of me and my life? This is particularly hard for those who are going through serious adversity and suffering. But, we need to ask ourselves, “As others see me suffer and evaluate my attitudes, my words and my actions, what kind of opinion will they have of God?”

Even for those who have life relatively good right now, what is there about my life that influences others to give praise and adoration to God?

II.  The Inward Purpose of the Redeemed Life

The inward purpose refers to the mission / purpose of the church as it relates to our ministry and responsibility to other believers in the body of Christ. There are a number of references that speak about how Christians are to care for, nurture, and build each other up in the faith.

If we just take the passages in the N.T. where the phrase “one another” appears, we find a significant number of instructions for Christians to follow in our service and ministry to our brothers and sisters in the family of God. By looking at these and a few other references this is what we learn about our mission within the church.

1. We learn that we are to be committed to love and unity.

Rom. 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another…

1 John 3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

Love is not necessarily a feeling, but it is an action. It’s not always something you feel inside, but it is something you do that demonstrates concern, care and compassion.

2. We are to build each other up in the faith.

1 Thess. 5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Romans 15:2 (NKJV) ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

Ephesians 4:12 (NKJV) ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

“edify” – to build, construct,

3. We are to warn and guard each other against error.

Rom. 15:14 I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Col. 3:16 … teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Heb. 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

The word “admonish” means to put in mind or call attention to, thus to warn.

“Exhort” comes from the same compound word as the word for “comforter” which means to call alongside. Just as the Holy Spirit is portrayed as the one who is called alongside to help us, so to exhort implies calling one to the side in order to advise, admonish or encourage them.

Other words used for “exhort” mean to “speak near,” thus advise; and “propel / urge forward” or encourage.

4. We are to assume our role and responsibility in the body.

1 Cor. 12:1-27 – The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a physical body to describe how we all must cooperate and work together in the spiritual body.

Your body cannot function properly or to its full potential if certain parts of it are missing or failing. The same is true regarding the body of Christ. (The collection of people who have been redeemed.) There are roles and responsibilities that each one of fills that is vital to the overall health of the body. It is no more healthy or fitting for a member of Jesus’ body to spiritually exist all alone than it is for your arm or your leg to continue to live without the rest of your body.

Part of our responsibility to live as redeemed individuals is for us to edify and nurture our brothers and sisters in the family of faith.

III. The Outward Purpose of the Redeemed Life

1. The Great Commission.

This involves the task of evangelism and spiritual conversion of the lost to Jesus Christ. It is based on the reference in Matthew 28 that is the classic passage regarding the great commission.

Matt. 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

This is only one of many texts that define the Christian’s responsibility to tell others about Jesus and to persuade people to commit their hearts and lives to Him. God is Sovereign and He obviously could convert the lost without our involvement if He chose to do so. But, He didn’t choose to do that.

In Romans Chapter 10 Paul asks these rhetorical questions:

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”

“How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”

“How shall they hear without a preacher?”

Dear brothers and sisters, God has not ordained any other method for reaching the lost than through the testimony of those who have been redeemed.

It really is our responsibility.

2. The Great Commandment.

The term “great commandment” is a reference to the reply Jesus gave when he was asked about the greatest commandment. Jesus told the questioner that the first commandment was to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind. (Luke 10:27)

He then continued by saying the second great commandment was that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matt. 22:39)

There is more for us to do in this world than evangelize the lost. It is legitimate for believers to ask ourselves, “What am I actively doing to demonstrate my love for my neighbor?”

Conclusion:

We have been describing what the whole scheme and plan of redemption entails. Today we are finishing up the series by describing what God intends for redeemed people to be and do while they are “waiting for the final chapter of redemption in glory.” We have God-ordained work to do. We have a God-given purpose to fulfill.

Let’s not view our lives as just getting our “ticket” to heaven and living for our own ambitions and satisfaction until the day our “ship leaves the harbor.” Let us all be committed to the life God planned for us.

I want us to sing a song that may be new to many of us, but it is a simple song with a great message.

I Give All to You   #595