Category: Redemption

Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

Paul, in Romans 4:7-ff Paul uses the fact that Abraham was counted as righteous before he was circumcised as proof that all nations have access to salvation in Christ Jesus.

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Verse 7 is a wonderful, concise statement revealing the way God redeemed man. It is through the blood of Jesus. As the perfect sacrifice, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins, that we might not die for our transgressions. This gift of the Son is the extension of God’s grace to man.

This gift granted is the result of God’s wisdom and prudence. The word prudence is defined by Strong as “intellectual or moral insight.” The problem of sin is a difficult one, solved only by Divine wisdom and action. We can’t save ourselves. Salvation comes from God’s wise and prudent gift of his Son Jesus.

Jesus’ sacrifice is the culmination of God’s scheme of redemption. He came in the “fullness of time.” God determined to save man at that time, in that way.

Jesus’ sacrifice is for all men. In Christ, “all things” are gathered together. There is no distinction between in race or gender. All are eligible for salvation — “In Him.”

God hates sin. There is no doubt concerning this, as the scriptures use that very term to describe God’s attitude toward various sins. For example, the sin of idolatry. Deuteronomy 16:21-22 records, among other admonitions in that context, “You shall not plant for yourself any tree, as a wooden image, near the altar which you build for yourself to the Lord your God. You shall not set up a sacred pillar, which the Lord your God hates.” Likewise, in Malachi 2:16, it is written, “‘For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,’ Says the Lord of hosts. ‘Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.’”

Continue reading “Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner” →

Numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments establish for us the rewards we will receive for our faithfulness in standing with God.

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The circumstances of Jesus’ birth are established forthrightly by Matthew and Luke. While modernists struggle with the concept of a child being born of a virgin, the believer accepts God’s intent, purpose and ability to bring this event about.

Matthew reveals the following in this short section of his gospel:

1. After Joseph and Mary were betrothed (a type of engagement), Mary became pregnant.
2. At this time Mary was a virgin, the conception was the work of the Holy Spirit.
3. Joseph was informed of God’s plan, and scuttled his plans to put away Mary (as he obviously had thought from her pregnancy that she had been with another man).
4. God’s plan was that the virgin would bear a son named Jesus, who would be the Savior of mankind (vs. 21).
5. The birth of Jesus was a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). That prophecy refers to the child as “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” Thus, Jesus was declared from birth to be God on earth (cf. John 1:14).
6. In answer to the vision from God, Joseph did not have sexual relations with his wife until after she gave birth to Jesus.

This account marks the beginning of the events leading to the ultimate redemption of mankind (cf. John 17:3).

From the very beginning God had a plan in place to redeem man. This plan was necessary because of the sin of man. It consists of the grace of God, and man’s response to the saving power of the gospel.

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The lesson establishes that God is impartial, and discusses the ramifications of that fact as it impacts the redemption of mankind.

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Sermon by Marc Smith.

In this lesson, Marc uses Mark 2, and the phrase from the KJV indicating that the paralytic man was carried by four men to see Jesus. The phrase is used to illustrate the point that each of us have those who have borne, or influenced us in our lives. Saul of Tarsis is a good example, and four men are mentioned: Gamaliel, Stephen, Annanias and Barnabas who had a profound influence upon him and his conversion to Christ.

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The apostle Paul wrote this epistle to Titus, “a true son in our common faith” (vs. 4). The salutation indicates that, as with Timothy (cf. 1 Timothy 1:2), Paul’s teaching had led to Titus’ conversion.

It was common for Paul, in his epistles, to defend his apostleship as being from God. Paul was not a usurper. In these few verses he states an eloquent argument for his apostleship, as a part of God’s overreaching scheme of redemption for man.

Paul’s apostleship was according to faith. It emanated from God. He states that God had committed him to the proclamation of that faith. God chose through the “foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).

So, the emphasis here is not really on Paul as a bondservant and an apostle, but on the message he was to proclaim. Paul describes that gospel as that which “accords with godliness” (vs. 1). It leads to a holy life. As such, it is “in hope of eternal life.” That is, in leading the elect to righteousness, it provides standing with God in judgment. This eternal hope is something we are assured of, as it is promised by God, and God can not lie (cf. vs. 2, Hebrews 6:18). This promise, as Paul indicated, predates the creation of man (cf. vs. 2).

The lesson explains the reason why the shedding of blood is necessary for the redemption of man, and why it is that Jesus Christ is the only sufficient blood sacrifice.

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Invitation delivered by: Stan Cox

On July 4, 1776, America declared her independence. In a similar vein, one who becomes a child of God obtains independence from sin – liberty is found in Christ Jesus (cf. Galatians 5:1).

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Invitation delivered by: Jeremiah Cox

Jeremiah points out in his talk that God’s gift of His Son, sent to earth to die on the cross for the sins of man, constitutes the greatest gift ever given to mankind.

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In Genesis 12, God made 3 promises to Abraham. He promised that Abraham would have descendents who would become a great nation; He promised that He would give that people a land to call their own; Finally, He promised that through Abraham’s seed all nations of the earth would be blessed. This lesson examines those promises.

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Invitation delivered by: Justin Carrell

Many of the passages detailing God’s scheme of redemption are familiar to us. It is important that we not allow familiarity to breed contempt. If the words of inspiration are read with care, they are profound and uplifting.

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Walking in the light of God’s will reaps great benefits, including: Fellowship with other Christians, access to the cleansing blood of Christ, joy and exaltation and the assurance we will never stumble (cf. 1 John 1:7).

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