6 February 2022: “Through the redemption that came by Christ”

Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the Podcasts page.

Welcome

Let’s keep praying for those who are unwell and praise Him for good news when we hear it.

Testimony

As the boy released more string from his kite, the more it soared, higher and higher the wind took it up. The more we release our lives to the Lord, the more we experience His Presence and daily blessings –
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

Stella

Worship

Word

Reading: Romans 3:21-31

… through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Rom 3:24

Jesus, Himself, didn’t get His understanding of the truth “on a plate” so to speak, rather, He spent time in His Father’s Presence and the Father revealed more and more truth to Him; e.g.

I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence.

John 8:38

What had He seen?

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin … if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.”

John 8:34, 36

Paul has emphasised this point:

We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.

Rom. 3:9

and he later on develops what our identification with Christ truly means,

… that we should no longer be slaves to sin .. [but] slaves to righteousness … we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies.

Rom. 6:6, 18, 8:23

Redemption, in its day, was a term used in the market place to refer to the way in which someone would pay a sum of money, the ransom price, to buy the freedom of a slave. Jesus prophesied that He would do this and that this was the main reason He came:

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Mark 10:45

The price? The precious blood of Jesus:

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect.

1 Peter 1:18-19

Such redemption is initiated by the Father who so loved the world that He gave His only Son:

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Just as God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt so …

“the death of Jesus is the New Exodus, the moment when the slaves were freed,”

Tom Wright

… that is freedom for all who believe, Amen!

Quote of the week

“The soul is exceedingly ravished when it first looks on the beauty of Christ. It is never weary of Him.”

Jonathan Edwards

Verse of the week

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

Titus 2:11-14

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great love in giving Your beloved Son to be that ransom for our sins. Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You freely came and redeemed us. Thank You Holy Spirit that You have revealed this to us and to the multitude of believers that make up Your church, past, present and future.

Lord God, continue to build Your Church, setting people free from the slavery of sin, fear, and death, and into the glorious freedom in Christ Jesus, that we might be slaves to righteousness and that this might be seen in our daily lives, in and through Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, Amen!