I want you to turn in your Bibles
tonight to Revelation chapter 5. One of the verses that I used
Sunday was Psalm 98 verse 1. And when I was reading that,
to read basically the latter part of that verse, which states that God, by his
own arm, has gotten him the victory. But I noticed in the first part
of that verse, it says this. Oh, sing unto the Lord a new
song. And I thought about how many
times in the Old Testament and in the New Testament it speaks
about God's people singing a new song. And after I was thinking about
it some time, this fifth chapter of the book of Revelation came
to my mind because in verse nine, It says, and they sung a new
song. And what has happened here in
John's vision, in this revelation, singing has broken out in heaven. Singing has just erupted in heaven
because of something that has been seen and understood. But it is not like those emotional,
fleshly, syncopating, unbiblical songs that pass for gospel music
today. It is nothing like that at all. It is, as Paul says, when he
is writing to the Corinthians correcting their errors about
tongues, It is singing with understanding. I'll read the verse in 1 Corinthians
14. He says, I will pray with the
Spirit. I will pray with understanding
also. I will sing with the Spirit,
and I will sing with the understanding also." That's what John tells
us in 1 John, that he's given his people an understanding. So this song is with understanding,
but I want us to notice, first of all, what brought it on? What happened to make this song
verse four? Well, in the first verse, John
says, and I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne,
a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven
seals." There's one sitting on a throne,
God sitting on a throne, and in his hand is this book. And it is a written book already,
and it's sealed with seven seals. John says, and I saw a strong
angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open
the book and to loose the seals thereof? You see, there had to
be one worthy to open this book, to remove these seals and release
them. And John says, And no man in
heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to
open the book, neither to look thereon. There was not a man
There was not a person, there was not a being in heaven, on
earth, or under the earth that was able to open this book. Not even to look at it. Not even
to look at it. And he says in verse 4, and I
wept much. Because no man was found worthy
to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. This caused John great sadness. He knew this had to be some significant
book. He wanted to know the contents
of this book. You know how we are. If we can't
see something, if we can't open something, it stirs our curiosity
even more. And we'll call this holy curiosity. And one of the elders saith unto
me, weep not. Weep not. Behold, the line of
the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open
the book and to loose the seven seals thereof." Now, it's amazing in this chapter. which you know is about the Lord
Jesus Christ, how we find out first that he is the Lion of
the tribe of Judah. He's not just the Lamb, he's
a Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, the prophesied
one. He hath prevailed to open the
book and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld. And lo, in the midst of the throne,
and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood
a lamb. What do you know? The lion is
also the lamb. And it says, stood a lamb as
it had been slain, and I believe that there it means as one that
was newly slain. Christ in his work is always
finished, but it's always fresh. It's always a living, vital work. He has, as if he was just slain. having seven horns and seven
eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the
earth." There's something about his total power in those horns,
his total omniscience over all that is on the earth. And he came. and took the book
out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book,
the four beasts and the four and 20 elders fell down before
the lamb, having every one of them harps and vows full of odors. which are the prayers of the
saints. He sits in the midst of the throne. He rises up, this lion, this
lamb, and he takes the book. And that's when the singing erupts. It says, and they sang or sung
a new song. Now, first of all, what is this
book? Well, it is the book of God's decrees. You know, People try to oftentimes
divide up things, but there really is no dividing up of God's purpose
as it is in Christ. Everything is associated, dependent
upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It's the book of God's decree.
It's the book of the redeemed. It's the Lamb's book of life. With those named to salvation,
it's the registry of the saints. You remember when those disciples,
first of all, were just beaming that the devils were even subject
to them, they could cast out devils, and Christ says to them,
He says, notwithstanding this, in this rejoice not that the
spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your
names are written in heaven. This is the Lamb's book. This is the Lamb of God. So what characterizes this song,
this new song, this truly gospel song? Well, it is praise for the Lord Jesus
Christ. We know that by many things in
this book of Revelation, but we know it most of all by what
is said when we begin reading this book. This is the revelation
of Jesus Christ. God sent and signified things
to John on this isle of Patmos, and they're all things pertaining
to the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the Lion. But he is also
praised throughout this book in a particular character. And that is as the Lamb, the
Lamb of God. And He is said here and all throughout
this book as being the worthy one alone. I'm not even worthy to sing the
song. I look at myself, I can't find
any worthiness whatsoever. But salvation is based on His
worthiness. Worthy is the Lamb. And he is worthy of praise because
he is the worthy one and because he successfully opens this book,
fulfilling all that's written therein, saving all, doing all
by himself. They sing this song, Thou art
worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof. You might say this is the book
of God's promises, which are all yea and amen in Christ. You might say this is the book
of all spiritual blessings, which God gave us when he chose us
in Christ. But irregardless of what it is
as this book in all the things of God, there is one who is worthy,
and everything in that book is based on his worthiness, not based on ours. Sometimes we get to thinking,
people get to talking about personal righteousness and improving righteousness and all
these things, but the truth is, the worthiness for this is Christ
alone. But I want you to notice what
it says here. The song says, not only is he
worthy, not only is Christ worthy to take the book and to open
the seals thereof and to, you might say, dispense or apply
everything that is in the book, all these promises because of something. And this is very unusual. They
erupt in a song. They're full of thanksgiving
and praise because somebody was slain. For thou was slain. And all through this book, And
all through the entire Bible, the death of Jesus Christ is
the preeminent thing, the preeminent theme and message wherever you're
at. Sacrifices, offerings in the
Old Testament. The death of Christ crucified
over and over again, spoken of in the New Testament. Because his death and his sacrifice
is the cause, the only cause, that a sinner ever has of sin. I was slain. You're a good man? If the song
had been, you came to earth, you kept the law, you were kind,
you were generous, you were a great example, you died as a martyr, it wouldn't be anything like
that. Thou was slain. Thou was slain. When Paul says,
it is God that justifies, He follows that right away with,
it is Christ that died. Thou was slain. And he says also in this song,
it says, thou was slain and has redeemed us. Redeemed us. What does that word redeem mean?
It means to buy back by the paying of a price or a ransom. It actually means to buy back
something that's already yours. He says, for thou hast redeemed. You ever notice that it doesn't
say that you might make people redeemable? I've often heard
preachers say, if you'll believe, Christ will redeem you. He said he hath redeemed us. That's in the past tense. Whatsoever
God does, he does forever, the book says. He hath redeemed us,
just like as the price was paid for the redemption by Hosea of
Gomer. She was a worthless woman. But he paid the price necessary
to redeem her off the slave market. It's just like Boaz, when he
redeemed Ruth, he went down into the heart of the city, which
was the city gates, where every bit of the transactions and legal
matters took place among the elders, and he did everything
necessary to redeem her. He redeemed her, and he redeemed
Naomi. And when it says here that He
redeemed us, it's just a matter of being, in the Bible, redeemed
from our sins, redeemed from everything that was against us.
And as He says in Galatians, 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. He's redeemed us, not with corruptible
things such as silver and gold, but He has redeemed us. In other words, these that sing
this song, which actually picture all of God's elect, all the redeemed
in heaven opening up this chorus of thanksgiving because they
say, Thou hast was slain and has redeemed us. Because redemption involves a
particular people. The shepherd is also the lamb
that gives his life for the sheep. Look over in Revelation 14. Now this is getting, this is
getting where fewer and fewer people can sing
this song. Revelation 14 and verse 3, and
they sung, as it were, a new song before the throne and before
the four beasts and the elders, and no man could learn that song
but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed
from the earth. There's only one person or one
people that can sing this song, and they are those that were
redeemed from the earth. Do you ever wonder why it says
144,000? Why the Spirit of God uses that
number? Well, Israel, that nation that
represented the church, God's elect, they were made up of 12
tribes, and the total of them was 144,000. The Jehovah's Witnesses
at the first began to try to say that that was a literal,
actual number. That was until their number increased
to that. Then they had to do something
else. But what that number represents is the total, complete, non-missing
people of God, the true Israel that He redeems. But now look
at this next verse. These are they which were not
defiled with women, for they are virgins. And that means that
they are not defiled by this mystery Babylon, this harlot
of harlots, the false religions that are always spoken of as
harlots. These are they which follow the
lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among
men. He didn't redeem all men. But
He redeemed these from among men, being the firstfruits unto
God and to the Lamb." They said, He has redeemed us. No, He has not redeemed everybody. No, He has not made everybody
redeemable. No, that He has not redeemed
every man partially, but He has, thank God, redeemed us. And then he says this, he's redeemed us to God. Redemption is not just God setting
us free or delivering us or paying the price for our sin, so we
can just be kind of freewheeling around here, independent agents. Not only is redemption about
people. He has redeemed us, but it is
a redemption by which we are redeemed to God. We are redeemed for God. We are redeemed just like Boaz
when he took Ruth. He took her, he redeemed her
to be his wife for as long as they lived. He says, Thou hast redeemed us to God. We are the purchased possession.
Paul said, you're not your own, you're bought with a price. And then he says in this song,
thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. Do you ever get tired of hearing
me talk about blood? If you ever do, you're in trouble.
If I ever stop talking about the blood, I'm in trouble. But it's just not random blood,
it's blood by which it accomplishes the redemption. Because blood
redemption is the song of the saved and the redeemed of all
time. Look over Revelation 15. Revelation 15, verse 3, and they
sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,
saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty,
just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Now, where does Moses fit into
all this? Well, if you turn back to Exodus
chapter 15, you'll find out that on this occasion in the
life of Israel, they broke out in song too. because they have been redeemed and delivered out of the Egyptian
bondage and favor, which was a picture of that redemption
in Christ. When the blood was shed of that
Passover lamb and sprinkled on the lentils and doorposts of
their homes to signify that God was redeeming them by blood, they had to come out of there.
They had to come out, because we're redeemed by blood and by
power. And so God, Moses said, and the
psalmist said, with a mighty hand, he brought them out of
Egypt, brought them through the Red Sea, and destroyed Pharaoh
and his army in the midst of that Red Sea. And they're standing
on the banks of the other side, And they begin to sing what's been called
the Song of Moses. Exodus 15 and verse 1, then sang
Moses. and the children of Israel this
song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the
Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider hath
he thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my
song, and he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will prepare
him and habitation, my Father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a man of war. The Lord is his name. And then he goes on to describe. redemption by blood and by power
that was pictured in that. They couldn't look at anything
that they had done and say, we're saved because of this. It's what He's done. It's His
marvelous work. It's His marvelous love for His
people. It's His powerful delivering
hand. It's the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And then He says in chapter 5, has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every
kindred and people and nation. In other words, God's sovereign
grace in Jesus Christ is not only Jew, is not only Gentile,
but crosses every other distinction God made or man made. And this is what I was thinking
about today. What can never be in this world by nature, by politics, by every
other thing, which is man in harmony with other men, of other
backgrounds, of other differences, it'll never happen. Because every man's a sinner.
And as a sinner, he's self-righteous. In some ways, he thinks he's
better than everybody else. And he's at enmity with God. So don't ever expect it to be
any different. But it is in Christ. It is in Christ. They're God's
people. They can dwell with each other
because they know they're not better than each other, that
they're sinners, that the only reason that they're saved is
by the grace of God, and that Christ has done it all. They
could never do it themselves, and so they live in that knowledge. They can't look down their nose
at anybody. They're out of. every kindred
and tongue and people and nation. Harmony, love, unity, it's only
to be found by grace in Christ. And then they sing that next
line, and has made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we
shall reign on the earth." A kingdom of priests to offer
up the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving to God and to reign
on the earth. Sometimes it doesn't feel like
we're raining, does it? But God's people are raining
on the earth even now. You know why? Because Christ
is raining. And we're in Christ. He gave
us to sit with Him in His throne. We're seated together in the
heavenlies with Him. And because He's reigning, we're
reigning. What He wants, we want. Ultimately, we kick against that
sometimes. Then we catch ourselves, oh,
but he's the wise one. He's the good one. He's the one
that does all things right. that it says, And I beheld, and
I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the
beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, and that's a whole
lot. saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor
and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in
heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in
the sea and all that are in them heard I saying, blessing and
honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the
throne. And unto the Lamb forever and
ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders
fell down and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever. And folks, that's a long time. Forever and ever. So what happens when the Lord
saves a sinner? David said, I was in a horrible
pit, and every one of us are, in our
sin and our sin. I was in a horrible pit, but
he brought me up also out of this horrible pit, out of the
miry clay, and he set my feet upon a rock and established my
goings. And then he put this new song
in my mouth. even praise unto our God and
many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord. Many gonna hear this new song
as it comes from the lips of God's people. They sing the old
song of self until God comes and delivers them up out of that
horrible pit. Sets their feet on the solid
rock of Christ and establishes their good and puts this new
song in their mouth. It's a new song because it will
never get old. It will never because they're
already singing it in God's presence right now and shall be worlds
without end. Worthy is the lamb that was slain
who has redeemed us to God by his own blood out of every kindred,
nation, tribe, tongue. Christ. Father, we thank you this evening
for your mercy, for your word. That's a lamp and a light to us. Shows
us where we are and which way we're to go when we're to go
in Christ singing this song of praise and thanksgiving. song
of the redeemed, song of the lamb, song of Moses. In other words, the gospel song. We thank you for our savior and
for this glorious full salvation in him. In whose name we pray,
amen.