I'm gonna go ahead and get started,
and if you would, turn to Revelations 5, Revelations 5. Revelations 5, and I wanna read verses 6 through
9. Revelation 5 verse 6, 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, as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits
of God, sent forth into all 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 four and
twenty elders fell down before the lamb, having having every
one of them harps and golden boughs full of odors, which are
the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song saying,
thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof,
for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred and tongue and people and nation. We read the word redeemed, that
is to go to market to purchase is what the word means. We read
here of, in our text, one who is worthy and of something specific. And here it's talking about a
book with seven seals to open the book. The one who is worthy
is a lamb. In fact, a little lamb. I remember
a long time ago when Walker pointed this out. A little lamb. But
not just a little lamb. It says, as it had been slain. But turn over with me to John
20 real quick. John 20. Talking about who this
little lamb is. John 20. Very familiar to you. I'm going to read it. John 20,
and I want to read verse 27. Then saith he to Thomas, reach
hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy
hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. This is just after he had been
slain. He told Thomas to reach forth
and touch his hands to see where the scars are, where they nailed
him to that tree. When Christ tells him that, and
evidently Thomas did look, but what did Thomas say? My Lord
and my God. So this lamb in Revelation that
we just read is our Lord, and our God. He is worthy. He has the right. He did earn
it. But it makes this statement in
verse nine, for thou wast slain. But there is a conjunction there
and thank God for his conjunctions. We have an and there. Him being
slain had a purpose. And this purpose is done because
it is said in the past tense. It says, and hast. So what is
it him being slain accomplished? Redeeming some to God. But it's even more specific,
it's more clear. This was done by thy blood, it
says. His blood redeemed us to God. Who did it redeem? the whole
world. That's what it's saying. Not
everyone, not every individual in the world, but the whole world
out of every kindred, tongue, and people, and nation. That
covers the whole world. It covers all types. Now I want
to concentrate on what was done here. I'm not going to stay here
in Revelations, but what was done here specifically here where
it speaks of redemption. And I already gave you the meaning
of the word, to go to the market to purchase. And I know when
we think of marketplace, we think of buying and selling. But this
is not what this is talking about, and we can see it here in our
text. Salvation or redemption is not
for sale. Salvation is purchased, though. The price is blood. But that
blood is not just any blood. The blood has to be from the
little lamb. We see redemption typified when
we read of Noah, 1 Peter 3, 1 Peter 3, and we'll turn over there.
You all can turn with me if you want. 1 Peter 3, verses 18 through
20. 1 Peter 3, 18 through 20. 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.
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, which
sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein
few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. First of all, it does not say
that everybody was saved. It specifically says eight souls
were saved. What do you think if all those
people would have thought, had a bumper sticker been on the
ark that said, smile, God loves you? What would that say about
God? He destroyed the whole world,
save eight. The same thing that caused those
to perish was the same thing that saved those eight souls.
It says we're saved by water. That's what Habakkuk 3.2 is saying
that Walker's read before. Oh Lord, I have heard thy speech
and was afraid. Oh Lord, revive thy work in the
midst of the years. In the midst of the years, make
known in wrath, remember mercy. The water typifies the wrath
of God. The same wrath that killed and
destroyed a lot of people saved a few people with the only difference
being they were in the ark, these eight people. The ark kept the
water from doing anything to them. It bore the full onslaught,
if you will, of the wrath of God. We know this typifies Jesus
Christ the Lord. He is the ark who suffered in
our stead so that we might know mercy. to what end that we might
be reconciled to God. So I want to talk about redemption
with the following points. Why is redemption needed? It
took God to purchase redemption and final redemption. So why
is redemption needed? If there are some who needed
redeeming, they needed redeeming from something. That's quite
obvious, right? First of all, all have sinned,
Romans 3, 21 through 23. I read it a lot. But now the
righteousness of God without the law was manifested, being
witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness
of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon
all them that believe, for there is no difference. For all have
sinned and come short of the glory of God. All sinned, it says. But have
I? Christ did this when we were
without strength. We had no strength to come to
God on our own. We were ungodly, totally opposed
to God. Enemies of God is what it says
in scripture. But listen, we all sinned before
we were ever even born. The problem is everyone has sinned
and come short of the glory of God, but not all know this. What has to happen? God sends
someone to us to tell us, you are the man. Turn with me to
2 Samuel. You all are familiar with this
too, I know, but 2 Samuel. 2 Samuel 12. Second Samuel 12. And the Lord sent Nathan unto
David, and he came unto him and said unto him, there were two
men in one city, the one rich and the other poor. The rich
man had exceeding many flocks and herds, but the poor man had
nothing save one little ewe lamb. which he had bought and nourished
up and it grew up together with him and with his children. It
did eat of his own meat and drink of his own cup and lay in his
bosom and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto
the rich man and he spared to take of his own flock and of
his own herd to dress for a wayfaring man that was coming to him, but
took the poor man's lamb and dressed it for the man that was
come to him. And David's anger was greatly
kindled against the man. And he said to Nathan, as the
Lord liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely
die. And he shall restore the lamb
fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, thou
art the man. This showed David, he was the
sinner, whether anyone else was or not. So much so that we read
in Psalm 51, Psalm 51. Psalm 51, verses one through
seven. Psalm 51. Have mercy upon me, O God, according
to Thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of Thy tender
mercies. Blot out my transgressions, wash
me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins.
For I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee and thee only have
I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest
be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive
me. Behold, thou desirest truth in
the inward parts, and in the hidden part thou shalt make me
to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall
be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow. It says, in sin did my mother
conceive me. This is not that she sinned in
having me, although that is true, too. But it's saying, because
of Adam, I am brought forth in sin. Because of my federal head,
Adam, I am brought forth of my own kind, and that is spiritually
dead, a spiritually dead soul, dead to God, needing reconciliation
to God. How could I have been born in
sin? All we can say is because God
said so. He tells us this in Romans 12,
because we came from our federal head, Adam. God told Adam in
the day, in the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely
die. And he did. One man, sin entered
into the world. And by that sin, death passed
upon all men, it says. It manifests itself all the time,
though, because we do sin. But again, God said, for all
have sinned. So it is true. So if all men
sin, how are we ever to be redeemed to God? There's only one who
does not sin, one where sin is no part of who he is. This one
had to redeem us to God. So next, it took God to purchase
redemption for his people. God himself, John 10, 29 and
30, we read, my father which gave them me is greater than
all and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hand.
I and my father are one. So what is this saying? Jesus
Christ who said this is God. In fact, the Jews wanted to kill
him all the time for saying this. But again, 1 John 5, 7 says,
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father,
the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. So there we have a second witness.
There's no doubt Jesus Christ is God. He is God manifest in
the flesh. But what do we read in Scripture
about this one who is God, who came down and was born King,
1 Peter 1, 18 and 19? For as much as ye know that ye
were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from
your vain conversation received by traditions from your fathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot. Kind of reminds us of our text,
don't it? It took the blood of God to redeem and secure salvation. No other blood would do. The
offense was against God, yet he laid down his life for his
people. Everyone has sinned and come
short of the glory of God, and that is the mark, and we have
missed it. The soul that sinneth, it shall
die. All have sinned. We took something
that was not ours, and there is a wage for that. It is death. We see right here, we took the
glory of God, but we see right here that in order to purchase
redemption for his people, he had to take the wages which we
earned upon himself. That's what he had to pay. For
the wages of sin is death. but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So the price paid is his
shed blood. He was put to death in the flesh. God does not just sweep sin under
the rug. What God has declared is, so
every soul that has sinned, and how many is that? All. Every soul that sinneth shall
die. Jesus Christ, by the shedding
of his blood, did that in his people's stead. We did not do
anything to merit it. This grace is toward us. And someone might say, I have
done some good things. Isaiah 64, six says, even our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight. If we have any righteousness,
it is our own righteousness. It's our own way, Joe, and not
the righteousness of God. We read in scripture how the
Jews, this typifying religion, Romans 10 three, we read that
they said, or it says, for they being ignorant of God's righteousness
and going about to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. So this
at least tells me this, to have a God-righteousness takes submission. Men might do good before one
another, but not before God. Romans 3, 23, let's turn over
there. I know I read a portion of that,
Romans 23 through 27. Romans 23 through 27. Sorry,
Romans 3, 23 through 27. And we read, for all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. being justified freely by
His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom
God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to
declare His righteousness for the remission of sins, that are
passed through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at
this time, His righteousness, that He might be just and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? Is it excluded by what law of
works? Nay, but by the law of faith. All have sinned. It's clear.
Scripture says it. But this one, God himself, who
is our mercy seat, the atoning victim, God's righteousness,
he is our Passover, the blood in Egypt where they put the blood
over the lentil. That typifies Christ's blood and Christ's past
over them, not their sin. But he himself did this for his
people and his people alone. Ephesians 1 7 we read, in whom
we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. According to the riches of his
grace, the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness is not overlooking
sin. Forgiveness involves blood and
it is the blood of the little lamb. That is where we see the
riches of His grace. When I say we, I mean God's people,
His chosen people. Ephesians 1, 4, according as
He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. God
said it right there, so it's true. We can fight with that
all we want, but the truth still stands. He loveth them that are
His. The work of salvation is already
done. But it's not much of a salvation
if those who have been saved do not know they have been saved.
Colossians 1, turn over to Colossians 1. Colossians 1 verse 11. Colossians 1 verse 11, strengthened
with all might according to his glorious power and to all patience
and long-suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father
which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear
Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness
of sins. How glorious is that? He has
done it all and shall ever do it all. Not only did He die for
me and shed His blood for me, suffer the wrath of God for me,
but He translates us into the kingdom of His dear Son. not
coming down an aisle, we're singing 85 verses of just as I am, but
he himself translates us into his kingdom. And the kingdom
is where the son is because it is the kingdom of his dear son
is what it says. Turn over with me to Hebrews,
Hebrews, Hebrews nine. Hebrews 9 and verse 11. But Christ, being come in high
priest of good things to come by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building,
neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
joy. There's that perpetual. eternal
redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and
goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctify
to the purifying of the flesh, 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? This shedding of blood got the
job done. And we can serve Him even now,
right now. Do you serve God? Is it this
God that we've been speaking about here in Scripture? This
little lamb, my Lord and my God? But this is not all there is
to it. We will also have final redemption. So last, final redemption. If you would, turn over to Ephesians
1 for me. for that. Ephesians 1. Right now 13 and 14. Ephesians 1, 13 and 14. in whom ye also trusted after
that ye had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
in whom also after that ye believed, you were sealed with that Holy
Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until
the redemption of the purchased possession and to the praise
of His glory. You will hear the gospel. He will put you into His kingdom
in His good time. He quickens those for whom He
died for in time, giving them life from the dead. We are dead
in trespasses and in sin, alienated from God. We need reconciliation,
and Christ accomplished this by His blood. But when he comes
to us translating us into his kingdom, he seals us with the
Holy Spirit. His Holy Spirit confirming to
our souls the work that Christ has done and by him we know salvation
is accomplished. There was a time I did not know
this and I did not want this. Thank God the riches of his mercy,
sending his own son to shed his blood for me, redeeming me to
God. He will one day get rid of this
flesh. We will have a body likened to
his glorious body. It is a promise, and we long
for that day, where we can truly worship the little lamb. Salvation
is by grace. And that is twofold, favor from
God to the Son who deserves it, and Him accepting His sacrifices
forever. grace that we really need there.
But he also has favor to those peculiar people. Titus 2.13 says,
looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself
for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify
unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. That word
there means peculiar, means special. We're not special in and of ourselves.
We are only special because he has made us so in Christ. It says he makes us meet. But
he did this with his blood, the only way it could be done. But
by grace, they are chosen in thee elect Jesus Christ the Lord. He paid the ransom. Remember,
we were not redeemed with corruptible things. We were redeemed, we
were purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ the Lord. The
payment was death, and he took that upon himself in our stead,
not overlooking sin, but justly paying for that sin and death.
That is the purchase price. God is not looking for you to
pay this because you can't. He calls his people to believe
it. We are told that all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God. The question is, is that
me? If you are a sinner, we are told
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. This is a work
that is already accomplished. Those chosen in Christ, he has
come into the world to save them. I need this salvation every day. I need to hear of this salvation
every day. The justice of God has been satisfied
by Christ. If God sees the blood on your
door lintel put there by Christ, he will pass over you. Not pass
over your sin, for that the son had to die, but pass over you. We love to hear what he's done.
We love to hear his gospel. That salvation which was wrought
by Christ is our only hope. The faith of Jesus Christ to
do the will of the Father. And because of all that, those
in him who have been translated into his kingdom will one day
awaken his likeness. He has promised it. What God
says is so. Lay down your arms against him.
Take sides with God against yourself. Cry out for mercy. He delights
to show mercy. Have you sinned and come short
of the glory of God? I know I have with these hands,
but yeah, even more right here in this right here. Just look
to Christ. Look to Christ. Amen. our sovereign, most holy, merciful
Savior, dear Lord. We come to you and asking you
to always make us aware, allow us to see your son, that he is
Lord and God over all, but especially is Lord and God of our souls.
And all these things we ask in Christ's name, amen.