Sovereign Grace Chapel, located
at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to
listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. If you would, we are now in Ruth
4. Turn with me to Ruth 4. Ruth chapter 4, and I want to
read verses 13 through 15 to begin with. So Boaz took Ruth, and she was
his wife. And when he went in unto her,
the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son. And the woman
said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord which hath not left thee
this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer
of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age, for thy daughter-in-law,
which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath
born him. I want to talk about the restorer
of life today. Here in the book of Ruth, we
read as being Boaz, but we know this is pointing to Jesus Christ,
our Redeemer. The whole of God's book testifies
to the fact that all those in Adam were plunged into sin, and
by that comes death, and this being passed on all men, Romans
5.12. The scripture also declares all
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Elimelech started
out in the land of Bethlehem, Judah. Just as Adam started out
in the garden, he was created upright, that is Adam, and he
had communion with God. However, he fell from this state
and in so doing plunged us all into the same plight with him.
From that, all of his offspring were born dead. They all, we
all, reside or resided in Moab. We have come through the book
of Ruth where we can see how one who was a widow of the dead
in the land of the dead being brought into a land where bread
was to be found. This being a picture to us how
God brings his people from death unto life. Ruth knew that she
must stay with Naomi and she knew Naomi's God had to be her
God because she knew that Naomi's God was the one that gave bread
to his people. Ruth then begins to look for
sustenance for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. In doing this, she happens
to light on the field of Boaz, not knowing she was gleaning
in his field. This picturing that one who God
has loved and him bringing them to the place where they will
hear his gospel. In lighting on his field she
has shown love and kindness. So much so that Boaz left her
handfuls of purpose. That which was no work for her
to do to gather it. It was just left for her to glean.
God in doing this to a poor wretched sinner, they come to know who
their near of kin is. As we have seen in chapter two,
they will start to see that he will provide, protect, and care
for those who are his. Then in chapter three, we see
the one who has been drawn by irresistible grace, who will
do what it takes to adjoin themselves with him. In Ruth 3 we see this,
in Ruth adjoining herself to Boaz, desiring to have him cover
her with his skirt. We know from God's word that
for a believer, the believer does this because of what he
has already done for them. It is his skirt of righteousness
that we desire to be clothed with. The whole purpose of this
being for them to come to know him as their redeemer. They're
near of kin, and they become intimately involved with Jesus
Christ. We see this when Ruth adjoins
herself to Boaz, and Boaz promises to marry her. But something has
to happen first. He must first satisfy the one
who is nearer of kin than he. Boaz moved with compassion upon
Ruth, just as Christ did for His people. We read in James
5.11, at the end of that verse, it says, the Lord is very pitiful
and of tender mercy. But we also read in Isaiah 40.11,
he shall feed his flock like a shepherd. He shall gather the
lambs with his arm and carry them in his bosom and shall gently
lead those that are with young. This was an overview of what
we've come through in the book of Ruth so far. And this brings
us to chapter four. I want to talk a little bit about
the nearer of kin, that one that Boaz had to go do this thing
with. I believe in knowing what the
interaction is between Boaz and the nearer of kin will shed some
light on the one this shadow is cast on. So I want to talk
about the nearer of kin. the nearer of kin. Who is the
nearer of kin? What is it that is close or that
is related to all mankind? God has set forth his law before
man because of the rebellion of man. He has set forth his
law which was known before it was given at Sinai. Because scripture
says it was written in their hearts. What God says is written
in every one born of Adam. Who does that include? everyone
but Jesus Christ the Lord. He has put in every heart his
law. Remember the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil? When Adam ate of that fruit,
he knew the difference between good and evil. The only problem
is he had no capacity to do that which is good. So we, I feel,
must talk about the law of God, that nearer of kin, that must
first be dealt with. So I have the following points
this morning. The nearer of kin. What is it
that Jesus Christ did with the nearer of kin? How did he accomplish
this redemption? What is the end of what he accomplished? So the nearer of kin. And I have
two things for this that I wanna talk about. What have we to do
with him? And then how does that relate
to Boaz or Jesus Christ, who he typified? What have we to
do with him that is this mirror of kin? First of all, God has
sent his law because of transgression, rebellion against him. He has
sent or given his law. Rebellion has already occurred
and the law was given to show or prove that which has already
taken place. Galatians 3.19 we read, wherefore
serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,
till the seed should come to whom the promise was made, and
it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. We have broken God's law in Adam. God said to Adam of that tree
in Genesis 2, 16 and 17, and the Lord God commanded the man
saying, of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt
not eat of it. For in the day that thou eatest
thereof, thou shalt surely die." This is the law of God. What
God said is so. He told Adam, for in the day
that thou eat thereof, thou shalt surely die. He told Adam not
to eat of that tree. Adam ate. and he died. The law
of God was broken that day. It does not say man does not
have the knowledge of good and evil. It says because he ate
of it when God told him not to, he died. Spiritually, man has
no communion or union with God. He does not have the ability
to perform that good which he knows is that which he should.
It says it is written in their heart Men and women know that
there is a God. They just do not have the ability
to obey him or to bow down to him, for man is dead. We know scripture testifies to
this. Romans 5.12 says, wherefore as
by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and
so death passed upon all men, for that all have sin. Man knows
that there is a God. He just has no capacity to bow
down to God as Lord and creator. Now, there are those who God
has been pleased to reveal himself to. They have this old Adamic
heart. The scripture talks of this as
being flesh. The flesh scripture says, worth
against the spirit, so that you cannot do the things that you
should. Not all men have this, but God gives life to some. There are those to whom I speak
today, and I want to do this from Galatians 3. I've already
read a verse from there, but mark your place in Ruth and go
to Galatians 3, if you would, with me. Galatians 3. if I can find it. Anybody know
where Galatians is? There it is. And I want you to pay attention
to what Paul is saying here to the Galatians. I'm going to read
the first three verses. Oh foolish Galatians, who hath
bewitched you? that ye should not obey the truth
before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth,
crucified among you. This only would I learn of you,
received ye the spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing
of faith. Are ye so foolish, having begun
in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? These Galatians
have been bewitched. This is of no doubt others telling
them lies, but it also includes their flesh, that old Adamic
heart which deceives us. The spirit is not of the works
of the law, it says. It does not begin that way, nor
does it continue on that way. This is what this is saying.
They are returning to the keeping of the law. The flesh is what
wants to keep God's law because the flesh thinks it can do it.
But our flesh being dead does not know that it is dead before
God so that it cannot keep His law. Now let's read verses 10
through 12. 10 through 12 of Galatians 3. For as many as are of the works
of the law are under the curse. For it is written, cursed is
everyone that continueth not in all things which are written
in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified
by the law in the sight of God, it is evident. For the just shall
live by faith, and the law is not of faith. But the man that
doeth them shall live in them. It says in verse 12, and the
law is not of faith. Someone might say, I agree with
you that man as we're born in Adam cannot keep God's law. But
once God gives us life, then we begin to keep his law. Is
that what Paul was saying to the Galatians? He tells them
they are bewitched. They have started down the path
of Jesus Christ as their all in all, but now they are returning
to keeping the law. This is not what we see in Ruth.
Ruth came to Boaz knowing he was her only hope of being redeemed. She did what she could to adjoin
herself to him. Why did she not try to join herself
to the nearer of kin? She did not know him, and for
sure he did not know her. She was not involved with the
nearer of kin. It was Boaz himself and himself
alone that did this transaction. The law is not of faith. That
is exactly what it says. What does Scripture tell us in
Hebrews 11, 6? But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. I think
from Scripture we can see that the law of God, the law of commandments,
the 10 commandments, if you will, is not what we look to for righteousness
before God. So how does that relate to Boaz
or Jesus Christ, who is typified? John 1 17 says, for the law was
given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ, typified by Boaz
in Ruth, shows us that Jesus Christ honored God's law. He
was not going to try and go around God's law. He was going to honor
the law of God. This he did for himself, because
of the righteousness in himself. Him doing this certainly benefited
us, for if he had not done it, then the sacrifice made would
have been of no value. The law of God had to be honored,
but it was in his honoring the law of God that he was a sweet-smelling
savior unto God the Father. He pleased the Father being the
perfect sacrifice unto God. He was perfect, obeying God's
law, and in doing so, the sacrifice for sin was accepted, and this
was done once for all time. He is no longer dying, but he
ever liveth. He was not able to be holden
of death because he was the perfect sacrifice of God. He kept the
law for himself, benefiting us because of what he then had to
do for us. He was made a curse and sin for
us. So what is it that Jesus Christ
did with the nearer of kin? So here in chapter four, we see
where Boaz is now going out to find the nearer of kin so that
he might work out with him that which needs to be done to redeem
Ruth to himself as his wife. Boaz is the one who must meet
the near kinsman at the gate, that gate of justice, that place
where things will be worked out according to the law so that
all know and all involved will be satisfied. This court is the
court of God's justice. His holy justice must be satisfied. His holy justice we see in the
one law as a whole as our near kinsman. This near kinsman must
be satisfied first before we can be brought together with
Christ. Jesus Christ being God and manifesting himself as a
man. This is the only way he could
be a man's near of kin. Had God not done this, there
would be no hope for us. just as it was for those fallen
angels. Once they fell, there was no
hope for them. But God was pleased to come down
as a man to redeem a people for his name. This all being done
on purpose from start to finish. What Christ did for his people
involved him being that perfect sacrifice. He had to keep God's
holy law. This he done for himself so that
sacrifice he would make for us would be accepted of God. He
was and is the only one able to do this. We being dead in
trespasses and in sin could not keep the law of God because of
the weakness of our flesh. The law of God could and cannot
give us life. We read here in type that Boaz
asked the nearer kinsman if he could redeem the land. This he
answered yes to. But when the question came as
to whether he could redeem Ruth, the answer was no, for it would
mar his inheritance. God's law was holy, just, and
good, but the law could never redeem a dead one such as I or
such as man is. It could not give life to the
dead. In Galatians 3.21 we read, is
the law then against the promises of God? God forbid, for if there
had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness
should have been by the law. The law could not give life,
not because there was any shortcoming in the law of God, but because
of the weakness of the flesh. Romans 8 and verse 3 we read. For what the law could not do
in that it was weak through the flesh. That's the first part
of that verse. This flesh is dead. The law and
the keeping of it will not produce life. So there is not one human
that can ever keep God's law for righteousness that is life
before him. The law does not give life so
that then that one who was made alive must now keep that law.
We see who this is in type in the book of Ruth and specifically
here in chapter 4 of the book of Ruth. Boaz is the one who
is going to make a transaction with the nearer of kin than he.
I said Jesus Christ had to be a perfect sacrifice and he was
the only one that could do it. He is life itself and he is God. So that perfect sacrifice had
to be a man, and it was a man who obeyed the law of God perfectly. This he did, and he pleased the
Father always. Ruth is not here, where Boaz
is. Where is she? If you remember,
she is waiting to see how the matter will fall. You and I have
nothing to do with our salvation. It is all in the Redeemer and
what he will accomplish. We are just waiting to see how
the matter will fall. Now we know from scripture how
the matter fell. How did he accomplish this redemption? Going back to Romans 8 and verse
3, what does it go on to say? For what the law could not do
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son
in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in
the flesh. This is the picture that we see
here in the book of Ruth in chapter four. We start this chapter out
where we see a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who stood at
the gate of the justice of God. That place where justice would
be met according to the law so that he might see to it that
he redeemed his bride. He met that one with whom was
our near kinsman. What does this mean? The law
is that which God has given that must be obeyed completely and
fully. He did not come to do away with
the law of God, but to fulfill its every requirement. This he
did. This near kinsman is what Jesus
Christ came to do, to work out our redemption. It could be done
no other way. The near kinsman had to be satisfied
so that he, that is Christ, could redeem us. The laws are nearer
of kin, but the law cannot redeem us. It will mar its inheritance.
It cannot redeem an unclean person. We are Moabites. We know not
who is our father, but our next of kin, our redeemer, has promised
to stand in our place. Having satisfied the law of God,
what does he then do to bring us to him? We may not see it
specifically in Ruth 4, but we know he had to do this in order
to bring us to God. He hath redeemed us from the
curse of the law being made a curse for us. He kept the law perfectly,
but yet he was made a curse for us. He had to in fact experience
that which for God already has said in his word, the soul that
sinneth, it shall die. He not only was made a curse,
but He was made sin for me. In doing this, He paid the penalty
of sin, which is death. This is why any child of God
will not see death. He has already done that which
needed to be done to satisfy the justice of God, and Him being
the perfect sacrifice, death could not hold Him. He has justified
us before a thrice holy God by what he has done in our stead.
It has already been proved, as Walter said last week, and this
was just amazing to me when he said this, and it opened my eyes. The proof of that is Jesus Christ
was raised from the dead. He has justified us. So what
is the result of him first keeping the law of God every jot and
tittle and being made a curse and sin for us? So what is the
end of what he accomplished? Romans 5 10, it says, for if
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death
of his son, the first part of that. Jesus Christ has reconciled
us to God. We now have communion with God.
We are in fact joined in one with God in Christ Jesus. He
has justified us by his death. Romans 3.24 says, being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus. Redemption is that great transaction
that was done by God to God to bring a people back to God, giving
them communion, but not only that, It is far more than what
Adam had with God in the garden. We know Adam failed. What Christ
has done does not just restore us to that state, but far above
that state. We have been made one with him. We are his body, the scripture
says. What we now have is union with
God. We have been brought together
with God by Jesus Christ, our Lord and our great Redeemer and
friend. If we are His, He will keep us
always. He will never leave us nor forsake
us. The law was that nearer of Him
who must first be satisfied, and it is our nearer kinsman,
Redeemer, who has done this work and satisfied God in doing it,
thereby being the perfect sacrifice for sin. Stand still. Rest. See what God says in His
word about how salvation is accomplished. What Christ did is perpetual
as we have read before in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 12. Neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered
into once into the holy place, having obtained eternal, that
is perpetual redemption for us. Christ and what he did gave us
eternal life through him. If Christ has done this, he has
worked out this for us, why would we then turn back to that mirror
of kin? If you do that, it will be with
you. As Paul told the Galatians, you have been bewitched. You
have been bewitched by others telling you lies and you have
been bewitched by your own wicked heart. I know that my Lord Jesus
Christ has redeemed his people from their sin. Why? Because
it has been confirmed. It has been witnessed to. It
has been proven. Now let's go back and read verses
7 through 11 in Ruth 4. 7 through 11, Ruth 4. Now this was the manner in former
time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing. For
to confirm all things, a man plucked off his shoe and gave
it to his neighbor, and this was a testimony in Israel. Therefore the kinsman said unto
Boaz, buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe, and
Boaz said unto the elders and unto all the people, ye are witnesses
this day that I have bought all that was Alemalech's and all
that was Chilion's and Melon's of the hand of Naomi. Moreover,
Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Malon, have I purchased to
be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance,
that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren,
and from the gate of his place. Ye are witnesses this day. And
all the people that were in the gate and the elders said, We
are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that
is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which too
did build the house of Israel, and do thou worthily in Ephratah,
and be famous in Bethlehem. Our Redeemer has been given by
the nearer of kin that token which signifies there is acceptance
of the transaction. He pulled off his shoe and gave
it to Boaz.