Better than 200 years ago, a
believing woman gave birth to a son whom she would be compelled
by God's providence and grace to leave when he was just four
years old. She instructed her son and prayed
for her son until the day the Lord took her out of this world,
but when she was just four years old, the Lord took her. His father was not a commendable
character, and the boy was jerked into the post until he was about
twelve years old and joined his uncle on a sailing vessel. And
he found that the most lucrative form of cargo in those days,
and that to which he was most naturally inclined in his ungodliness,
was slave trading, and he sailed back and forth to Africa, various
islands, trading in human cargo. Finally, he was himself captured
by an African tribesman, actually a tribal woman, a woman who was
head of one of the tribes in Africa, and she treated him as
a dog. She staked him out under the
shrubs and threw waste food to him, and that's how he lived
until he was finally able to escape. But that didn't change
his heart. At last, the Lord God was pleased
to save that wretched devil by his grace, and he never got over
it. His name was John Newsome. He's
the man who wrote that hymn we love to sing, Amazing Grace.
found that saved a wretch like me. He's one of my favorite preachers
to read after. His sermons are full of Christ,
full of grace. Everything he writes, full of
Christ, full of grace. Or everything he wrote, I should
say. When Newton was put into ministry, he had an office at
Olney, and there he prepared his sermons, and there he wrote
his hymns, hundreds of them. And hanging directly in front
of his desk, in large letters, was the text for my message this
evening, Deuteronomy chapter 15 and verse 15. He had these words written out
in large script, hanging before him, so that all the time as
he would study, as he would write, as he would prepare his sermons,
as he would write his hymns, it looked up. It was like I'm
looking at that clock now, and it was right in front of him. and
thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of
Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee. Let God be pleased now
to inscribe in our hearts by the finger of his grace the sweet
blessed memory of his redeeming work for us and in us by Christ
Jesus. One day, William Jay was visiting
Mr. Newton, and Jay lived in a community
called Bath. And Jay wrote this story in his
autobiography, so I'm not out of turn telling it. He said he
was visiting Newton, and as he was greeting Newton, said to
him, he said, it's so good to have you. And so good to have
you here on this occasion. He said, I have before me a letter
from a certain gentleman, and he called his name, who lives
in Bath. Do you know him? And William Jay said, Oh, I know
him well. He used to come and sit under my ministry, but now
he's afloat. He has a reputation for wickedness
and every vile behavior. He is characterized by those
things. And Miss Newton said, Perhaps. Lord converted him, he writes
a remarkable letter. And Jay responded this way, he
said, I can only say that if ever he should be converted,
I should despair of no one. And John Newton replied to his
friend, and I have never despaired of anybody since I was converted
myself. Mr. J sings, at least for the
moment, to the forgotten. Thou wast a bondman in Egypt,
and the Lord thy God hath redeemed thee. Mr. Newton, did God teach
us not to forget, but to remember? May God the Holy Spirit now bring
to our memories the amazing grace of our God in delivering our
soul from bondage, May he use it to melt our hearts in devotion
to him for the glory of his name. Now, I want this evening to talk
to you about just two things. I'm going to talk to you for
a little bit about redemption, and then I'm going to talk to
you about remembrance. First, redemption. Oh, what a
subject. There's nothing that thrills
my soul like redemption. I love to think about it. to
study about it, to sing about it, to hear about it. It's my
joy, my song, and my message. I delight to preach redemption. I love to proclaim to you the
redeeming work of God in Jesus Christ our Lord. The Lord God
redeemed Israel by blood. He redeemed them by power, and
by bringing them at last into the full possession of all that
he promised in his covenant that he made with Abraham, to bring
them into, and to give them by possession, all the land of Canaan. The physical redemption and deliverance
of Israel out of Egypt was intended by God to be, and stands today,
as a typical picture of our redemption by Christ and our deliverance
by the grace of our God in Jesus Christ from the bondage of sin,
of Satan, and of the world. He redeemed Israel in three ways,
and the Lord has redeemed us in three ways. First, there was
a reduction by price. When we think about reduction,
always remember that reduction means more than simply paying
a price. Rejection means deliverance by
a fire. Our Lord God first must do something
for Himself before He could do something for us. He must clarify
His own justice before He could deliver us from the curse of
the law. And so He redeems us by fire. The Jews were redeemed from Egypt
by the blood of the Paschal Lamb, and they were redeemed from Egypt
by the blood of the Egyptians themselves. Even so, the Lord
God has redeemed us by the price of blood. Blood infinitely, indescribably
more valuable than the blood of goats and of calves. Infinitely
more indescribable and more valuable than the blood of men themselves,
yea, even of nations. Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
by the shedding of his precious blood as our substitute, has
made atonement for our sins and redeemed us from the curse of
the law. Turn to 1 Peter chapter 1 for
a moment. 1 Peter chapter 1. There are many, many passages
we could look at, but let's never tire of reading what the Scripture
says to us to instruct us in redemption. The Lord Jesus, his
own self, bare our sins in his own body on the tree. That we,
being dead to sin, dead by virtue of his death, should live under
righteousness by whose stripes you are healed. Now, this is
what Peter says in 1 Peter 1, 18. For as much as you know,
you know, this is a given, this is a fact, every believer knows
Every believer knows. Did you hear me? Every believer
knows. I know that God Almighty stays
centered by his grace. I know that salvation is the
work of God in the heart of a man. But God doesn't work in your
heart by bypassing your mind. He teaches you something. He
teaches you the gospel. You know You know, Peter writes
to his strangers and foreigners scattered here and there, these
elect men and women whom God had chosen and called by his
grace. And he says, you know, now I'm telling you, if you're
born of God, you know this. You know that you will not be
redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your
vain conversation received by tradition from your father. The
Lord didn't deliver you from the benefit of your life. That's
what he's talking about. The benefit of your life. That
life which you lived in the course of this world, being led by the,
like a lamb to the slaughter, by the road of walking to destruction. That very manner of life. He
wasn't delivered from that by the price of some dishes at me
and Jim. by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spots, who verily was foreordained before
the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last
times for you. This Lamb, by whose blood we
are redeemed, his blood is precious, because it's his blood. It's
the blood of him who is God incarnate. It's the blood of a Lamb ordained
by God before the world began, the blood of a Lamb accepted
by God for the pardon of our sins. For Christ also hath suffered
for sin, the just for the unjust. There's no other way whereby
God could save us that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. Now turn to Isaiah
chapter 43, and I want you to see this. Having sacrificed his
darling son to save us, the Lord God will not hesitate. Now listen to me. He will not
hesitate to sacrifice anything or anyone else, even as he sacrificed
the firstborn of Egypt, Pharaoh, and all the armies of Egypt to
deliver Israel. I'm telling you, Bobby Estes,
if he gave his son for you, he'll give anything and anybody for
you. Anything and anybody. Can you get hold of this? Look
what it says, Isaiah 43 verse 1. But now doth saith the Lord
that created thee, O Jacob, he that born thee, O Israel, fear
not, fear not. Now how come? You tell me don't
be afraid? On what basis? You tell me be
calm, be at ease, rest my soul? On what basis? I have redeemed. Now, there's not a stronger text
in all the Bible to declare the distinctiveness of Christ's redeeming
work, and the distinctiveness of God's love, and the distinctiveness
of his grace. If he has redeemed everybody,
if he has loved everybody, if he has called everybody, then
this text of Scripture is utterly meaningless. And the bid that
comes from his graciousness, fear not, is a mockery. It's
another mockery. But it has power, yes. It has
efficacy through our hearts, because we know something. I've
redeemed you. Oh my God has redeemed me. Now what shall I fear? Look at
this. I have called you. I've called you by name. You're
mine. Verse two. When thou passest
through the waters, through the waters you will pass if I've
redeemed you. If I've called you, you're going
to walk with me through these waters. But when you do, I will
be with me. And through the rivers they shall
not overflow thee, when thou walkest through the fire." I
love the language he uses. When you walk through the fire,
following me, fire is in your path, following me, deep water
is in your path, following me, rivers of water in your path,
but you walk through them. You walk through them, believing
me. And when you walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned."
Not going to have any damaging effect upon you. Look at this.
Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Now how can I be sure
of that? For I am the Lord thy God, the
Holy One of Israel, thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom,
Ethiopia and Cuba for thee. Since thou were precious in my
sight, thou hast been honorable, look at this now, and I have
loved thee. Therefore will I give men for
thee and people for thy life. What a word of grace. What a
word of assurance! He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? The Lord God has redeemed us
by Christ, and he has redeemed us by power. The word redemption,
as I said a moment ago, implies far more than merely paying the
ransom price. Whenever you think about Christ's
great work of redemption, always remember that all for whom the
ransom price was paid must and shall be delivered. In Bible
terms, redemption means this. It means deliverance as well
as ransom. It means deliverance on the basis
of ransom paid. He'd been redeemed by the ransom
of Christ's precious blood, and we have been delivered from the
bondage of sin, Satan, and the law by the irresistible power
of God's sovereign grace. Our Lord God came to us in the
day of his grace, and made us willing to come out from the
land of bondage. just as he made Israel willing
to come out of Egypt. When he made the shackles and
the bondage bitter to them, then they cried out for mercy. And
when he makes sin bitter to your soul, you'll cry out for mercy.
Not only did he make them willing to come out, he made them able
to come out, and made them come out. Thy people, the scripture
says, shall be willing in the day of thy power. But willing
is not sufficient. How shall they come out? Blessed
is the man whom thou choosest and calls us to approach him
today. Pastor, how can I be free from
this bondage? Only if God Almighty comes to
you like He came to Lazarus of old and calls you and says, come
out. And I'm going to tell you something. If He ever calls you, you'll
come out. You'll come out. He brought them
out, and so he brought us out by the power of his grace. And
then there is redemption by possession as well. You don't need to turn
around and look at it, but for these folks who just have to
keep insisting that the Lord hasn't yet fulfilled all of his
promises to Israel, you know, they never have really possessed
the land, they never had all that God promised them, listen
to this. when he brought Israel into the land of Canaan, this
is what he said, And behold, this day you know in all your
heart and in all your soul that not one thing has failed of the
good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All
are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
Now what's the significance of that? Our Lord Jesus Christ,
our great Joshua Lager, before he's done, he's going to complete
this thing of redemption by putting us into possession of all that
God promised us in our surety before the world began. He said
not one word had failed. And when our Lord presents us
holy and unblamable before the presence of his glory, he will
declare to us, children of God, here it is, the kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation of the world, and it's yours. He
will put us in possession of all that was promised us. Now
then, let me talk to you a little bit about remembering. Our text says, thou shalt remember. that thou wast a bondman in the
land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee." The remembrance of God's mercy,
remembering our bondage and his redemption, ought to have a constant,
profound effect upon our lives. I keep going back to this elementary
and yet most profound of all gospel truths. Because I need
constantly reminding. And I keep preaching it to you
because I know you need constantly reminding. The remembrance of
God's mercy and grace in the redemption of our souls, oh my
soul it ought to make us humble before God. who make the things
that differ from another. I know that, you know, it's become
a common saying because some Puritan some time ago wrote,
he saw a toad and he said, but for the grace of God I would
be as this toad. And we look at things and say,
there but for the grace of God go I. Let me tell you something. The only thing that distinguishes
us from any beastly human being in this world. The only thing
that distinguishes us from the reprobate in hell at this hour
is the distinguishing grace of God. I know that for most folks, that's
just unbelievable. And I know that We shut our eyes
to it, but I'm telling you, nothing distinguishes us from any human
being except the redeeming love, mercy, and grace of our God.
So who makes us need to differ from another? And what hast thou
that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it,
why dost thou glow red as if thou hadst not received it? So
remember, it's the God's redeeming grace ought to make us thankful. It's not likely that any of us
possesses everything that we think we'd like to have. It may
be that some have difficulties and needs that no one knows except
you and God. But let me tell you something.
Let me tell you something. Whatever your circumstances,
whatever circumstances God in his providence brings you into,
if God Almighty has reached down from the throne of his grace
in heaven to the pit of hell and picked us up from the pit. Merle, we ought ever to be thankful. Lord, do with me what you will,
just whatever you will. You saved me by your grace, that's
enough. Oh, infinitely more than enough.
The remembrance of redemption ought to make us patient. You see, this is not the hour
of our honor. We crave attention and honor.
We bow and scrape and kiss feet and do everything we can to get
folks to pay us a little attention, give us a little honor. What's
the seriousness? This is not the hour of our honor.
Wait a while, just wait a while, the Lord's promise is sure, and
the honor he'll give is everlasting honor that will cause us ever
to rejoice in his presence because of the honor he has put upon
us. This redemption, the remembrance
of it, ought to teach us contentment. The Apostle Paul knew something
about it. But he was a prisoner awaiting execution. He said this,
I know both how to be abased and how to abound. Everywhere
and in all things I'm instructed both to be full and to be hungry,
both to abound and suffer need. I can do all things through Christ
with faithfulness. Now let me tell you something. The person known to me who quoted that verse of scripture,
Philippians 4.13, more often in my years than anyone else,
was the most grumbling, discontent human being I have met in my
life. And yet, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me. Constant, constant praise. Paul's talking about? It's what
it says, I can suffer anything, endure anything, bear anything,
put up with anything, and be content with my God and His grace,
through Christ the strengthens me. And look, you know I told
them back when I was in college, of course it's getting worse
these days, religion is just nuts. It's just nuts. You know,
folks go around, when I was in college, I started with judo
teams, going around chopping blocks for Jesus. And they'd
get up, I can do all things through Christ with strength and ability.
Boom. That's a mockery of God and His grace. It's a mockery. Mockery of men's souls. This
text is talking about faith. It's talking about the experiential
knowledge of grace and redemption. My God's redeemed me. Whatever
my God does with me, to me, in me, for me, or against me, in
the appearance of my eyes or the eyes of men, I'll endure
it with peace. He's my God. The remembrance of redemption
certainly ought to make us kind and gracious. Read at your leisure
the entire 15th chapter of Deuteronomy. The whole chapter is talking
about dealing with needy people around you. And he says, now
this is the reason I call on you and demand of you that you
be gracious, because you were a bondman. Now remember, bondman. I've delivered you, now you deliver
others. I've been gracious to you, you
be gracious to your neighbor. It ought to make us hopeful.
Hopeful certainly for ourselves. Beloved, now are we the sons
of God. Right now, Oscar baby, just like
we are, in this, oh, in this hell of a shape, and
that's just what it is. That's just what we are right
now. We are the sons of God. Imagine what we're going to be.
It does not yet appear what we shall be. I have hope things
are going to get better. Things are going to get better.
God's going to make us like his son. And we ought to have hope
for others. I've despaired of none since
God saved me by his grace. This remembrance of redemption.
Oh, if anything can make a man zealous for Christ. If anything
can get hold of your heart, make you consecrate yourself to him.
It's the remembrance of God's grace and redemption in Christ.
Nothing else will do it. I told you about John Newton
earlier, when he was an old man and his health was failing, he
was often asked why he didn't go ahead and retire. And this
was the answer he gave. What? Shall the old African black
saber leave off preaching Christ while there's breath in his body?
No. He remembered that he was a bondman
in the land of Egypt, and the Lord God had redeemed him. Now, let me see if I can make some practical application
of this. You read the book of Deuteronomy,
beginning at chapter 5, go right through chapter 26, then you'll
find that everything instituted in the worship and service of
God, everything, I challenge you, read them, read them carefully.
Everything instituted in the worship and service of God was
inspired by this remembrance. Remember, I've redeemed you. Remember where you were and what
you were, now remember, I've redeemed you. I call on you, my brothers and
sisters, to remember. Whenever the house of worship
is open, and God say, gather in his house to worship him.
Remember, you were a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the
Lord thy God redeemed you. When the offering plate is passed,
you have opportunity to take of your bounty and give. Remember, you were a bondman
in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you. Give
a course in that. When the property needs attention,
remember, remember, you said in your prayer, what a blessing,
God's established a place for us to worship. Act like it. Act like it. When the church
building needs cleaning, well I've done my part. Oh, I cringe
every time I hear somebody say, done my part. Remember, you were
a bondman in Egypt. Lord God redeemed you. Now talk
about doing your part. Now talk about doing your part.
When someone needs a little help, you have opportunity to show
some hospitality, when you have opportunity to bear faithful
witness to the things of God, remember, you were a bystander. The Lord redeemed you. Remember. When time comes to make a decision
between right and wrong, temptations are before you everywhere.
And you have to make decisions every day. Every day. Every one
of you have to make decisions every day. I don't know why it's such a
tough decision. I don't understand it. I really
don't. With you or me. I really don't. And the fact is that it's a tough
decision. It's a tough decision because our flesh is just flesh. It's just flesh. Now what do
I do? Will I honor God or please myself? Isn't that amazing? Isn't that amazing? Will I do
the will of God or my own will? Will I, uh, will I do what I
know is right, or will I do what I know will make somebody else
happy? And usually it's not make somebody
else happy, it's usually make me happy. What you gonna do? God helped us to remember. We
were bondsmen in the land of Egypt, and the Lord our God has
redeemed us. Thou hast to vouch the Lord this
day to be thy God and to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes
and his commandments and his judgments, to hearken to his
voice. For what was there is, I'm his, I'm
his. Act like him. When you choose your companions, remember, Remember who your companions
must be, must be. Children of God, old and young
alike, old and young alike. I wish mamas and daddies, grandmas
and grandpas who set a proper example for these young ones
following our steps, and they do follow our steps. When you
choose your companion, Choose for your companions those who
have been bonded with you in Egypt and have been redeemed
by God's grace. You don't have anything in common
with those who still love the bondage. There's nothing in common. Now as we come together tonight
once more at this blessed table and eat this bread and drink
this wine, our Lord Jesus says, this do in remembrance of me. Remember, thou wast a bondman
in the land of Egypt, and Bob the Lord your God as we did. Don Fortner, you were a bondman
in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your hesitate. Don't forget it for
a second. Amen. Thank you for listening.