Amazing Grace

AMAZING GRACE

Ruth Chapter 2:1-13

The Book of Ruth is the eight Book in the Bible. In biblical numerology eight is the number for NEW BEGINNINGS. As we look at Ruth we see in her life the amazing grace of God that transforms not only her being but her circumstances. That's what God's grace does, transforms your life and circumstances. Boaz is a type of Christ and Ruth a type of who we were and are as Christians.

THE AMAZING GRACE OF GOD

A) She Was Rejected

Notice in verse two that she is called and identified as “Ruth the Moabitess.” When Boaz asked his servant who the stranger in his field was, the servant answered, “It is the Moabite woman” (Vs.6). We might say that someone is from Canada, Mexico, etc, and not think anything about it. But to a Jew, to say that one was from Moab, had serious significance. God had said, "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever” (Deut.23:3) The Ammonites and the Moabites, because of their wickedness, were subjected to disgrace by God and the nation of Israel. They were not permitted to hold any office among the Israelites.

Nationally Ruth was a member of a race that was judged and condemned by God. It was a nation and people under condemnation. It was a nation and people that were divinely rejected. Ruth in type is a picture of us all before God saved us. We all were sinners under condemnation. Because of our wicked state and life, we were cut off from a Holy God. We were under the wrath and judgment of a Holy God.

Paul described our condition in Ephesians 2:2-3, "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

Paul tells us that we were Satanically dominated. We walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air. We lived under Satan's control and lived according to Satan's commands. We were also spiritually disobedient. The spirit of disobedience worked within us. We were rebellious to God's Word; we were resistant of God's ways, and we were resentful of God's will. As well, we were sensually depraved. We lived our lives fulfilling the lusts and desires of the flesh and mind living lives that were immoral, wicked, and carnal. Furthermore, we were sequentially damned. We were as a result, by nature children of wrath. We were individuals under the condemnation and wrath of God. We were no better off than Ruth, she was no worse off than us. We were all sinners under condemnation.

Yet, we see that:

B) She Was Received

Ruth was first called a Moabitess, but now notice how she was addressed in verse 8: “Then said Boaz unto Ruth, ‘Heart thou not, my daughter?” Boaz didn’t receive her as a foreigner, but as family. He called her “my daughter,” not a Moabitess. The law rejected her, but Boaz received her.

Is this not the story of us all. We were condemned and without hope, but by God’s amazing grace, we have been accepted in the beloved. We were sinners, but by grace we are saints. We were children of wrath, but now we are the children of God. Once we had no hope, but now we have a blessed hope. Once we were rejected, but now we are received. God can take a poor worthless, devastated hell-bound sinner, condemned by God, wash him in the blood of Jesus Christ and make him a son of God. We call that grace! John said, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (I Jhn.3:2) That's God's amazing grace. Paul said, "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Eph.6). That's God's amazing grace. Peter said, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy" (I Pet.2:9-10).

Ruth was a Moabitess, but to Boaz she was a daughter. She had been rejected, but now she is received. Instead of getting what she deserved she found grace. How amazing the grace of God.