Remarkable Redeemer, James 1:12-18
Introduction
A sign in a convenience store read, “Check Cashing Policy: To err is human. To forgive, $10.” It’s a funny way to recognize the fact that we make mistakes, but it’s also evidence of the way many people think about forgiveness. To forgive is to accept within yourself the consequences of the sins of others. It means to accept the pain, the problems and the burden that comes when someone sins against you.
Forgiveness is neither an easy nor a frequent gift.
This is what God has done for us: “. . . knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18, 19 NKJV).
What did God give for our forgiveness? It wasn’t money or anything of wealth or value in worldly terms. He gave His Son. Jesus took upon Himself the burden of our sins. Jesus, remarkable redeemer, savior of the world, savior of my soul!
Transition
This morning, as we enter the second Sunday of Advent, as we look forward to the coming of Christ in such humble a manner as a baby in a manger; I want to talk to you about the remarkable redeemer. We will explore the extraordinary message of God descending into human flesh to save you and me.
The Christmas message is nothing short of amazing because it is nothing short of miraculous. Imagine, God in the flesh? Who can fully comprehend the magnitude of such a glorious reality; Jesus, remarkable redeemer, providing a means of salvation for all humanity and more specifically my sins; the sins that I hide and the sins that I do not see; those sins about which I am surrounded and those sins which plague my soul; those sins which live without and within.
This morning, we will talk about Jesus, the only Savior; our remarkable redeemer.
Exposition
It has been well said that Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe because you and I owed a debt that we could not pay. Redemption in Christ is about much more than merely finding temporary encouragement or event great encouragement.
In order to clearly discuss the nature of our remarkable redeemer – Jesus Christ – it is first necessary to give some definition to the term. Remarkable is of course that which is noteworthy, unique, or worthy of mention to someone else. Redemption, in biblical terms, is primarily about being justified in the sight of God.
Redemption in Christ is about having been made into a new creation. It is about being bought back at a price. At what price have we been bought back, you may ask; At the most costly price of all; the blood of our remarkable redeemer, our Saviour, Jesus Christ!
And from whom is it that we are bought back, you say; from the consequences of human sin, namely, enslavement to selfishness and destruction in this life, and to the power of the great enemy of our souls, that fallen, formerly most high angel of God, Satan, who the Bible says seeks to devour us with the trappings of sin and the empty promises of worldly pleasure which promise much but deliver only sorrow.
Redemption is a term that is thrown around a lot but seldom defined. We find it in our theological literature, in our hymnals, and even in popular media, though there it is often used as merely a tag line for someone whose situation improved.
Here are the facts concerning the fallen and sinful state that humanity finds itself in collectively and that each one of us finds ourselves in individually. By nature man is a transgressor and a criminal. We have inherited a sin nature that pervades everything we do, every thought that we have, every impulse that is natural to man is corrupted but selfish desires that dishonor God.
This does not mean that a person can do nothing good or upright or pleasing to God. What it does mean is that in relation to the purity and holiness of almighty God, all of our good works, good intentions, and well wishing are absolutely and completely bankrupt. Without Him working in us we can not please Him.
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (NIV) The penalty for our collective sin is the curse which we find upon the earth, the violence that nature wreaks all around us. Where there was once perfection in the garden, as accounted in the book of Genesis, now there is corrupt imperfection.
But the message of redemption is this. We who were born enslaved to sin have been set free in Christ! Hallelujah! We, who were born captives of the ruler of this world, have become joint heirs with Christ in His glory!
As the result of the birth of the redeemer, we have the privilege of being reborn unto life eternal and incorruption. Where there was once only the promise of separation from God as the result of sin, now there is the promise, blessed assurance, of eternal and intimate connection with God.
Colossians 1:21-23 says, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (NIV)
Illustration
Although Charles Wesley had been engaged in preaching the gospel with much diligence and earnestness, he did not know what it was to enjoy peace with God until he was in his thirtieth year. Being laid low by an alarming illness, and seeming as if he were going to die, a young Moravian named Peter Bohler, who was undergoing a course of preparation by him to go out as a missionary, asked him, “Do you hope to be saved?” Charles answered, “Yes.” “For what reason do you hope it?” “Because I have used my best endeavors to serve God,” was his reply. The Moravian shook his head and said no more. That sad, silent, significant shake of the head shattered all Charles Wesley’s false foundation of salvation by endeavors. He was afterwards taught by Peter Bohler the way of the Lord more perfectly, and brought to see that by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ men are justified. And now in his sick-room he was able to write for the first time in his life, “I now find myself at peace with God”; and it was on this occasion he composed that beautiful hymn, “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!”
Our hope likewise need only rest in the finished work of our remarkable redeemer. Our righteousness is not about our righteousness. Our righteousness is the gift of the imputation, the transfer, of the righteousness of Christ credited, as it were, to our account. The debt that we couldn’t pay, He paid.
The price of sin was far greater than that which we could ever hope to repay so God in Christ paid that debt for us; becoming what He was always intended to be; the only and surest hope for humanity. The purity and singularity of that message is not very popular in today’s churches, in today’s pulpits, or its pews, is it?
The blessed assurance of old has become the power of positive thinking of today.
Where men and woman of God once stood on the solid foundation of the single unique message of Christ they now stand on the shifting sand of the pluralistic message of the modern worldview; a worldview that tells us that Jesus Christ in no way intrinsically unique of any special worth.
The message coming out of so many churches today is little different than the message coming from the culture. Buy now, pay later. Have it your way. All roads lead to the same place. The prevailing message of the culture and, dare I say of much of the Church, is that Jesus is but one among many ways of relating to God. To so many in our day, The remarkable redeemer of Scripture has become little more than a whimsical hippie with Birkenstocks and the long hair to match.
The celebration of the birth of the King of Kings has become little more than an opportunity to make a few extra bucks and exchange a few gifts. In all of our holiday cheer, let us never forget to celebrate the birth of our God and King! Even as we celebrate around the Christmas tree, let us remember the purpose of His coming; do ultimately redeem us back to himself on Calvary’s tree.
Conclusion
Recently, I read the story of a traveler in China who remarked on the fact that all the time he was there, some two and a half years; he never saw a single monument or tombstone marking the grave of a child. This is very remarkable, remembering the people’s ancestor and grave worship. The whole countryside is a densely populated cemetery, and yet no tokens of the burial of children. Buddhism and Confucianism ignore the child; only in Christ do we see the beauty of God taking on the very form of humanity and being born; a child.
Let the culture say what it may in regard to Christ, but this Christmas season, at this time of Advent as we anticipate His coming, let His Church proclaim the truth that was revealed in Christ. The truth that Jesus himself proclaimed. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6 NIV)
As we travel the advent journey, anticipating the coming of Christ, may we be reminded and encouraged that we celebrate no ordinary man, not even an extraordinary man; we celebrate Jesus Christ, the God-Man, the one and only remarkable redeemer of our souls!
Amen.
