HoHum:
This is one of my favorite jeans. Even though it is one of my favorites, I don't wear it as much as my other jeans. Know why? Evidently I sat on the ground in these jeans and it got this stain.
Well, Crystal has washed these jeans many times and the stain is still there. She has probably used “Shout” but the stain just will not go away.
People are a lot like these jeans. Our lives become stained and dirty by sin and we aren't very pretty to look at. Some people try a lot of things to clean up their lives. Some think that if they will just go to church, they will get clean, but the stain is still there. Some try to do benevolent work to get the stain out like giving food or gifts to the poor, but the stain is still there.
Might never get the stain out of these jeans. Perhaps it is hopeless, but it is not hopeless to get the stain out of our lives. The blood of Jesus can wash away even the worst stains in our lives. The Bible says, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7). Perhaps some of us here have tried everything to get the stain out of our lives, but have we tried the only thing that works? Have we tried Jesus?
WBTU:
Been talking about Ruth and the concept of the kinsman redeemer. Boaz is Ruth’s kinsman redeemer. For Boaz to be Ruth’s kinsman redeemer he must be fit, willing and able.
Talked about how he is fit, he is near of kin. Not the nearest of kin but Boaz has the nearest of kin give up his obligations so that Boaz can redeem Ruth and Naomi.
Talked about how he is willing. Several times Boaz said, “I do,” to marrying Ruth and redeeming Elimelech’s, Naomi’s husband’s, land and taking care of Naomi. Boaz did not have to do these things but he wanted to do them, he voluntarily did them, he was willing.
Now we come to the able part. Was Boaz able to do these things? Even though he is fit as near of kin and willing, this does not mean that he is able?
“A man of standing, whose name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1, NIV. “A man of great wealth...whose name was Boaz.” Ruth 2:1, NAS95. Boaz is a man of wealth and standing in the community. See this throughout the book of Ruth. The main point is that Boaz had to be a person of wealth to buy them out of their poverty. The other kinsman redeemer had 2 out of the 3. He was a man of wealth, he was closer in kin than even Boaz, but not willing.
We need to be redeemed, saved, liberated, from our bondage to sin. We need someone to come and be our kinsman redeemer. Jesus Christ is our kinsman redeemer.
Jesus Christ is fit as our redeemer because he is kin to us. Hebrews 2 says that we are kin. Notice how many times brothers is used in this passage:
Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers (vs. 11)
I will declare your name to my brothers (Vs. 12)
He had to be made like his brothers in every way (Vs. 17)
Jesus is our elder brother, the firstborn. How can we say that? Because we “are of the same family” (vs. 11). He is fit to be our kinsman redeemer because we are “kin.” Jesus left the glories of heaven to be born in a barn to poor parents in an insignificant country. This is what we celebrate at Christmas time. No analogies are sufficient. If Donald Trump were to leave his New York Penthouse and moved into a cardboard shack in the slums of Haiti that still would not be enough to describe what Christ did. One man said it is like a person becoming a slug. Still not enough to describe what Christ did for us.
Jesus Christ is also willing. Jesus Christ was not forced by God the Father or the authorities of earth to give up his life, he freely and willingly gave it for us to redeem us. “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No-one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”” John 10:17, 18, NIV.
Even though Jesus Christ is fit and willing to be our redeemer, is he able? Is he able to redeem all humanity from sin, Satan and the world? “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Hebrews 7:25, NIV.
Thesis: From Hebrews 7:25 let’s talk about uttermost (KJV), completely (NIV) and then how Jesus Christ can save this way
For instances:
Uttermost
Rarely use uttermost, one definition is “most remote or outermost; farthest.” No one knows how far the uttermost is. 4 groups of people that Christ can or will save to the uttermost:
1. Those in the uttermost extent of guilt
In 2 Samuel 11 we find David doing despicable things. First, he commits adultery and conceives a child with Bathsheba. Next, he has Uriah, a fine soldier in his army and Bathsheba’s husband, murdered by the sword of the Ammonites. After this he takes Bathsheba as his wife to cover it all up. In 2 Samuel 12 Nathan the prophet confronts David with his sin. “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” 2 Samuel 12:13, NIV.
This does not do justice to David’s guilt that he suffered and the repentance he expressed. Psalm 51 is about this time in his life. Psalm 51:7- Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psalm 32 also seems to be from that time even though not told. “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”--and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalms 32:5, NIV.
If an adulterer and murderer can be forgiven and have his guilt taken away, then God can save to the uttermost. I have sinned too much and too well to be saved, not true!
2. Those who have rejected the gospel repeatedly.
We do not know how much Saul/ Paul was around when Jesus Christ was crucified. We do know that when Stephen was martyred “the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.” Acts 7:58, NIV. “And Saul was there, giving approval to his death.” Acts 8:1. Stephen boldly preached the gospel and Saul rejected it. Other times he rejected?
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15, 16, NIV.
I have rejected too many times to be saved, not true as we see from Saul/ Paul.
3. Those who are in the uttermost of despair
Naomi wanted people to call her bitter, Mara because of all the losses she had experienced. She even blamed God for her troubles. “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty....The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”” Ruth 1:21, NIV.
We find that Naomi was redeemed, saved in the end. Ruth 4:13-16
Not every story has such a happy ending, but “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.
If we rely, trust in the Lord, he will bring good out of this. “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalms 34:18, NIV.
Completely
Mentioned 4 groups of people. Left off one group, Christians. Able to save us completely?
I trusted Christ for my salvation, redemption, but I have so many temptations and addictions, I fear I will go back to them and leave the God I love. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Hebrews 2:18, NIV. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV.
I know that Christ is my kinsman redeemer but I am so sinful and I often fail. I have a feeling that Christ will reject me when I get to the Judgement Throne because I have sinned and failed him so many times. “To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy--” Jude 1:24, NIV.
A Christian comes to their deathbed and they have many doubts and fears. “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12.
How can Christ save this way?
Can mention several things, but because of his blood.
Jesus Christ’s blood is different from ours. Yes, different because conceived of the HS and remember this at Christmas. However, let’s not go too far there. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity” Hebrews 2:14, NIV. Jesus Christ’s blood is human blood the same as you and I.
No, Jesus Christ’s blood is different because it is sinless blood unlike our blood. Read Hebrews 7:26 and then Hebrews 9:12-14, NIV. Unblemished in NIV, without spot in KJV
Without spot brings us back to my opening illustration. Hold up jeans. Christ will take away all our sin spots if we come to God through Jesus Christ. How? Plan of salvation
Sing, #264 Nothing But the Blood for Invitation and closing
