OUR BLESSED REDEEMER - Part II
Ruth 3:10-18
Tom carried his new boat to the edge of the river. He carefully placed it in the water and slowly let out the string. It sailed smoothly on the water! Tom sat in the warm sunshine, admiring the little boat that he had built. Suddenly a strong current caught the boat. Tom tried to pull it back to shore, but the string broke. The little boat raced downstream. Tom ran along the sandy shore as fast as he could. But his little boat soon slipped out of sight. All afternoon he searched for the boat. Finally, when it was too dark to look any longer, Tom sadly went home. A few days later, on the way home from school, Tom spotted a boat just like his in a store window. When he got closer, he could see -- sure enough -- it was his!
Tom hurried to the store manager: "Sir, that's my boat in your window! I made it!" The manager said "Sorry, son, but someone else brought it in this morning. If you want it, you'll have to buy it for one dollar." Tom ran home and counted all his money. Exactly one dollar! When he reached the store, he rushed to the counter. "Here's the money for my boat." As he left the store, Tom hugged his boat and said, "Now you're twice mine. First, I made you and now I bought you."
The Lord has done the same for me, first He made me, then He bought me! God created us and He has redeemed us. Our redemption was the reason that Jesus took on a robe of flesh and came to earth. Last week we began to examine the progression in the relationship between Ruth and Boaz. Their story paints a beautiful picture of redemption.
- I would like to return to Ruth 3 and preach the second half of a sermon entitled "Our Blessed Redeemer".
REVIEW
- In Part one of this message we examined the fact that:
I. WE SHOULD ASSESS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR REDEEMER
- We saw that we should:
A. Consider Where We Were
B. Consider Where We Are
C. Consider Where We Should Be
- We also saw that:
II. WE SHOULD ADVANCE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR REDEEMER
We should do what is necessary to grow closer to Him each day.
- And finally we considered the fact that:
III. WE SHOULD APPRECIATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR REDEEMER
We should appreciate Who our Redeemer is. He is none other than the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we should appreciate all that He has done in order to redeem us. As we continue to consider this subject of redemption we will see Our Blessed Redeemer's Purpose, His Passion, His Provisions and His Power.
- Let's start by examining:
I. OUR BLESSED REDEEMER'S PURPOSE v1-5
Simply stated, the purpose of a redeemer is to provide redemption. Redemption is the process of buying back someone from bondage by the payment of a price; it is to set free by paying a ransom. This is exactly what Boaz would soon do for Ruth. Ruth has learned that the land owner who has been so kind to her was a close relative of her late husband named Boaz. This meant that Boaz was qualified to be Ruth's redeemer.
Verses 1-5 show us that Ruth's desire was to draw closer to her redeemer. She is going to take the proper steps to do just that. Ruth washed herself, changed her clothes and put on a sweet smelling perfume. She then went to where her redeemer was.
Boaz was at the "threshing floor". This was the place where the grain was processed. When she arrived at the threshing floor Ruth bowed down at the feet of her redeemer. That is exactly where we should abide each day ...we should bow humbly at the feet of our Redeemer!
Ephesians 1:7 says we have redemption through {Jesus} blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
The Greek word for redemption is literally translated “paid in full” . This was the same word that would be stamped across bills when they were paid. Jesus stamped “paid in full” on my sin debt at Calvary. Because of His work of redemption, I stand before you REDEEMED!
- When He left Heaven and came to earth Jesus' plan was to redeem you and I, and the scriptures tell us that He was willing to pay a great price in order to provide this redemption. Let's take a moment and consider:
II. OUR BLESSED REDEEMER'S PASSION
v11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I. 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the LORD liveth:
As near kinsman, Boaz was Ruth's only hope of redemption. Verse 12 tells us that there was a relative who was closer in relation, but he was unwilling to take on the responsibility of redeeming Ruth. Boaz was the only one who had the opportunity, the ability and the desire to redeem her. Boaz took an interest in Ruth the first time he laid eyes on her. He saw her need and he had an intense desire to protect and provide for her. In fact, he was willing to do whatever was necessary to redeem her. Notice what he says in - v11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest:
Jesus was willing to do all that was necessary in order to redeem you, and He paid a great price to do just that! Jesus was betrayed, arrested, falsely tried and wrongly convicted, He was Scourged, (John 19:1) and He was beaten (Luke 22:63). After this Jesus was spat on, stripped and mocked (Matthew 27:27-30). Then they took our Savior and spat on Him, stripped Him naked, plucked out His beard and placed a scarlet robe on His back and made a crown of thorns and jammed it onto His head. Then they blasphemously bowed and cried “Hail, King of the Jews”
What horrible pain and humiliation Jesus faced! Never forget that everything He endured He endured for you! Jesus willingly took our place and paid our sin debt!
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
After being falsely tried & convicted, scourged, beaten, stripped & mocked, Jesus was then crucified. John 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
Jesus was forced to carry His cross to the execution site. They placed Jesus on that cross. The soldiers drove spikes that were over 7 inches long into His hands and feet. For 6 hours our Savior hung there in agony and shame. Jesus is "The Lamb Of God” , He was without spot or blemish, He is the sinless Son of God! We are the ones who were guilty, we deserve death and Hell, but thanks to the amazing grace of God our sins were transferred onto Him! Jesus took our penalty upon Himself, He willingly laid down His life to pay the price to redeem us! Because of His sacrifice, our sin debt is now paid in full, and because of this we are redeemed! Our blessed Redeemer was willing to do whatever was necessary to secure our redemption. I am thankful for His passion for us!
- Not only do we see His purpose and His passion, as we move further we will see:
III. OUR BLESSED REDEEMER'S PROVISION - v15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
The first time Boaz saw Ruth she was gleaning barley in his field. He immediately took a personal interest in her life. He ensured that she had more than enough food to eat. He also invited her to an impromptu lunch date. After this he sent her home with plenty of leftovers. In fact, every time you see these two together Boaz is loading Ruth up with more provisions than she needed. It was his desire to bless her and he did so abundantly!
This happens again in our selected text. v15 Also he said, Bring the vail that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and she went into the city.
It is estimated that this was anywhere from 60 to 80 pounds of barley. Ruth's redeemer continuously gave her more than she could have asked for!
That is the case for us as well! Our blessed Redeemer has shown us mercy. He has provided us with grace. He has secured our salvation. He has lavished us with His unconditional love. He has adopted us into His family. He is our Abba Father. He has provided us with a home where we can dwell with Him forever. Not only has He provided us with eternal life in Heaven, He has done what is necessary to provide us with abundant life here and now!
We could never have asked for any of these things. There is no way that we would ever be able to deserve the blessings God has bestowed upon us. The reality is that only thing that we deserve is hell. Apart from grace... Heaven would be an absolute impossibility. If God had stopped at redemption, that would be far more than we could ever deserve. But He did not stop there, and we experience His blessings and provision each and every day! None of this would be possible without "Our Blessed Redeemer".
Though there was another who was a near kinsman of Ruth, it was Boaz's desire to redeem her himself. He assured her that he would do all that was required to take care of her. This is a great picture of Jesus and His great work of redemption in our lives.
- Now that we have seen Our Blessed Redeemer's Purpose, His Passion and His Provision, I would like to conclude by examining:
IV. OUR BLESSED REDEEMER'S POWER
v16 And when she came to her mother in law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother in law. 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.
In verse 18 Naomi assured Ruth that Boaz would not rest until he had done all that was required concerning her. What Naomi said about Boaz can be said about the Lord Jesus. He did not rest until His work was complete. There on the cross when all things were accomplished He cried "it is finished". Jesus was victorious over death, Hell and the grave! He has defeated sin and Satan.
Our Redeemer has done what nothing else and no one else could do for you! Any other attempt at redemption comes up short. Your works are not sufficient to redeem you! Your good morals are not sufficient to redeem you! Religion is not sufficient enough to redeem you! The Law was not a sufficient means of redemption! No other person or self proclaimed "god" has the ability to redeem you! Jesus is your only hope and I am glad to report that He has the power to redeem you! He has already paid the ransom which sets us free.
When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, God demanded punishment for man's sin. Jesus endured that punishment. He did what we could not do. At Calvary, Jesus built a bridge so that sinful man could reach a Holy God.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
We have the opportunity to be redeemed thanks to the precious blood of Jesus
Boaz was about to set in motion the process of redeeming Ruth. Ruth had done her part, and you will notice that all she could do was to present herself to her redeemer. She had to trust in him to do the rest. That is all that is required of you! Humbly bow at the feet of the Redeemer and present yourself to Him and then trust Him to do the rest. Trust in Him to cleanse you from your sins today.
If you believe that He died on the cross, if you believe that He rose from the dead the third day, if you believe His shed blood will wash away your sins, then you can be saved
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Come to Him for redemption today, and then you can sing:
"Redeemed, Redeemed how I love to proclaim it
Redeemed, Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
Redeemed through His infinite mercy
His child and forever I am
Redeemed, Redeemed
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
Redeemed, Redeemed
Redeemed His child and forever I am"
Praise God for "Our Blessed Redeemer"!
