Grow With Pastor Joe

Man’s greatest problem is not poverty. It is not sickness. Nor is it war, violence, or sickness. Man’s greatest problem is their standing before God. Everyone will stand before God, but each individual only has two ways to stand before Him. One, you can stand before Him dressed in your righteousness which will lead to your own destruction. Or, two, you can stand before Him dressed in the righteousness of Christ and enter into His glorious eternal rest. There is no third option. There is no in between. All of mankind was thrust into guilt in Adam, our federal head, as he willfully sinned against God. In that instant, Adam and the human race plunged into the depths of depraved disobedience on the broad road headed for deserved destruction. But, God who is rich in mercy and grace intervened. God’s grace is His intervention on behalf of sinners, rebels, and even His own enemies. It was the grace of God in the Garden of Eden that shed the innocent blood of an animal to cover guilty, naked, and shamed Adam and Eve. God set that precedent following the very first sin. The pattern of redemption and remission of sin is the story of God’s grace. God’s grace is what redeems sinners through the remission of sins, but it has always been through the shedding of blood. Specifically, there has always needed to be a satisfactory sacrificial substitute (See Gen. 3; Ex. 12; Lev. 17). Man on his own doesn’t have the sufficient righteousness to redeem themselves to bring about the remission of their sins and guilt that comes with it. The incredible story of God’s grace has its climax in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the God-Man, is the supreme and all sufficient satisfactory sacrificial substitute for sinners. He took man’s guilt to give us God’s grace through the gospel, which is His supreme and sufficient death, burial, and resurrection for our redemption and the remission of sins. Apart from Jesus we would only know guilt; but by grace, He shows us our guilt, offers us grace through the gospel, and by faith we receive the gift of redemption and remission of sin.

            The supremacy and sufficiency of Christ is the very heart of Paul’s letter to the Colossians that we have been studying. The cure for the shortcomings of our own wisdom or works is the supremacy and sufficiency of the person and work of Christ. Just as redemption is the theme of the Bible, we see that within the theme of redemption a need to have a supreme and sufficient redeemer. There is no redemption outside of Jesus. The salvation that is offered by man’s works is nothing compared to Christ for there is no salvation outside of His supreme and sufficient redeeming work. Rom. 3:23-26 says, “²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Within the above verses we see man’s greatest problem and the supreme and sufficient provision of redemption in Christ. What is critical for us to understand is that anything added to or taken away from the person and work of Christ is a false gospel that leads to a false salvation. The very basis of our salvation is the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ our redeemer. This will be the focus of our study as we look at Col. 1:14-20 which acts as a poem or song of doxology that declares the supremacy and sufficiency of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. The passage says, “¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶ For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. ¹⁹ For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” Today’s focus will be Col. 1:14 as we see Christ our redeemer. This truth is what the life of the Christian and the life of the church is built on. Not only that, the Christian life and the life of the church is built by this truth. The proclamation of Christ our redeemer is not just for the soul without Christ, but it is even especially for the one who knows Christ to build their life on this truth and to be built up by it. Redemption through the precious blood of Jesus Christ is the life blood of our Christian life and the life of the local church. When or if it ceases to amaze us or move our hearts toward Him (and one another) then we have a deep heart issue. Hearing of God’s grace redeeming us through the supreme and sufficient work of Christ should humble us, move us, and free us. Today, as we look at Col. 1:14, we will see our great Redeemer and our great redemption.

            First, we must see our great Redeemer. In Col. 1:14-20 we see the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ spelled out clearly for all to see. However, in today’s verse we see the continuation of the thought of giving thanks to God for our benefits that are in Christ. Col. 1:12-14 says, “¹² Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Notice the phrase of today’s verse that says, “in whom.” Our redemption and the previously stated benefits that give reason for gratitude in the believer’s life must have an object. Faith must not only have an object, but it must have a worthy object. Who is the “whom?” The “whom” is the “dear Son” who is also declared to be the redeemer, revelator, regulator, and ruler of all in Col. 1:14-20. There are three things to note about our great Redeemer.

One, we must see the superiority of our Redeemer. Who is like Jesus? Who could we compare Him to? There is none like Him. Heb. 1:1-4 and 2:9-11 says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, ² Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; ³ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: ⁴ Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. . . . ⁹ But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. ¹⁰ For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹ For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” Jesus is superior in His person. When we say the person of Christ we are referring to His nature, being, and attributes. Jesus is the perfect, sinless, and spotless Lamb of God who is our Good Shepherd who is the God-Man. The superiority of Christ is the basis of our redemption because if all we have for a sacrifice is a dead animal, our own wisdom or works, or anther sinful human representative before God then we are without hope of redemption.

Two, we must see the sufficiency of our Redeemer. The book of Hebrews makes it abundantly clear that Jesus is superior and sufficient. In Heb. 9-10 we see this as a focal point so that all who read it would know that there is no hope of salvation in the blood of animals, works of righteousness, or religious items or ceremonies. As the old hymn goes, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus! What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!” Only Christ is the sufficient sacrifice, but He alone is the sufficient Redeemer because He is the supreme Redeemer. Because He is superior in His person and work, He is therefore sufficient in His person and work. There is nothing that you can add to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Proof that He is supreme and sufficient is seen in that He resurrected from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and has been given all authority to judge and rule forevermore.

Three, we must see the singularity of our Redeemer. There is no other redemption that will do. There is no other representative that would reconcile us to God or act as a mediator. There is no other righteousness that could make us right in the sight of God. Peter preached in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Here in this verse, we see the singularity of our redeemer and redemption. There is no other redeemer or redemption outside of Jesus Christ because of His singularity, sufficiency, and superiority.

            Second, we must see our great redemption in Col. 1:14 which says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” A redemption is only as great as the redeemer. Our Redeemer is infinite in beauty and glory. The redemption of each believer is a testimony of the grace and glory of Jesus Christ. As the redeemed, our life should point to the glories of our Redeemer, and we should not waste the beautiful benefits of belonging to Christ through the redemption in His blood. There are two things that we must see in this verse about our redemption.

One, we are purchased by His blood. The words “have redemption” shows to us that this is our personal position and possession by His provision. The word “redemption” is the word “apolutrosis” which means to let go free upon the price of ransom being satisfied. In the secular Greek speaking world, the word was used for the technical term for money (or ransom) paid to buy back prisoners of war or emancipating slaves. Both of these pictures give wonderful illustrations of our redemption in Christ. We have been redeemed who were prisoners of sin and enemies of God. He paid our ransom through His shed blood on the cross which redeemed us from the dominion of sin and reconciled us who were His enemies. He has made us saints with an inheritance that is incorruptible in Christ Jesus. Furthermore, our redemption is like being a slave who is emancipated, set free and given full liberty to live life as a free man. Both the Old and New Testament speak of redemption. It is the theme of the Bible, but specifically redemption’s story is the story of the glory of our gracious Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote this, his readers who came from Jewish background would have immediately thought of God’s redemption of Israel when He freed them from the bonds of slavery in Egypt and delivered them (See Ex. 6:6; 15:13; Deut. 7:8). The redemption of Israel was constantly taught by looking back to what God had done, was doing, and had promised to do for the people of Israel. When we speak of redemption, we also must remember that we are speaking of the fulness of redemption. In other words, we have been redeemed from sin’s penalty (justification/regeneration), we are being redeemed from sin’s power (sanctification), and we will be redeemed (glorification) when we put off this body of corruption and exchange it for a gloried resurrected body. We were once in bondage as slaves to sin, including our guilt, shame, and penalty of sin; but Christ has set us free. Notice though that our redemption is “through His blood.” 1 Pet. 1:18-21 strengthens this truth saying, “¹⁸Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; ¹⁹ But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: ²⁰ Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, ²¹ Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” We have been purchased by His precious blood that has redeemed us from the curse and consequence of our sinful rebellion. What a Redeemer and what a redemption!

Two, we are pardoned by His blood. Redemption and forgiveness are linked together. It is redemption that provides our forgiveness, but it is our forgiveness in Christ that explains the fruit and fulness of our redemption. The word “forgiveness” is the word “aphesis” which means to send away or totally remove. The force of the word comes with a fulness or totality in that what has been forgiven is forever removed to never be held against the offender again. To put it simply, in the redemption and remission that we have in Christ, all charges against us have been dropped (See Rom. 8). The rap sheet that each sinner had was a mile long. Guilty. Sin brought with it a great penalty and price. The grace of God in Christ intervened and freely forgave us of our sinful trespasses against God. Jesus having redeemed us by His blood now freely, fully, and finally forgives us, setting us free from the previously deserved judgment. Like redemption, forgiveness is seen throughout the Bible. Where there is redemption, there is forgiveness. Now, in the Old Testament, there was a special time in Israel’s calendar that was called the “Year of Jubilee.” “The word “jubilee”—literally, “the blast of a horn” in Hebrew—is defined in Leviticus 25:9 as the sabbatical year after seven cycles of seven years (49 years). The fiftieth year was to be a time of celebration and rejoicing for the Israelites. The ram’s horn was blown on the tenth day of the seventh month to start the fiftieth year of universal redemption. The Year of the Jubilee involved a year of release from indebtedness (Leviticus 25:23-38) and all types of bondage (vv. 39-55). All prisoners and captives were set free, all slaves were released, all debts were forgiven, and all property was returned to its original owners. In addition, all labor was to cease for one year, and those bound by labor contracts were released from them. One of the benefits of the Jubilee was that both the land and the people were able to rest.” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Jubilee.html) For those of us in Christ, we have an eternal Jubilee in that Christ has eternally and fully pardoned us. There is nothing else required. Jesus indeed has paid it all and paid it in full. We have the receipt that we have been purchased and pardoned by the precious blood of Christ.

            As we bring this to a close, I want to address two groups. One, if you are without Christ, then you are still lost and under the guiltiness of your sin. I plead with you to repent (turn in sorrow from your sin and turn in faith to Christ) of your sin. I plead with you to receive redemption by faith in our great and gracious Redeemer. There is pardon and forgiveness full and free for you today! Two, if you know Christ and have been forgiven and redeemed, then remember your great Redeemer and redemption. Remember and then rejoice! A heart that can’t rejoice is a heart that isn’t redeemed. Remember and rejoice in the supreme and sufficient work of Christ. Be moved by the wonder working power of the blood of the Lamb. I want to leave both groups with the timeless and rich words of Charles Wesley’s hymn, “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” “1 O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace! 2 My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread thro’ all the earth abroad the honors of your name. 3 Jesus! the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, ’tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’tis life and health and peace. 4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me. 5 To God all glory, praise, and love be now and ever given by saints below and saints above, the Church in earth and heaven.” If you don’t know the Lord, repent and receive redemption through the blood of Christ. If you do know Him, then remember and rejoice in your Redeemer. But, go further now and rest in your Redeemer knowing that you belong to Him. Rest your weary heart and find satisfaction in His supremacy and sufficiency!