Evangelical Baptist Church

Watchword

(Proverbs 1.20-33; Mark 1.40-45)

Ruth 4: 1-12

Redemption is serious business. It is not an affair that belongs to backroom deals and good intentions. It is public, legal, and forever binding. If this is true in the case of Elimelech’s estate, how much more so is it in the case of our own souls.

There are some who wish to do away with a legal, propitiatory, expiatory, atoning redemption. It is said that all these adjectives are far too technical. It is said we should not bind God’s love up in so much verbiage. It is said that we risk ruining our spiritual and devotional experience with all this cold theology. Christians, have none of it.

Ruth is a great narrative, with loads of practical advice and spiritual encouragement, but never forget this fact: The chief end of the whole Old Testament is the work of the messiah. And the great aim of all this literature is to help us understand the significance of Christ for our salvation.

Boaz redeemed Naomi and Ruth; they were lost and hopeless beggars without him. He bought back the estate of Elimelech; it was an overgrown, out of control, unproductive patch of dirt without him. Redemption was costly for Boaz, as was it for God. It cost Him His very Son. And the result of this redemption is that it saved our souls as much as the Redemption of Boaz saved the livelihoods of Naomi and Ruth.

Christ’s redemption gives a home and hope to those who are lost and hopeless. He has bought us back and is tearing the brambles of sin from our life, making us productive and fruitful. Moreover, he has made us his own, and given us his righteous name so that we might share in His full inheritance and blessing.

This is the meaning of a legal, propitiatory, expiatory, atoning redemption. There is no cold theology here. There is nothing that squelches a heart full of faith and love. No, it is exactly the opposite. This is the only redemption that can bring true comfort, lasting peace, and sure confidence to every aspect of life.

Bible Reading:Leviticus 16:1-22

Blood Shed=Sin Forgiven. Now Clear.