Things Most Surely Believed - Redemption #3 & 4
/By Joseph L. Watkins
In our last article we had set forth that to qualify as "A Redeeming One" three main distinctive things must be in place: The Desire, The Price, and The Right.
Now as we think together of The Redemptive Work of God in Christ Jesus, we want to more closely consider each of these three aspects - first The Desire, or "The Will" to do so. In the divine account of Ruth and Boaz we see that the nearest kinsman was willing and able, and perhaps even anxious, to be the redeemer, for in Ruth 4:4, "...he said I will redeem it". But he quickly had a change of heart when he learned the true cost. If he wanted the parcel of land, he must also buy Ruth and raise up seed to her first husband - such he was not willing to do. He may have been able to do so, and we know that he did have the right of redemption, but he did not have such a desire in his heart. The Will was not there.
Now I ask that you turn with me to the 49th Psalm. There we find another crest lesson on this very important subject. Note verses 6-8: "They that trust in their wealth, And boast --- in their riches; None -- can -- redeem his brother Nor give to God a ransom for him; For the redemption is --- precious (or priceless) and ceaseth forever."(or it can never be "An Equivalent")
Yes - all men born of woman may have "The Right of Redemption," and many may have "A Real Heart's Desire," but the Price of Redemption is, and will always be, far beyond their ability even though they bring together all of this world's wisdom, all of this world's talents, all of this world's beauty, and all of this world's combined wealth and riches. ALL would not be the equivalent to one man ALL - that all men could bring to bear, would not, could not, "Redeem One Man" from the grave. All is but folly to even try.
Now, Boaz did have "The Price of The Redemption." He had counted the cost of all that was under consideration, both the cost of all the land involved, "all that was Elimelech's, all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, and Ruth - the price of all that it would take to be - "A True Redeemer".... "to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance," Ruth 4:10 "Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and she bare a son." "And the women said unto Naomi, he shall be unto thee a restorer of - soul and a nourisher of thine old age:" Ru. 4:15
Yes, Boaz had the price of the redemption and he held in his heart the desire to redeem All, and he did pursue after the right of the redemption until it became his. Boaz was a true - redeeming one.
In our studies of The Great Work of God in Christ Jesus in "The Reconciliation," we learned that all sin of all men had been borne away by Christ Jesus. The One Holy God of all creation is now fully "satisfied" as we read in 1 John 2:1-2: "Jesus Christ the righteous (One) He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of "the whole world".
The man that hears this, and believes this Divine Decoration is identified of God with Christ Jesus, the righteous One, and is re-born of God in Christ Jesus, and will one day be restored to life in "The Resurrection" and: "he that believeth - not - shall not see life ... but the wrath (judgment) of God abideth on him." John 3:36
Now we have set this in your mind to help understand that as we deal with the great subject of The Redemption of God in Christ Jesus, we have been taken beyond the sins of men. Even the redemption we have in Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14 is a reference to that which we are said to have already.
Yes, we have been forgiven our sins, and we have been delivered from the power of sin - however "The Redemption" that is being set forth in the post-Acts revelation of Paul is taking us away beyond - "The Sin Question".
I have rehearsed what a learner of truth may have to share - now I would like to set before you what a Teacher of Truth has to say of the matter. See Ber. Exp. Vol. 14, pg. 17: "It will be remembered that we pursued the theme of Redemption - up to a certain point ... then called a halt ... for a wider survey of the purpose of the ages. This we felt to be necessary, as many parts of the great purpose of redemption can only be understood in light of the greater purpose of the ages. We realized ... our investigations must take us back long before the fall of man to fine the seat and cause of trouble out of which we can be delivered only by The Redemption."
We turn now to Ber. Exp. Vol. 17, pg. 25: "The confusion (for such we believe it to be) is in measure due to the fact that one side of truth has been apprehended at the expense of the other."
Now to Ber. Exp. Vol. 17, pg. 29: "lie have ... searched the Scriptures, and have to record that out of all the places where "paddah and gaal" occur, but one passage definitely associates redemption with iniquity ... Ps. 130:8. There is no place where redemption is ever said to be for or from sin or sins. Now this statement is so opposed to popular teaching ... that many will feel impelled to put the matter to the test before going further." To be continued…
