## God of Redemption

## Romans 3:19-24

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When we began our study of the Person of God, we learned something of Who He is and what He is like by looking at His attributes. Then we learned how He has acted in history by creating the universe and preserving and regulating it. But God was not just interested in working in the world. He wanted to communicate with man, so He revealed Himself in both general and special ways. Even more important to us as individuals today, God desires to relate to each human being in a personal way. He is a God who redeems. To understand this important topic, we will seek to provide biblical answers to six vital questions.

I. Why Do I Need Redemption?

A. Man's fallen nature

1. We are by nature lost and separated from a holy and righteous God.

(Rom 5:12) "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

2. The first glance at a sweet, innocent-looking baby would almost belie the fact of a fallen nature.

3. However, as the baby grows, experience soon confirms the Bible's diagnosis of inherited sin.

4. King David revealed the root of his sinful-ness with Bathsheba when he traced his iniquity and sin back to his conception and formation within the womb.

Psalm 51:5, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."

5. His adult act was an expression of his inherited sin nature.

6. The problem of sinfulness from birth underlies Paul's declaration that we are, by nature, under God's wrath.

Ephesians 2:3, "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

B. Individual sinfulness.

1. Every one of us demonstrates this fact by committing acts of sin.

2. Looking at the human race inclusively, we see that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Ro. 3:23).

3. Looking at each individual person, we see that "there is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10).

4. All of us have gone astray from the paths of righteousness that the Lord laid out, and we have rebelliously turned to the trails of our personal choice.

Isaiah 53:6, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

C. Consequences of our sinfulness.

1. God, as creator, sustainer and rightful judge of all, has determined that the proper penalty for sin is death.

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

James 1:15, "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

a. Basically, death is separation.

b. In physical death the living soul is separated from the body.

c. In spiritual death the sinful person is separated from God.

2. Many people in the world are physically alive but spiritually dead.

a. They exist on planet Earth but are separated from the privilege of enjoying God's fellowship.

b. If a person leaves this world in a spiritually dead condition, he or she will be separated from God eternally and will suffer punishment in the Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:12-15).

3. Since God is holy and I am sinful, I desperately need redemption from the death penalty of sin!

a. There is nothing a person can do to save himself.

b. It is impossible to live a perfect life because of our inherited sin.

c. We cannot buy or earn forgiveness; even doing good works will not bring our deliverance.

d. God is our only hope for redemption.

II. How Is Redemption Provided?

A. We have seen that God is holy and cannot permit sin in His presence.

1. But He loves us and wants us to know Him personally.

2. The only way for that to happen is for us to accept His provision for our salvation.

3. God has provided the redemption that we all so desperately need through His Son, Jesus Christ.

4. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin by dying in our place.

(Mat 20:28) "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

B. It all took place on Calvary.

1. At Calvary He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, offering Himself like a sacrificial lamb to redeem us.

1 Peter 1:18-19, "Forasmuch 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; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

2. What a great and marvelous God!

3. The penalty for sin gets paid, and we can be forgiven from that penalty and accepted by God.

III. How Can I Receive This Redemption?

A. It is by grace through faith.

Romans 11:6, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work."

Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

1. Paul clearly reveals that our redemption is not a mixture of grace and works; it is only by His grace.

2. Salvation is obtained by believing on Christ.

3. This is not just understanding the gospel facts, but it is accepting them as truth!

4. It is trusting the Savior for forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

IV. Can I Lose My Salvation?

A. The Bible says that salvation is eternal or everlasting life, using the same terms that describe the duration of God's existence.

1. Our salvation will last as long as God lives.

2. Jesus proclaims that God will safely keep us for we are in His hands.

(John 10:28-29) "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. {29} My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."

3. Absolutely nothing could possibly separate the believer from the love of God. cf Ro. 8:38-39

B. Eternal life means never ending or everlasting.

1. That means it is impossible to have eternal life and then lose it!

2. Once we are born into the family of God we cannot be unborn any more than we can be unborn physically.

3. Once saved always saved! Not because of us, but because of Him!!

4. Many hate this truth! But that is what the Bible says, this is not a doctrine of man…it is the very Word of God!

V. How Can I Be Sure I Am Saved?

1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

A. Testimony of God's Word.

1. I can be sure of my salvation by the testimony of God's Word.

2. The Scripture says that if I genuinely trust Christ, I am saved (John 3:36; Rom. 8:1; 1 John 5:12).

3. God's Word is inspired, profitable, trustworthy and true.

4. If it says salvation comes simply by faith in Christ, then faith is all one needs to be saved.

B. Testimony of God's Spirit

1. I can be sure of my salvation by the testimony of God's Spirit.

2. The ministries of the Holy Spirit in my life assure me that I am saved.

3. He bears witness with my spirit; He works to produce the fruit of the Spirit in my life; and He operates through my spiritual gift(s) to accomplish things of eternal value.

C. Testimony of my works.

(Eph 2:10) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

1. I can be assured of my salvation by the testimony of my works.

2. My Christ-like life shows that my faith is genuine and that I am saved.

3. Saving faith produces good works, and every saved person has been created in Christ Jesus for good works.

4. If I make a profession of saving faith and do not keep His commandments, I am a liar; but if I keep His commandments, I know that I really know Him.

(1 John 2:3-4) "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. {4} He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

God is a God of redemption and salvation. Do you know Him this morning? Have you been set free? Are you redeemed by the blood of the Lamb? If not, trust Him today! Are you unsure? Come now and get it settled once and for all.

Christian, is God working in your life? If we are His children, that is His desire. Come today and submit yourself to Him. Surrender to do His will in your life.