RTS Progressive Revelation of Redemption
Title Slide
RTS – Progressive revelation of Redemption
The Need
“With one foolish act to taste and see, humanity in Adam & Eve was plunged into sin, once and for all damaged; and human history was forever changed” – Pastor Ridge
Last week we examined the extent of the damage caused by humanity’s rebellion against God & His ways. The conclusion was that the damage was total and humanity needs intervention in order to escape the damage of sin. Turn our attention to two models: Redeemer & mediator
A Problem Beyond Human Solution
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:7-8
God’s Redemptive Precedent
God repeatedly takes ______to interact with a rebellious humanity.
• The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Genesis 3:21
• “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.” Exodus 6:6
God’s Redemptive Precedent
The captivity of Israel and subsequent exodus serves as a model for ______. These historic events includes themes of slavery, payment, journey toward a new home and the eventual occupation of the Promised Land.
• Model of Redemption (graphic)
• Parallelism
Setting Up the Drama
•
• God established laws of redemption so that property could be restored to the family and families would not die out.
• “If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband’s brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. The first son she bears shall carry on the name of the dead brother so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel.” Dt. 25:5-6
• “If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold.” Lev 25:25
A Drama of Redemption
- During the rule of the Judges of Israel.
- Elimelech, Naomi and family travel emigrate to Moab.
- Elimelech & sons die (no heirs)
- Ruth returns to Israel.
- Boaz takes family responsibility.
A Drama of Redemption
Ruth 4:9-12
Then Boaz announced to the elders and all the people, “Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelek, Kilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabite, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from his hometown. Today you are witnesses!”
Then the elders and all the people at the gate said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel. May you have standing in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. Through the offspring the Lord gives you by this young woman, may your family be like that of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah.”
A Drama of Redemption
• The story unfolds in ______with ______, the forefather of David & Jesus, in the redeeming role.
• Ruth, a Moabite woman, is grafted into the most important family in redemptive history.
Christ as Redeemer
• It is the reality of what Jesus accomplishes that retroactively conveys deep significance to the ______that is woven throughout scripture. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus we see the redemptive transaction in all of its harsh & joyful reality.
• “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24
• Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Gal 3:13
Redemptive History - Passages
Redemptive History - Chart
The Role of Mediator
• “The function of a mediator is to intervene between two parties in order to promote relations between them which the parties themselves are not able to effect.” – New Bible Dictionary
• Graphic – The mediator (High Priest) stands as the line of communication between Israel (humanity) and God
Mysterious Priestly Predecessor
Genesis 14:17-20
After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Mysterious Priestly Predecessor
• ______is the first priest mentioned in scripture (Gen. 14:17-20). He mediates between God Most High & Abram giving a blessing and receiving tithes offered by Abram. This implies that Abram, who has received the promise/covenant of God is interacting with a superior.
• The meanings behind names in this text are important in Near-East culture:
- Melchizedek –
- King of Salem –
• Melchizedek – focused in Hebrews5-7
Priest from the People
• The LORD appoints and consecrates ______as High Priest begins the mediation of a man from “among the people“
“He then presented the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head. Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar.” Lev. 8:14-15
The Great High Priest
“If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood — why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.” Heb. 7:11-13
“Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Heb. 7:23-24
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. I Timothy 2:5-6
• Discussion Questions
• What concept about redemptive history did you find most intriguing from this lesson? Why?
• How is Christ’s role as the mediator now expressed in and through the church as described in 1Peter 2:9?
• Is there an impossible situation for you or others for which you need to call upon the Lord?