ransom – Gospel Progress

In this greatest of stories, a righteous God redeems sinful man. In its beginning, man is pitted against God, other men, and himself because of sin and faces an eternity separated from his Creator in hell. But in the suspense-filled climax, when it looks like Satan has won by putting our Savior on the cross and in the tomb, Jesus rises from the dead, so that we may too! What a resolution! It’s no wonder that “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” is one of our most beloved hymns:

Christ, the Lord, is ris’n today, Hallelujah! Sons of men and angels say, Hallelujah! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Hallelujah! Sing, ye heav’ns; thou earth, reply, Hallelujah!

I. John 19:38-30. As the second stanza states, love’s redeeming work was certainly done (1 John 4:9-10). Never having to face death again, it no longer had mastery over Jesus (Romans 6:9) and so not us either as we are ransomed from our futile ways (1 Peter 1:17-18):

Love’s redeeming work is done, Hallelujah! Fought the fight, the battle won, Hallelujah! Lo! Our sun’s eclipse is o’er, Hallelujah! Lo! He sets in blood no more, Hallelujah!

II. Matthew 27:63-66. Concern from the Jewish leaders that Jesus’ followers would steal the body and claim that He had risen from the dead prompted them to lie when Pilate eliminated all explanations for the empty tomb except that Jesus had actually risen (Romans 3:21-26):

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Hallelujah! Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Hallelujah! Death in vain forbids His rise, Hallelujah! Christ hath opened paradise, Hallelujah!

III. Luke 24:5-7. The angel proclaims this fact as well. We should not look for the living among the dead anymore for Jesus is risen and will never again die (Revelation 1:17-18). Because He overcame death, so can we. Death can have no hold on us ever again (1 Corinthians 15:54-57):

Lives again our glorious King, Hallelujah! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Hallelujah! Once He died our souls to save, Hallelujah! Where’s thy vict’ry, boasting grave? Hallelujah!

And that is indeed good news! Having obeyed the gospel, are you living as if Jesus is risen or still in the tomb?

When my daughter had a flat tire on the highway on the way back to college a few years ago, it was difficult to hear the rough, male voices of the two truckers who stopped to help her change it. Though they were wonderful Good Samaritans, as a dad I envisioned them abducting her while I was powerless to stop them.

Because of sin, we have earned death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). The hymn, “I Gave My Life for Thee,” challenges us to return all of ourselves to God because Jesus has given all to us (Psalm 91).

I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed, That thou might’st ransomed be, And quickened from the dead.

I. John 17:3-5. Jesus left the glory of heaven for our sakes. Since God is His refuge, the same promises are ours if we make our home within His wings. The question in the chorus challenges us to leave this world for ministry:

My Father’s house of light, My glory circled throne, I left for earthly night, For wand’rings sad and lone;

I left, I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me? I left, I left it all for thee, Hast thou left aught for Me?

II. Hebrews 2:16-18. Jesus was made like us in every way that He might suffer for us in every way to be a help for us in time of struggle (Isaiah 53:4-6). Shouldn’t we also suffer all things in this world for Him?

I suffered much for thee, More than thy tongue can tell, Of bitt’rest agony, To rescue thee from hell;

I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me? I’ve borne, I’ve borne it all for thee, What hast thou borne for Me?

III. Matthew 4:5-7. Because He did not yield to temptation, Jesus was able to bring us salvation, pardon and love. The last stanza of the hymn speaks of His protection and provision and asks:

And I have brought to thee, Down from My home above, Salvation full and free, My pardon and My love;

I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me? I bring, I bring rich gifts to thee, What hast thou brought to Me?

Thankfully, my daughter got the help she needed to change her tire. Dead in our sins and separated from God, Jesus gave His life for us to ransom us from hell. What is our response to that?

I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me? I gave, I gave My life for thee, What hast thou giv’n for Me?