R sbc
March 26th , 2006
Sunday Morning
Series: Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Sermon # 76
Subject: “ The Ransom Is Paid”
Text: I Tim 2:1-6
Intro: This is one of those text in the Bible that needs some explanation for the benefit of those who use this as a proof text, saying Christ died for all, Christ ransomed all. A clear verse by verse context will clear up the matter for those who are interested in the truth about Christ and his ransom.
Paul begins this chapter with an exhortation to pray for all men: vs 1 The all men that he is speaking of in this verse is found in vs 2. For kings, for all that is in authority, then shares the purpose for praying for all men....that we may live a peaceably life, in Christian godliness and honesty.
The next thing he declares: vs 3 that it was a good thing for us to pray for all men who are in authority, and that it was good in the sight of the Lord...because he desires all men to be saved, that is all kinds of men. Paul is not talking about individuals here but mankind.
It is also reasonable to look at this as not the will or purpose of GOD, to save all men without distinction for if he will that, my friends it would be so. Just as he will the creation of all, he did not merely desire it.
The key to understanding this whole text, is understanding the word “ransom”. The word means to pay a price by redeeming. The price of the ransom is his life. In order for the ransom to be paid... there must be some prearrangement made.
I... “ THAT ONE MUST MEET THE QUALIFICATION OF A MEDIATOR AND THEN BE ABLE TO MEDIATE: VS 5
Our text without question presents the reality and unadulterated truth that Christ is the mediator. There are three verse in the book of Hebrews that spell it out for us:
(1.) He is the mediator of a better covenant: Heb 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
(2.) The cause of his mediation:
Heb 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
So that he could call those who were under the first covenant.. So that they could receive eternal life.
(3.) The grounds of his mediation: The blood: Heb 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
The definition of a mediator is: one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or for ratifying a covenant
Jesus Christ is that mediator. There is none other, not Mary, not angels, not saints, only one who is fit to open the seals, to loose the content of them, it JESUS CHRIST the Lord of Glory.
II... “THE RANSOM IS PAID”
If the Lord has paid the ransom, and if the Father is satisfied, then there is nothing left to do but believe, and he will provide that also.... When in the realm of this world someone is taken captive, and they demand a ransom, you may or may not get the person who is captive back.
Once they are satisfied, they will kill their captive. Not so with Jesus Christ as the ransom, all for who he ransomed will be set free in time.
(1.) The reality of Christ being the payment...
Mt 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. Here the many is the all for whom he paid the price for. All of them will be set free. He gave his all when he gave his life.
Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You can understand how some one die for their friends, but Jesus Christ also died for his enemies...
Ro 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
(2.) The permanence of his ransom:
Ro 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Here is the eternal work of Christ, in just a few hours he did what nothing else could do if they had an eternity. When he was on the cross...
Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Nothing can be more permanent than the price that Jesus paid for our sin debt. Nothing can be more satisfying to the LORD than what he did. Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
(3.) The great benefit to you and I in a personal way...
The price was paid, and it was sufficient...
The Sin was covered and removed never to be uncovered again..
The salvation of our souls was secured...Hebrews 6: 19-20
The right to access the throne of grace was opened up...Heb 4-16
The way to heaven was made clear: John 14-6
The devil was defeated...Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
The Lord of glory had die now to live again...Mt 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The debt was canceled forever..Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
The law was fulfilled:
The law was satisfied..
Hope now reigns when Christ will finally and fully come forth out of the grave...
Once we are saved by grace, then all the above benefits belong to the elect of God. There is a positive way to look at this... and it is found in the word of God...
A. We have been set free because of this ransom...Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Ro 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
This freedom is clearly seen in the fact of what we are free from: (1.) The law of sin: Here the word “sin” has to do with the penalty of sin. This has to do with our justification. We are no longer under the condemnation of sin. Christ paid the price to the guilt unpon himself and has set us free... (2.) Set free from spiritual death. Adam plunged us into spiritual death and Christ sets us free from it.
Re 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
B. We have a new title: Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: In the old testament there was a prophecy concerning this...
Isa 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. In time of God it has come to pass...
Re 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
It has been made clear how we become the Children of God in life not in purpose...by salvation...Ga 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. We overcome by Christ...I like what Jesus said when question about marriage in the world to come...
Luke 20-35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. 37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
C. We shall be like him for we are predestinated to be so:
1Jo 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Whatever the Father wants us to be, he makes sure in his Son that we are like that. We know to be like him in the resurrection is to be without sin, to be in a body that cannot decay, get old, get tired, never cease to exist. Follow the lamb withersoever he goeth.
Paul said it like this:
2 Cor 5-1 ¶ For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
D. We shall see him one day because of this ransom:
Job said:
Job 19-25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
A. His personal relationship: My redeemer
b. His personal hope: shall stand upon the earth
c. His personal anticipation: I shall see him..
Can you make this claim this morning? If not why not? Has he enabled you to believe on him this morning, then believe and confess...