Message summary: Jesus paid our ransom with His own blood!

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"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (1 Timothy 2:5,6). "And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth'" (Revelation 5:9,10).

Last night I attended a banquet with some friends at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord, that sponsored a ministry called "Associates For Biblical Research" (ABR). They focus on Biblical archeology and apologetics. As we began the meeting the host explained the goal for the gathering was to eat (we had a big Shady Maple meal), educate, edify and encourage. I think I can say I experienced all of those.

The main speaker, Bryan Windle, challenged us to always be ready to defend our faith and shared how archeological discoveries have increased in recent years providing even more physical evidence of the reliability of the Bible. But it occurred to me as he spoke my heart was most touched by the reminders of the heart of the Gospel, that Jesus died for my sin, was buried and arose the 3rd day.

This week we have been considering lines from "Christ Our Wisdom", a song that we enjoy singing since the words bring tremendous assurance in our daily living for Christ. It's been a theme song for our study of Proverbs in our church so we've sung it several times including this last Sunday. We share a link to the song with each message so you can listen if you so choose and we will once more post the entire four stanzas.

Today we consider two lines from the song, "Once in foolishness we scorned You, but Your blood has ransomed us". That's an expression of the very essence of the Gospel: our sin, His grace.

It's the greatest ransom ever paid. The entire human race is held captive under the curse of sin. We are all (before conversion) "separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). Jesus summarized His ministry, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45).

Jesus paid this ransom with His own blood. As another song states, "His wounds have paid my ransom". He gave Himself as "a ransom for all". If you are reading this you can be assured that you are included. His blood "ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation" (Revelation 5:9).

When we get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be! I can only imagine the future celebration that will be marked by unending gratitude, joy, harmony and love as we join the ransomed of all the ages from every tribe, language, people and nation. What will this "new song" sound like? Will we all sing in a new heavenly language or will we hear the scores of languages now used all around the world? Only God knows but we can be assured it will be wonderful there and we will surely be able to understand everything that is spoken!

This is all a result of the greatest ransom ever paid.

Be encouraged today!  Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber