ONLY JESUS REDEEMS!
ONLY JESUS REDEEMS!
No one can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for them—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—so that they should live on forever and not see decay… But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself. —Psalm 49:7-9, 15
People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish. —Psalm 49:20
No mere person can redeem the life of another person. There is nothing a person could give to God to redeem another person. The cost of redemption is so costly that no human payment of any sort would be enough to redeem or ransom the life of another person or their own. The sin debt of people is so great that God would have to do the work of redemption Himself to take us to Himself and He did…
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. —I Peter 1:18-21
What man could not do, God did through His Son. Oh, to understand this is to be overwhelmed with joy unspeakable! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU5hhE9cN6A
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.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. —Galatians 3:13-14
The promise to Abraham…
Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. —Galatians 3:7-9
But those who do not understand this are like animals that perish. A person can have all the wealth of the world, but it they do not understand the finished work of Jesus at the cross so whoever calls on Him will be saved, then they are just like an animal… and many will live like animals. They can have all that this world offers, but they are clueless about what happens after death. “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). There is nothing good about it. How sad it is if people have wealth as their top priority. “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death” (Proverbs 11:4). Again… “People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.” They will live like animals and they will die like animals. Is it any wonder our nation and world are a mess… animalistic because of sin bondage and only Jesus can set a person free (John 8:31-32, 36).
So, brother and sister, fellow follower of Jesus, let us bring the message of redemption to those who are yet to understand what Jesus has done for them. These people are all around us. Engage them in conversation and share the good news, the gospel, with them. Yes, Dear Father, may we do so today by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus as You have told us that we are to be witness and disciple-makers. May we be faithfully and lovingly obedient. Yes, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_YM_hYzcPo