What else does Christ’s death redeem?
Faith Foundations (NCC) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsThis week, we take a look at question twenty-six from the New City Catechism.
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Q: What else does Christ’s death redeem?
A: Christ’s death is the beginning of the redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Why did Jesus come into the world? (To save us from our sins, to defeat the devil, to give us an example for life?)
Yes & amen…but these individual answers combine to give us a bigger picture:
Jesus came into the world to redeem and restore all things that God might be glorified in his eternal rule.
“Focusing on facets of a diamond without seeing the beauty of the whole is demeaning to the diamond. If the hearers of the gospel do not see the glory of Christ, the image of God, in all the events and gifts of the gospel, they do not see what finally makes the gospel good news.” John Piper, God is the Gospel
THE HERO OF THE STORY
THE HERO OF THE STORY
When we make ourselves the central theme of the Bible, we blind ourselves to the whole story.
1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
Jesus is the hero of the Bible and the point of all the universe and human history.
16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
What are you looking for when you come to the gospel? Who is the central figure in your salvation?
“The ultimate aim of the gospel is the display of God's glory and the removal of every obstacle to our seeing it and savoring it as our highest treasure. "Behold your God!" is the most gracious command and best gift of the gospel. If we do not see him and savor him as our greatest fortune, we have not obeyed or believed the gospel.” John Piper, God is the Gospel
THE SCOPE OF THE STORY
THE SCOPE OF THE STORY
The gospel tells us how Christ has redeemed his people from the curse of sin for the glory of God.
The gospel tells us how Christ has redeemed his people from the curse of sin for the glory of God.
When sin enters the world, it brings with it a curse on all of creation. (See Genesis 3:14-24)
Jesus life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension show us the full story of the reverse of the curse.
The gospel tells us how Christ has gathered his people for the glory of God.
The gospel tells us how Christ has gathered his people for the glory of God.
One of the great shadows and promises of the Old Testament is God’s desire to create for himself a holy kingdom.
31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Jesus says:
14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
Peter writes:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
God certainly connects with us on an individual basis, but the theme of Jesus as king of his kingdom is too important to miss. People from every tribe, tongue, and nation are being drawn together to magnify Christ and live forever under his kingship.
The gospel tells us how Christ is reconciling all things to himself for the glory of God.
The gospel tells us how Christ is reconciling all things to himself for the glory of God.
Different dimensions of life on earth as people: an internal conscience and spirituality, we relate to other people on many levels, we build communities, cities, and nations, we make art and culture and music, we explore the material world and study all sorts of subjects, we love and we hate, we dream and we dread.
Can we name any of those areas of life that have been untouched by the perversion and power of sin?
What would a world with all of the best of those human elements but none of the sin look like?
The gospel is not just an “escape plan” to get us off this unholy earth. It is God’s restoration plan to make all things new.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
The sun with no sunburn. Relationships with no brokeness. Songs with no sour notes. Animals with no aggression. Food with no fat. Fun with no end. Joy forever with God, others, and th universe. This is God’s plan in Christ Jesus. That we would love him and enjoy him forever.
OUR PLACE IN THE STORY
OUR PLACE IN THE STORY
How do we live with the whole gospel in balance?
Embrace God’s story so that you will direct your life toward God’s plan.
Embrace God’s story so that you will direct your life toward God’s plan.
What story is driving your decisions, attitudes, dreams, and goals? Will it hold up to the test of eternity?
Look to the hero to grow in strength and grace.
Look to the hero to grow in strength and grace.
The beauty of God’s story is that the hero never leaves us and as we grow in relationship with him, we are strengthened by his grace and power.
Are you restlessly trying to be the hero for the whole world and yourself? What might submission to Christ look like for you?
Logos Digital Hymnal All the Way My Savior Leads Me
All the way my savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thro’ life has been my guide?
heav’nly peace divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well…
Let the world around you see the kingdom within you.
Let the world around you see the kingdom within you.
We mentioned all the expressions of humanity redeemed by grace. How is God’s kingdom shaping your world into his kingdom now?
As Christians we are called to be a city on a hill and a light in the darkness. When we pray, “Let your kingdom come and your will be done…” do we mean it?
