THE GREAT REDEEMER

 

I believe one of the darkest pages in the history of our great nation was the time of slavery. It is hard to imagine what it must have been like to be a slave standing on the auction block. People looking at you more like a piece of merchandise than a human being. Your hands and feet bound in chains with no means of escape, no hope of freedom.

 

Few, if any, of us have experienced such physical degradation. However, all of us who have reached the age of knowing right from wrong have been in such a spiritual state. Paul told the Romans in Romans 6:17 that they had been the slaves of sin. That is true for all of us. Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” John told the early Christians, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). The wages for that sin is spiritual death, separation from God (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:1-2).

 

Jesus came to redeem me, to give me freedom from slavery to sin by paying the ransom with His own blood. “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). Unlike the high priests under the Law of Moses who offered the blood of animals, Jesus sacrificed His own blood to redeem us.

 

To claim the freedom offered by Jesus, I must realize it is found only in Him. “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). In Ephesians 1:7, Paul writes that we have redemption in Christ through His blood. I cannot find freedom from my slavery through any man, woman, or child, other than Jesus Christ. Placing my faith in and following any preacher, teacher, elder or anyone else will not save my soul. Jesus is the great redeemer and the only way into Him is through putting Him on in baptism (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4).

 

Upon submitting to His will, I am released from my bondage to sin. That does not mean I am totally free to do as I want. Paul tells the Roman Christians, “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). In Matthew 6:24, Jesus says that no man can serve two masters. It is also true that you will serve a master. The question is not whether or not you will have a master, but who will be your master. While Satan’s bondage yoke is difficult, hateful and will lead to destruction, Jesus’ yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). If we will submit our lives to Him, it will be a yoke of love, tenderness and life.

 

Who is your master?

--Lamar