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Kinsman Redeemer (with Communion)
The Bible tells us so many comforting things. That is one of the reasons people love it so much. But the Bible ALSO tells us more than a few discomforting things. And, that’s why so many people DON’T love the Bible so much. One of the most persistent discomforting things the Bible says is that the human race is in a very precarious position. We’re in trouble. I’m sure that those of you that are familiar with the Bible will accuse here me of understatement…and you’d be right. I am “soft-pedaling” a bit. One can’t just jump right into these sorts of things. But the Bible does use words like “wrath” and “destruction” and “torment” and phrases like “consuming fire” and “weeping abundantly”. And, by the way, if you’re only being taught the comforting things than you are not being told the whole story and whoever is the one responsible for the abbreviated version of the Bible is not doing you any favors. The Scriptures make clear that the human race is in REAL danger…outside His care. You can hardly turn a page in the Bible without being reminded of that. We were born into this world at a distinct disadvantage. Doesn’t matter if you don’t like to hear it…actually, it doesn’t even matter if you don’t believe it. Adam, the ancestor of us all, sinned and those that have been born of woman since…and that’s everyone of us, are affected. We are all tainted by the sin of Adam and, let me remind you, that we don’t do ourselves any favors either. If you’re honest you’ll admit that you do a pretty good job of being a wretched sinner even WITHOUT the stain of Adam’s rebellion. Now, of course, I’m leaving out quite a few of the details but it is not my intention here to prove any of this first part to you. Suffice it to say, you and I are born in sin and, in ourselves, we are powerless to change that. Paul refers to this condition as “the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21) In every sense of the word, we are enslaved to sin; as hopeless as any other slave to throw off our own chains. Now, I don’t want you to think I’m just using poetic imagery here. I’m not that clever. This is precisely how God WANTS you to view your condition. Over and over, in the Bible, God uses the analogy of slavery to get across to us our dire circumstances. You must remember that behind everything presented in Scripture there is God’s description of His Rescue Plan. In fact, that’s the entire purpose of Scripture: to tell us about how He will make things right again. One of the clearest examples of this is found in the Book of Leviticus. It is there that we find what is now called the Law of Kinsman Redeemer. It is a beautiful picture of how Christ will provide a rescue for us. The Law of the Kinsman Redeemer is given to us to show that God will NOT leave us in our bondage to sin; to assure us that we have hope; to prove that He is always in control and His Justice and Righteousness is preserved even when He redeems “that which is lost”. Today we will be talking about the Kinsman Redeemer. ALSO…in this episode we will also be going to the Table of the Lord. Make sure you listen carefully to the first few minutes ESPECIALLY if you want to participate with us which we invite you to do. BUT, as always, before you hit “Play” take a few moments to prepare your heart and mind by going to God in prayer. Ask Him for understanding. Ask Him to guide through His Word. Once you’ve done that, dive right in.