JESUS IS OUR ONLY REDEEMER

Pastor Bill Marks, Christian Fellowship, Potchefstroom, (018) 293 1608 or 082 260 5965 In our society in which we live today, it is expected from us to submit a CV when applying for a position with a company or organization. Before we end the final chapter in the book of Ruth, I would like to share with you the beautiful CV of Boaz: Ruth 2:1: Boaz was a man of great wealth. In Hebrew it reflects the possessor’s power and social standing in the community. Ruth 2:9: He showed kindness towards Ruth who was a widow and gave orders for her protection. Ruth 2:23: Boaz allowed Ruth to glean the fields until the end of the harvest, which touched her deeply. Ruth 3:10: He was a man who honoured God by proclaiming the Name of the Lord at every opportunity. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, had sold their property before they left for Moab, but by law she retained the right of redemption to buy the land back again. She was unfortunately lacking in funds and was dependent on a kinsman-redeemer to buy it back for her. Ruth 4:6: "At this, the kinsman-redeemer said, ‘Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.’" The close relative could not afford the financial impact of securing the field and taking a bride at the same time. Ruth 4:7, 8: "(Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalising transactions in Israel.) So the kinsman-redeemer said to Boaz, ‘Buy it yourself.’ And he removed his sandal." The relative’s taking off his sandals meant that he was transferring the property rights over to Boaz. So it is when we surrender our lives to Christ: He becomes our personal Redeemer. Isaiah 41:14: "‘Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I Myself will help you,’ declared the Lord, your Redeemer." The Hebrew word for REDEEMER refers to an obligated family protector and here the Lord is portrayed as the Family Protector of Israel. Isaiah 54:3: "For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities." As a Family Protector the Lord redeems Israel’s property. Isaiah 54:5: "For your Maker is your husband the Lord Almighty is His name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth." The Lord is related to Israel as a husband. Isaiah 63:16: "But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; You, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer; from of old is Your name." He is related to Israel as a Father. Ruth 4:9,10: "And Boaz said to the Elders and all the people, ‘You are witnesses this day that I have bought all that was Elimelech’s. And I have acquired Ruth as my wife...’" Boaz had stepped in and took his place as the kinsman-redeemer (family redeemer). We have the privilege of being able to cry out ABBA FATHER (Romans 8:15) because we have received the Spirit of adoption. OUR REDEEMER IS JESUS! Romans 8:31 - He is fighting for us. In verse 33 He is vindicating us. In verse 34 He is interceding for us. Verse 37: "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us." ALLOW JESUS TO REDEEM YOU FROM YOUR FORMER LIFE, BY EXCHANGING YOUR LIFE FOR HIS. SURRENDER ALL! Sponsored by TG TRADERS