Still a few more leftovers from Sunday’s sermon on redemption: while it is always good to speak of the truth of God’s work for us on the cross, how might we stimulate our hearts to gratitude and joy in that work, and transformation by that work? Here are three suggestions for what you might do to cultivate further thought and greater action in light of Christ’s redemption of your soul from Hell.
- Read or listen to one or more of the following sermons / books / articles:
- Deffinbaugh, Bob. “The Glory of God and the Cross of Christ.” This sermon is an excellent explanation of both the OT and NT uses of the term “redemption.”
- MacArthur, John. “Redemption Through His Blood.”
- Pennington, Tom. “Christ’s Role in the Drama of Redemption.” A four-part sermon series on Ephesians 1:7-12.
- Warfield, B. B. “‘Redeemer’ and ‘Redemption.’”
- Paul says we have redemption in Jesus (Eph. 1:7); John says that Jesus “takes away” sin (Jn. 1:29); Peter says Jesus “bore our sins” (1 Pt. 2:24); Hebrews says that His blood cleanses us (Heb. 9:13; cf. also 1 Jn. 1:7, 9), and that He has “put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:26). What other images and descriptions can you find in Scripture about Christ’s work? Why are there so many different descriptions of His work? What should those descriptions of Christ’s work produce in you?
- Ephesians 1:3-14 is an extended expression of praise and gratitude by Paul to God for the Triune God’s work of salvation.
- Meditate on some similar passages about redemption to stimulate your own gratitude to God (e.g., 1 Pt. 1; Rom. 3:21ff; Heb. 9).
- Read through a hymnal, selecting some hymns about the cross: how do hymn writers meditate on and thank God for His work of redemption?
Words of Grace 