What Is a Christian 08 Christian Is Redeemed

Real joy in having you here this morning, and we just trust the Lord will continue to bless this world to all of our hearts and bring forth fruit, lunches and joys for His glory. Now some of you are saying that you're getting too much in one message. Some are saying you're getting as many as six messages in one.

Well, don't worry about that. I believe I can be a good housewife. She believes in spreading her table well.

Now what may not be for you may be for somebody else. And just take what belongs to you and forget all about the rest. Now some of you are troubled too about not hearing too well.

Did you get that? All the Lord wants you to hear, that's all He wants you to hear. The Lord Himself was exactly for us. Right, children, let us go back and go back to Ephesians and chapter one.

Ephesians and chapter one. Redeemed. A Christian is one, remember, who is a child of God.

He's a heir of God, and remember now, he's redeemed. And redeemed not from corruptible things as silver nor gold. So let us look in, please, at verse number three of the very first chapter.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. Now verse number six. To the praise of His glory, the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace.

Now, go on to verse number eighteen. The eyes of our understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of Him are in the saints. And remember, we finished off with verse number nineteen last night.

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and sent Him His own right hand in the heavenlies. Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, that put all things under His feet and get Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all and in all. Remember the little words we gave.

We are thinking of the first letter R, and it reminds us of the ransom price. The Lord, remember, He Himself is the ransom. Then the letter E, emancipation.

We have been emancipated. We have been set free through the efficacy and the value of the precious blood of our adorable Lord Jesus. Thus then, ye, we have been delivered with a fruitful deliverance.

Two Corinthians chapter one, verse number ten. We have been delivered from sin's penalty, we are being delivered from sin's power, and one day we'll be delivered altogether from sin's presence. Let me finish with the word.

What was the second to the last, the letter E? Elevation, that's right. I'm glad you're still with me. The word is elevation.

And we know that redemption is something that lives on. The gospel elevates. And thank God for the elevation we have today.

Blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ, raised up together, made to sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. And we know this just as God has placed His Son far above all principality and power and might unto man. Not only in this world, but also in the next.

So beloved, that is our position today. We too have died with Christ. We have been buried with Christ.

We have been raised with Christ. And that they were with Christ in the glory. Mr. T.B. Gilbert met me at Nashville Airport a few weeks ago.

As I came out through the gate, he said to me, J.K., yes T.B., he said, What is the next best thing to know you're going to heaven? I looked at him and said, To know you're there already. I said, that's the answer. That's the answer.

Not just going to heaven, we're there now. That's our position now. Our home address is in the heavenlies in Christ.

Our business address is right down, got that? And because I'm holy and without blame before God in love, Peter Pell would say, Now be what we are. Because we're holy in Christ, Because we're righteous in Christ, Then let us live a righteous life. Because we are pure in Christ, Then let us live a pure life.

And he says the Holy Spirit comes to indwell us, And to empower us, And to enable us, That we might live the life down here. The wonder is just this, That God is upon the sun, With complete delight and satisfaction. And notice now, God has accepted Christ, And has accepted us in Christ.

And the wonder, wonder is this, That we have complete confidence before God this morning. And God sees us right down here now. May the wonder greet your heart, And greet my heart.

We are as Christians, We are, And we shall never be able, To measure, The immensity of the riches, Into which we are being brought, By the wondrous grace, Of our adorable Lord Jesus Christ. None of us standing here, Will cause our hearts to exult. In 2 Corinthians chapter 9, We read these wonderful words.

That is chapter 8, Verse number 9. We know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, Yet for our sakes he became poor. That we through his poverty, Might be made rich.

Had we been able this morning, To fathom the depth of the poverty, Into which the Lord Jesus Christ is go, Then that we be able to measure the heights of the glory, Into which he is gone. And we might be able to measure, The immensity of the riches, That we've been brought into. Think of this one, Who eternal, And who equal to the Father, In perfection and in power.

Never a time when he was not God, Never a time when he'll never be God, But God of very God. And this one he veiled all his glory, He took that to an excuse, And he says unto me, Keep obedient up on to day, Even the cruel, the spit. Wherefore God has highly exalted him, And given him a name which is above every name, That in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, Of things in heaven, And things in earth, And things under the air.

And every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, The glory of God. Yes my friend, Thank God, God is highly exalted him. You know the only other time you come across the word highly, Is in connection with the birth of the Lord Jesus.

And he says to Mary, Highly favoured art thou among women, In connection with his humiliation, And now beloved in association with him. Wherefore God has highly exalted him. And this word highly means, A super exaltation.

It excels all others. And you know something? That's what God has praised his son. And that's where we are this morning.

Accepted in the beloved, All the immensity of the riches. I know that the stupendous, I know my friend our little mind can't grasp it. We just simply can't comprehend all that we've been brought into.

Come with me now and see something here. Verse number 7, Ephesians chapter 1. In whom we have redemption through his blood, The forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grave. Now go to verse number 18.

The eyes of our understanding being enlightened. That's another good E for you by the way, regarding redeem. The Christian is one who has been enlightened.

The eyes of our understanding means the eyes of our heart. The eyes of our heart have been enlightened. That you may know what is the whole of his calling.

And what the riches of the glory are in the faith. Now notice verse number 17. It is the riches, here it is, the riches of glory.

The riches of glory. Now remember grace is glory in the body. Glory is grace in full bloom.

We often use the classic underword grace. G-R-A-C-E God's riches at Christ's expense. And we this morning have God's riches, but at the expense of his beloved son.

All that we ever will hope to have. And all that we ever will be. And all that we are now.

Is all because of the son of God. And all because we are linked up with our adorable Lord Jesus Christ. And so now notice verse number 7 of the next chapter.

Chapter 2 verse number 7. That in the ages that come he might show, notice now, the exceeding riches of his glory in his time through Christ Jesus. Notice first of all the riches of his glory. The riches of his glory.

But then he comes to the exceeding riches of his grace. The exceeding riches. Now go across to chapter 3 please.

And verse number 8. And Romans 4, your very last phrase. Last five words. The unsearchable riches of Christ.

The unsearchable riches of Christ. Romans chapter 11 verse number 30. He says.

Oh the depth of the riches of God in Christ. We shall never be able to fathom them. Nor measure the heights of them.

Nor the lengths of the breadth of them. Beloved only have we the riches of his grace. And the riches of glory.

And exceeding riches. But now he says they are the unsearchable riches. Oh let some of this come over your spirit life.

And he'll require all of the riches. When I go back in my Bible. To Proverbs chapter 10 and verse number 22.

I read a very remarkable. The blessing of God. Which maketh rich.

And addeth no sorrow thereto. Now let us get the three pictures. The blessing.

The riches. And the joy. Notice now.

We have the blessing. Because Christ became the curse. We have the riches.

Because he became poor. We have the joy. Because he became the man of sorrows.

Oh haven't we got a wonderful Lord? Haven't we got a wonderful Savior? Oh is he precious to you? We sing this morning to you. We believe he is precious. And having not seen we love him.

Is he really precious? Do we really know him? He is a living reality. Not just in the abstract. Not just theoretically.

Someone had died upon the cross 2000 years ago. Lives with him some place called heaven. Millions and millions of miles away.

But do I know him? Remember what the apostle Paul said in Galatians 1 verse number 16. And it pleased the Father to reveal his Son where? In me. Oh have I had that revelation? John Nelson Darby in his wonderful translation.

Recognized by scholars. And especially by Moody Bible Institute. The finest one man translation we have.

But what does it say? And it pleased the Father to unveil his Son in me. The wonder of it all. The Lord is born and dwells to beside the veil.

And to reveal Christ living in you. Harold Harper and I were together at the convention some time ago. And we were discussing Ephesians chapter 3 verse 17.

That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith. I turned to my good government and said. Does the Holy Spirit and the Spirit of Christ both dwell within you? He smiled and said.

Jim look at verse 16. Strength all might by his Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith.

And he said the whole thing hinged upon that little word that. The Holy Spirit strengthens the inner man. Christ may dwell in your heart by faith.

Beloved, one of the first evidences of the filling of the Holy Spirit. Is it gives an overwhelming sense of the angel in Christ. His presence with all the corresponding peace and joy flooding the heart.

They were able to say with the apostles. It's no longer I but Christ that liveth in me. That Christ that liveth in me.

Now one of it all then we can sing. Oh what a salvation is this. That Christ liveth in me.

What I'm trying to get across this morning. Is the realization of the presence and the life of Christ. All the enrichment that has become ours.

All because of that revelation. That Christ is the life of my life. Giving that still before you now.

Remember again the blessing of God. We have the blessing before it because he became a curse. Make us rich.

We have the riches because he became poor. We have the joy added no sorrow. Because Christ became the man of sorrow.

The man in the glory. I am literized with seeing all this glory and beauty. Yet by his Spirit he lives in you.

And he lives in me. All the one of it all. Now keep that before you.

Go back with me now to another scripture. 2 Corinthians chapter 11. I want to see the progress here.

And the ever deepening and the ever widening. It's out of the riches we've been brought into. Oh we're such a wealthy people.

We are such a rich people. Now the other day. There's some preacher got the idea.

I'm trying to get hands up from other people. Just because you're a preacher you think you should have great favors. And people should give you things.

This preacher went to this motor mechanic. And he said to him. There was something he was doing wrong with his car.

He'd like him to repair the car. He said now when you give me your account. Remember I'm just a poor preacher.

He said yes I know. I heard you on Sunday. Well.

That's one thing I trust I'll never do. Give anybody the impression. I may be a poor preacher.

But I don't want anyone to ever think. He's actually everything to me. The one of it all.

Now most will you please. Chapter 11. The second chapter of the Corinthians.

And verse 2. For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I have espoused you to one husband. That I may present you a changed virgin as a Christ.

The word I want to give you is the word espoused. We are his espoused. And I as a Christ.

Remember the bridegroom is just so happy. Because of the bride. And remember the friend the bridegroom John 3 29.

Rejoices with the bridegroom. He's just so happy. And the word here is we are espoused as a Christ.

Members of his body. Flesh of his flesh. Born of his birth.

Remember just as it was taken from Adam's side. That is said why she's born of my body. Flesh of my flesh.

So beloved this morning. We are the complement in our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. He we are not only his body.

Thank God we are his bride. And we've been espoused to Christ. A changed virgin.

Now go back with me to chapter 9 will you? And verse 11. Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness. Which causes through us thanksgiving to God.

The wonder of being espoused to him just filled the heart with joy. But now we are enriched in everything. Not only are we espoused.

That we are enriched. Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness. And notice the result.

Which causes through us thanksgiving to God. Now go to chapter 6. And verse number 11. Oh ye Corinthians our mouth is open unto you.

Our heart is enlarged. Notice the creedal expression. Espoused.

Enriched. And enlarged. Is ever increasing.

Ever deepening. Thank God today because we are espoused to Christ. The virgin bride.

So this morning we are enriched. And Psalm 100, 19, 32 says. I will run the way of thy commandment.

When thou shalt enlarge my heart. So thank God this morning for the enlargement of heart. Now I cannot but think that there is a desire of us being here.

In these days of conference. Not only to know the joy of this wonderful espousal. Not only the joy of this wonderful enrichment.

But that our own heart may be enlarged. Enlarged for the Lord himself. The Bible says in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 17.

That Christ, not just as a guest. Is not enough to give Christ a place in my life. He must have not only the prominent place.

He must have the preeminent place. So our heart must be enlarged for the Lord himself. People sometimes you know as we travel up and down the country.

They say there is your room Mr. Boswell. Now make yourself comfortable. I usually take them at their word and do that very thing.

I am just as happy in the kitchens. I like to be at home. But you know.

After I have left in my room. I get down by the bed or by the chair. And thank the Lord for taking me to that area.

And pray a great plan in my being. Now I begin to unpack. Now I go across the closed cupboard.

Now I am going to put away my suit. I have got another suit by the way. The door springs open.

There is not an inch of room for my suit. But make yourself perfectly at home. I go to the chest of drawers.

The tall boy. Now I am going to put away my regiment key. Next one is lost.

It comes out. Now the third one. He is already full.

But make yourself perfectly full. Do you see what I am getting at? Come in Lord. The Lord.

That cupboard there Lord is rather full. I don't want to go in there Lord. Lord I have got that drawer locked against you.

I don't want to look in that drawer. Lord. Don't be trying to do that with the Lord.

Oh the day be loving in your heart. My heart being large. Every avenue.

Every cupboard. Every drawer. Every shelf.

Even the shelf behind the door. All cleaned up. He may come in all his wonderful clothes.

But we might know the wonderful and rich here and now. For he comes in. He brings all the blessing with him.

If anyone hear my voice and open the door. Harold Barker. Who along with Harold Wilde is to my mind I think of the world's best storytellers.

And I mean storytelling in the right sense of the word. And he thought me. Harold Barker told the story.

Of a man who worked as a gardener for a very wealthy gentleman in Cumberland. And one day. After the morning service of breaking bread.

The master said to his servant. He said John. I am coming home for lunch with you today.

And to my little cottage down by the gate. Yes John. I am coming home for lunch with you today.

And immediately John looked at his wife. And he thought of the little vegetable soup we are going to have. And that little cheese sandwich we are going to have.

What shall we do? He said don't worry John. I am bringing everything with me. Everything with me.

For the carriage and pair in those days. Not the car. The carriage and pair.

Stopped at the lodge. And because then the footman. He carried all the things in.

John's wife spread a beautiful white linen trim across the table. They brought in there turkey. They brought in ham.

Boiled ham. They brought in sausage. They brought in butter.

And eggs. And all the various trimmings. All the.

What happened? Then John and his wife along with a man from the other gate there. Just drew near. And they participated.

They become my friends. The recipients of all the masters. Had provided for them.

Here in those days afterwards. The boss said to John. John I want you and your good lady to come up to the big house.

Come up with us today for lunch. You have never been up there. And so John and his wife were very happy about this.

They drew right past the lodge. Right up the long driveway. Then as they had gone away.

The old. John and his dear wife. The table was creaking with all the riches and the royalties thereon.

What's the lesson? It was all provided by the master. Now a child of God. Get it.

The Lord said I will come into him and supper with him. And he brings everything with him. Pardon.

Peace. And power. Love.

Light. Liberty. And life.

He brings joy and awe so unspeakable and full of glory. All the needful time present. He brings everything with him.

Something maybe today. He's going to say I want you to come home with me. Come home with me.

And all that rich royal marriage supper. Oh my friend. With all the royalties and the dangers there waiting.

I think of the Queen of Sheba. When she had come and seen all the glories. And all the wisdom.

And all the riches belonging to Solomon. Why was no more strength. Has never yet been told.

Oh because all he does get. What we've been brought into as a child of God. All the immensity of the riches.

Oh what a wealth of people we really are. Do you believe that my friend this morning? I see some of you nodding. I know you believe that.

Don't be afraid to say amen. Here's the whole thing. Shalom to God.

Now my friend. Emancipated and delivered. Oh thank God.

He's enriched. And enriched with all the riches. That God has for us treasured up.

In his beloved son. Let us this morning go in and survey. Our possessions.

In Christ Jesus. Someone leaving yesterday morning said. Why? I never lied either sir.

I think I'm asking for a loan. Oh children of God. Go then.

In Philippians chapter 4 verse number 19. My God supply all. According to his riches and glory.

In Christ Jesus. Now I know this. According to his riches.

Who? In Christ Jesus. An illustration. A dear man some time ago gave me $40.

As a gift in the Lord's name. I appreciated it immensely. It came at a time when it was needed.

But you know. I knew that man. I still know him.

To be a multimillionaire many times over. Now that man did not give me according to his riches. But out of the abundance of his riches.

He'd always take me a check for $200 sometime afterward. But again I knew her. To be a lady.

A millionaire over and over and over again. She did not give me according to her riches. But out of the abundance of her riches.

But he doesn't do that. You know. He gives according to his riches and glory.

And I know you can't divorce these two. You shall never walk as your shepherd. But the little boy is caught in the mess to repeat Romans.

Psalm number 23. He got up and he said. The 23rd Psalm.

The Lord. The 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my shepherd.

Again he forgot it. The 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my shepherd.

That's enough. He walked off the platter. But isn't that good theology? Eh? Isn't it? The Lord is my shepherd.

That's enough. Lord thou art enough. The mind and heart are filled.

Oh fix my eyes so holy. That with thy beauty occupied. I elsewhere none may see.

So let us go now to our next letter M. And the word is. A redeemed person is marked. There's a mark upon him.

Now go back to Ephesians chapter 1 just to find the mark. Shall we? Now these are verses we might easily quote for you. But it's good for you to see them for yourself.

Verse number 12. That we should be to the praise of his glory. If first trusted in Christ.

In whom ye also trusted. As that ye heard the word of truth. The gospel of your salvation.

In whom also after that ye believed. Ye were sealed. With that holy spirit of promise.

Which is the earnest of our inheritance. And shall the redemption of first possession. Notice now.

Unto the praise of his glory. Ye were sealed. With that holy spirit of promise.

Now there you have the mark. We are being sealed. And the spirit himself is the seal.

He doesn't make the seal. He himself is the seal. Remember the old thing we sometimes sing.

And on each he setteth. His own secret sign. They that have my spirit.

These saith he. Are mine. When my all I ventured.

On Christ's atoning blood. The holy spirit entered. And I was born of God.

Yet beloved therein have we the seal of mourning. The mark. We're a child of God.

Way gone there in Ephesus. And it calmed. Those great harbors there.

And they bring the magic timbers in. And they sell the timbers. And there's a certain mark.

A certain stamp. Same with the shepherds. They go to the sheep from the market.

And they buy the sheep. And they got a pot of paint. A certain color.

And it belongs to that particular farmer. And the shepherd takes the paint. Having bought the sheep.

And he plays that stamp. That paint on that sheep. And everybody knows that.

That particular flock of sheep. Or that individual sheep. Belongs to a certain farmer.

There's the mark. There's the mark of ownership. Remember too how the timber is taken.

And there's a stamp there. A seal put upon that timber. It belongs to a certain merchant.

So I'm thinking now the idea of the seal. The wax is melted. And there is that seal, that stamp.

And that, remember, that seal's taken. Put it in the melted wax. And put upon the document.

And there, my friends, the impression is made. The image of the seal is transferred to that document. Now notice the first point.

It's a mark of ownership. It's a mark of security. It's a mark of identification.

Now because we've been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. And we're His own dear children. His place is marked upon us.

And remember, first of all, there is the seal. There is the seal. What is it? The mark of ownership.

See, my friends. We're all, we're purchased by Him. Not the sovereign or God.

We're His own personal possession purchased by a precious man. Now the seal does not make me head. The price paid for me makes me head.

But a place is stamped upon me. There is a mark of ownership. Now I want you to get this.

Now I think we ought to preach it more in our gospel ministry. Not only do we have the forgiveness of sins the moment we believe. But that moment the Holy Spirit enters into our lives.

The two go together. The forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And there you have the mark.

The seal. Now the mark of ownership. And the mark of security.

Thank God that seal can never be broken. That seal can never be broken. And notice what it says in chapter 4 verse 30 on the same letter.

First of all, you remember them. There is a person. And he is himself the seal of the Spirit.

There's a time when, notice now. On believing we were sealed with the Spirit. And notice now the duration.

It says in verse 30. Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption. My friend, notice the duration.

This refers now to the redemption of the purchased possession. The redemption of the body refers to Romans chapter 8. Oh the wonder of it all. So there is the fact of identification.

Now, the stamp is being placed upon us. I wish to reveal something of the image of our adorable Lord Jesus. Your life and my life should be an outshining of the indwelling Christ.

Remember when we renew service altogether but see Him in all His glory and beauty. The mark. Now go down to the next one, will you? And this is a very precious one to me too.

It really fills my heart. And remember Hebrews chapter 9 and verse number 12. Hebrews 9 and verse number 12.

This is a very precious one. Regarding redemption. Healed by the blood of God and caused by His own blood.

He entered in once into the holy place. Notice now. Having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Verse number 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offer themselves without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, the self of living God? Notice in verse 14 the work of the Trinity here. The blood of Christ, by the eternal Spirit, offer themselves to God.

Now verse 14, 15. The life has passed. Those which are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Notice this threefold picture. One, the eternal redemption by the eternal Spirit and for the eternal inheritance. I love the word eternal, don't you? There is a duration.

And we're sealed unto the day of redemption. Now notice, this is an eternal redemption. Not just for time, but for all eternity.

Now go to Isaiah, will you? And chapter 43 for my last picture. Now I wish we were just starting in here now, instead of having to finish. In fact, I may continue here tonight.

I think I won't be able to finish this. But notice, will you please, in chapter 43, and verse number 1. But now thus says the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, fear not, for I have redeemed thee. I have called thee by name, thou art mine.

Verse 4. Since thou wast precious in mine sight, thou hast been honorable. I have loved thee. Therefore would I give men for thee and people for thy life.

Verse number 7. Even every one that is called by my name, for I have created him for my glory. I formed him. Yea, I have made him.

Keep that before you, and go back to Psalm number 18. Psalm 18, verse number 19. You get the word I have for you regarding the deed.

Psalm 18, verse number 19. He brought me forth also into a large place. He delivered me because he delighted in me.

He delivered me because he delighted in me. The word I want to give you for the last letter D is the word delight. Thank God the redeemed are those who have been ransomed at a price.

They are emancipated. They are delivered. They are elevated.

They are enriched. They are marked with an eternal mark. And thank God they are the delight of God.

We find all our delight in him. A dear brother John, leaving yesterday morning, came to me and quoted a verse I meant to finish with. Now do it right now.

Again written in the fly leaf of John Nelson Darby's Bible. That thou should find delight in me and be the God thou art. It's darkness to my intellect, but it's sunshine in my heart.

Oh, that he should find delight in us. I simply can't understand it. But thank God he does.

I'll go on from there tonight. I want to speak on that last word tonight. The word, we are his delight.

We are his delight. From Sam Number and other Isaiah chapter 43. May I read the verse again? He brought me forth also into a large place.

He delivered me because he delighted in me. May God add his blessing to the meditator upon his word this morning. In number 149.

149. Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.

Redeemed through his infinite nursing. His child and forever I am. 149.

Our Father we thank thee that we can bow thy presence this morning as thine own dear children. Cleansed by precious blood. Saved by matchless grace.

We are ones that far off have been made nigh to thee and look up this morning and say Abba, my own dear Father. Oh God grant all of us here may be able to say triumphantly thank thee oh God for saving my soul. Showing me the good of this wonderful redemption.

Now give me grace to enter right in and present all thou hast for me through the Lord Jesus Christ. Pardon us with thy blessing. Keep us in the hollow of thy hand.

May our demeanor, our deportment, our manner of living all enhance the personal work of the Lord Jesus that we shall walk before men as those redeemed and possessed by the Lord himself. Thank you for coming out this morning. God bless each one.