Redeemed For What Reason? (Corinth Baptist – 11/16/08 AM)

Ephesians 1:9–12

Introduction:

Christianity must be very confusing to those who do not know it well. In today’s pluralistic society you can find all sorts of contradictory teaching. It would be interesting to see why one would think it good to be saved. But that thought raises an interesting question: what is the purpose of redemption? Why did Christ die for us? Why are we saved? If we can answer that question, we can answer a lot of other questions.

I.                   The Perversions of Redemption: (False Teaching) 

A.          Escape from hell.

B.           Make life better.

C.           Praying a prayer.

D.          Find a personal peace.

E.           Health, wealth, and prosperity.

F.            Doing God a favor.

II.                The Provision of Redemption – Verse 9

A.          Redemption was determined in eternity past: (vs 4)

1.          By the counsels of triune God. (Acts 2:23; I John 5:7-8)

2.          God even determined who would be saved.

B.           Redemption was accomplished on Calvary’s cross.

1.          When Christ died, He died for all our sins.

2.          When He died, all our sins were in the future.

3.          When a sinner trusts Christ, all sins are forgiven: past, present, future.

4.          He died to save us not to make salvation available.

C.           Redemption is finished, complete, and eternal.

III.             The Purpose of Redemption

A.          Christ sought glory (John 17:1, 5 – 1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.)

1.          He sought the return of what was rightfully His and had been laid aside

2.          His glorification required and resulted from the completed work of redemption (John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.)

B.           The purpose of redemption is the glorification of God (Ephesians 1:12).

C.           We are saved to glorify Him:

1.          In our salvation itself (Ephesians 1:6; James 1:18).

James 1:18 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

2.          In our lives once saved (Ephesians 2:8–10).

3.          In our eternal praise (Ephesians 2:7).

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

D.          The ultimate purpose of salvation: to glorify God.

IV.             The Practicalities of Redemption

A.          There are many benefits of redemption:

1.          Transformed lives.

2.          Restoration of homes and families.

B.           If the purpose of redemption is to glorify God, then it:

1.          Explains circumstances (a matter of how God chooses to allow each of us to glorify Him).

2.          Explains suffering.

C.           We lose sight of God’s purpose and begin to believe that the purpose of redemption is somehow tied in to our pleasure, etc.

D.          This should have a profound effect on our life-style. We are saved to glorify Him not to better our lot in life (man’s chief end—to glorify God and enjoy HIM forever).

Conclusion:

Salvation is an incredible blessing to us, but blessing us is not the primary purpose of God. God’s glory is most prominent. We must reject anything that does not contribute to the glory of God: all man-centered purposes for redemption, all living outside the confines of His will, and all preoccupation with self.