But I've got a question for you; who is the redeemed of the Lord?
The Church! Right!
But there is more to it than it seems. Sometimes we don't delve into an issue. It looks like when we go to church, we leave our thinking cap at home. But please, bear with me as we examine "the redeemed" of the Lord.
Jesus Christ REDEEMED all of mankind from the Law. We were all born under the Law system, or Babylon system. This is something that is so basic, that it is so easy to miss. What happened in the Garden of Eden, wasnt about sin only. I've mentioned this extensively on other discussion topics. But it is really crucial that we get it. Sin was a problem in the Garden of Eden; but sin was a fruit! When Adam and Eve sinned, yes they disobeyed God; but the biggest problem was them chosing self righteousness over the Righteousness of God. Adam and Eve introduce us to a system where we have to perform inorder to please God; That is the Law.Romans 7:5-6 says:
5For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.Romans say we were delivered from the law. A price was paid and WE WERE REDEEMED. Now watch this, dont miss this: we are a result of redemption. When Jesus died, we were redeemed. He paid the full price, and we were set free from the law. But then, Jesus rose from the dead. He was delivered and a payment for our sins, and was raised for our justification. What that means is; he died for our sins, but was raised to justify us; AS THOUGH WE HAVE NEVER SINNED. I know this is supposed to be common knowledge. But common is not so common. The whole of humanity was set free from the law; but they that believe in Jesus are justified. The whole of humanity was redeemed. That doesn't mean they are saved. The Bible says that Jesus is
"the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the WORLD"So by that we understand that Jesus took away the sin of the world. Did He pay for the sins of the christians? No. Did He pay for the sins that were committed until his crucifixion? No! He paid for the sins of the whole world, one time only, and forever more. There will be no more sacrifice again what so ever. No human being slipped off the crack. Every single being that was born, was covered in that "universal policy". So, who is the christian? A christian is not the redeemed, even though that is part of the equation! Redemption is like a tree; and the christian is a fruit. A christian is not a sinner saved by grace. I repeat: A CHRISTIAN IS NOT A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE! When we say that we insult the work of the cross. The sinner, was set free when Jesus died. And now, a new man is born. A new nation is born. Isaiah said "Can a nation be born in one day? Isaiah 66:8-12:
8Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.Can a nation be born in one day? No, and yes. No human civilization can do that. But God did it. When Jesus rose from the dead, HE WAS A NEW MAN. A new creation.
10Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
11That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
Remember, Jesus came under the law like everyone of us. Then he obeyed the whole law, all the while representing us. Then He died for us, thereby setting us free. Then He rose from the dead. He died. The old man died. The man after the first Adam, died. The man under the law, died. Kapput. Finito. Then He rose again a new man. He was born again that day. Not only was He born again; but whosoever believes in Him, was born again. Jesus was the seed that was planted. When He rose, a new breed of humans were born. They were not born after man, of by the will of the flesh; but they were born of God. And whatso ever is born of God overcomes the world. 2000 years ago, a new nation was born. Zion is her name. The church of the living God. They are a fruit of redemption. Now that scripture in Isaiah 66 is misinterpreted by many as speaking of Israel the Nation. They are wrong. it is speaking about the "Jerusalem from above" which is the church. Hebrews chapters 11 and 12 explains it clearly. Look at Hebrews 11:8-10:
8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.It says Abraham was in the land of promise, yet he was still looking. Verse 10 says "for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builer and maker is God."
Which city is that. It is not speaking about the land of Israel, because Abraham was already in it. Furthermore, Psalm 87:2 says:
2The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
It says God loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. ALL THE DWELLINGS OF JACOB, includes even Jerusalem. That is the land of Israel. Remember, Jacob is Israel. But yet it says God loves the gates of Zion.
So then, who or what is Zion? We have seen from scripture (and there are many) that it is not the land of Israel.
Zion is what Abraham was looking for according to Hebrews 11.
Now lets examine Hebrews 12:18-24:
18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
20(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Those scriptures are simply saying; that the church(the new Jerusalem/Zion) is not in the same place as the Israel. The children of Israel came out of Egypt and went to Mt Sinai where the law was given to them. There was darkness, and much trembling. The Church of Jesus Christ has not come to that moutain.
No, we came to Mt Zion, which is in Jerusalem; on the day of pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given.
These are two parallel positions; Israelites came to Mt Sinai; The church to Mt Zion;
Israelites given the law; the church given the Holy Spirit; At Mt Sinai, that was 50 days after the passover in Egypt; on the day of pentecost, that was 50 days after "DEATH OF JESUS(PASSOVER); on the first pentecost on Mt Sinai; 3000 people died; on the second pentecost(Holy Spirit) 3000 people were added to the church. Ok, now lets go back to the point. So Hebrews 12 is saying we the church did not go to Mt Sinai were there is law; or self righteousness. Remember the law says: "thou shall ........" The law places the burden upon mankind to please God. Thats is not the church of Jesus Christ. The church has been given by grace the love of God poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit that was given.
So now, lets go back to Psalm 87 again:
1His foundation is in the holy mountains.
2The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.
3Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.
4I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.
5And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
6The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.
Wow! please read that Psalm again. It says Glorious things have been spoken of thee, oh Zion. You are Zion. You are born in Zion. You see people from all over the world are born in Zion. How is that; its not speaking of a worldly nation. Its the church of Jesus Christ; you'll find people from every tribe and tongue. Ethiopean, philistian, they are all born in Zion. How is an Ethiopean born in Zion. You are born in flesh as an Ethiopean, African, Sudanese, etc....but once you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are born of God - you are born in Zion. You are now a fruit of what Jesus did. Verse 5 says; "the Highest Himself shall establish her." That means you are not born of God by your own deeds; but God Himself established you. Psalm 102:13-14;16-18:
13Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.
14For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.
16When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.
17He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
18This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.
Remember Psalm 87:5 says "the Highest Himself shall establish her".....Now compare that to Psalm 102:16 "When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory."
It is saying the same thing. Now look at the Gospel of John 1:14:
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus came with a glory that matches only the one begotten of God. Jesus is "the Highest Himself " who came to build up Zion - his church. Hebrews 1:3 says: "3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: "
He is the brightness of His glory, and the exact image of His person. God came down with all His glory inorder to build up Zion. Zion is not a city made by men. Zion is the church. Zion is the new creation. Check out verse 18 of Psalm 102. It says "and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD."
The people which shall be created! Who are the people which shall be created?
Those that are born again. Those that are born of God. Now, are they the redeemed of the Lord? I don't think so! Yes they were redeemed when Jesus died. But when He rose from the dead, man, they are A NEW CREATION (2 Cor 5:17)
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed, behold, all have become new".
Now, let me ask this question again; WHO IS THE CHRISTIAN?
The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind; the answer is blowing in the wind!
This gives another meaning to "let the redeemed of the Lord say so"; isn't it?
Thank you for bearing with me through this. I believe this will bless you. Maybe you just read it, and you didn't catch it. Please read it again, carefully and prayerfully. If you catch this, it will change you. Everything I said here is scripture. Don't let the traditions of men make this word of none effect. Jesus said so in Mark:7:13
" Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
In other words, don't look at this with the eyes of your understanding; that is based on traditions of men. This is the time that "God has favored Zion". It is a time of favor. It is a time where focus on the goodness of God. God is good. That is who He is. God is Love; he does not posses love, or goodness; no no, He is Love. There is no darkness in Him whatsoever. God is Light. But of course when the light shines, darkness will show up somewhere else. It doesn't mean that God possesses light and darkness at the same time. But that is another topic for another day. But for today, let the fruit of the redemption say so; LET HIM THAT IS BORN OF GOD, SAY "BE IT UNTO ME AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN LORD."
Don't struggle with what God has spoken of you; just accept and receive it; Glorious things are spoken of thee o Zion! Psalm 119:89 says:
"89For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven."
The word of God is settled. Meaning is done. Jesus said it cleary while hanging on the cross "it is finished." It is not settled in heaven only; it has been made on earth as it is in Heaven.
Will you believe it?
James Akot
05/03/2010
