GRACE FOR TODAY Radio Message #448
CHRIST DIED FOR HIS
PEOLPE
Pastor
Don Fortner
Grace Baptist Church of Danville
2734 Old Stanford Road
Danville,
Kentucky 40422-9438
The objects of redemption
are described by such words and characteristics as show them to be a special
and distinct people. Particularly, those who are the objects of redemption are
called, the people of God our Savior. "For the transgressions of my
people", says the Lord
our God, "was he stricken”, stricken by the rod of divine justice to make satisfaction for our sins and
to redeem us from them.
When he was about to come
and redeem us, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, at his birth said, "Blessed
be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people".
Thus he prophesied that God would redeem and save his elect by sending Christ,
the dayspring from on high, as he called him. He visited his people in the
flesh and redeemed them by his blood (Luke 1:68, 78). Therefore, the angel that
appeared to Joseph, and instructed him to call the Son who was to be born of
his wife, Mary, by the name of Jesus, gave this reason, "for he shall save his
people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21).
Someone
may say, “All men are the people of God.” In a sense that is true, inasmuch as they
are his creatures. Yet, the Scriptures expressly tell us that they are not all
his redeemed people. Those who are redeemed by Christ are redeemed "out of every people" (Rev.
5:9). The redeemed are God's covenant
people; of whom he says, "They
shall be my people, and I will be their God." We are his portion and
his inheritance, a people near and dear unto him, a people given to Christ to
be redeemed and saved by him; of whom it is said, "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power".
Redemption is not universal,
but special. By the precious blood of Christ atonement has been effectually
accomplished and redemption has been obtained for God’s elect. Christ is not
the Redeemer of all men, but of many. If the redeemed are those who are the
objects of God's special love and favor, then not all men are redeemed. There
are some of whom it is said, "He that made them, will not have mercy on them; and he
that formed them, will show them no
favour" (Isa. 27:11). To say that Christ died and made
atonement, that he redeemed those people, is to declare that his death, his
blood, and his redemption is not the work, gift, and good favor of God!
If, as the Scriptures teach,
the redeemed are the elect of God, and them only, then not all men are
redeemed; for all are not chosen. "The election hath obtained it, and
the rest are blinded" (Rom. 11:7). If only those are redeemed for
whom Christ became a Surety, then not all men are redeemed. Christ did not
engage to pay the debts of all men. If the redeemed are the people of God and
Christ, then not all are redeemed. There are some on whom God writes a
"Loammi", saying, "Ye are
not my people; and I will not be your God" (Hos. 1:9). If the redeemed
are the sheep of Christ to whom he gives eternal life, then the goats, who will
go into everlasting punishment, are not redeemed. If the redeemed are the
children of God and the church and spouse of Christ to whom he gives the gift
of faith, then not all men are redeemed, “For all men have not faith!” All
honest men and women who read the Bible must acknowledge that the
Lord Jesus Christ died for and redeemed his people alone, with the special,
effectual purchase price of his own precious blood!
AMEN.