Sermon #1 Ruth Series

Title: Christ Our Kinsman Redeemer

Text: Ruth 3:9

Reading:

Subject: Redemption and grace in Christ

Date: Tuesday Evening - March 16, 1993

Sunday Morning Bible Class - 12-22-98

Tape # U-95b

Introduction:

Ruth 3:9 "And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman."

I want you to open your Bibles to the book of Ruth. My subject is Christ Our Kinsman Redeemer. We will begin in chapter three, verse nine, where Boaz said to Ruth, “Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.” I take this for my text, but really my message will be taken from the whole book of Ruth.

This Book, like all the Old Testament Scriptures speaks of Christ our Redeemer. The subject of this Book is redemption. The whole book is a picture of our redemption by Christ. The key word, used repeatedly in these four chapters is “kinsman” (2:1, 20; 3:9, 12; 4:6, 14).

Ruth 2:1 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz."

Ruth 2:20 "And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."

Ruth 3:9 "And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman."

Ruth 3:12 "And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I."

Ruth 4:6 "And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it."

Ruth 4:14 "And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel."

Proposition: The kinsman is the one who has the right to redeem.

· The law of the kinsman Redeemer was given in Leviticus 25:25.

Leviticus 25:25 "If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold."

· That prophetic law was given to be a picture of Christ and was fulfilled by him. Our father Adam sold us into bondage and sin; but Christ, our kinsman Redeemer, bought us and brought us into the righteousness, life and liberty of the sons of God (Rom. 5:19).

Romans 5:19 "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

· The Book of Ruth is a beautiful picture of the whole thing. It shows us both our need of a kinsman Redeemer and the way we may obtain the blessings of redemption. Let’s look at the picture together.

Elimelech - There was a certain man of Israel called Elimelech of Bethlehem-Judah in the days of the Judges. Elimelech means “God is King”. Yet, when famine came to Israel, Elimelech took his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, and went down into Moab, a heathen country where God was not known or worshipped.

· Elimelech means “my God is King”.

· Naomi means “sweet and pleasant”.

· Mahlon means “weakness”.

· Chilion means “consumption”.

· Orpah means “stiff-necked and declining”.

· Ruth means “companion”.

· Boaz means “in him is strength”. Boaz and Ruth are the principle characters in this story, Ruth representing sinners in need of redemption and grace and Boaz representing Christ our Redeemer, who is full of strength, power, virtue, and grace.

Elimelech left Israel in weakness and was consumed in Moab. He died in Moab and left his wife and two sons. His two sons married Moabite women, lived with them for ten years, and then they died.

Naomi - Now poor and brokenhearted, Naomi determined to go back to Bethlehem. She told her daughters-in-law to remain with their own people. Orpah did just that. She went back to her people and her gods; but not Ruth. She was “steadfastly minded to go with” Naomi (Read Ruth 1:16-17).

Ruth 1:16-17 "And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

So Naomi and Ruth returned to the land of Israel and to the people of God at the beginning of the harvest season. Now, I want to show you five clear, instructive pictures in the book of Ruth.

Divisions:

1. A Picture Of Our Ruin By The Fall Of Adam (1:9-21).

2. A Picture Of Christ’s Free Love To Sinners (2:1-5, 9, 16).

3. A Picture Of God’s Special Providence (2:3, 9, 16).

4. A Picture Of Christ Our Kinsman Redeemer (3:9-4:13).

5. A Picture Of True Repentance (3:1-11).

I. First, read 1:19-21 - Here is A PICTURE OF OUR RUIN BY THE FALL OF ADAM.

Ruth 1:19-21 "So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?"

When Naomi came back to Bethlehem, everyone gathered around her, looked at her with astonishment, and said, “Is this Naomi?” To that she replied, “Don’t call me Naomi (sweet and pleasant); but call me Mara (bitter) because God hath dealt bitterly with me!” She went out young, happy, beautiful, and full; but she came back old, bitter, worn, weary, poor and empty. That’s us!

Is this Adam? Can these poor, dying, corrupt creatures called men be the sons of Adam, who was created in the image of God? (Rom. 5:12; 3:10-19).

Romans 5:12 "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Romans 3:10-19 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

· The prince is now a pauper!

· The king is now a beggar!

· The pleasant is now bitter!

· The full is now empty!

· The blessed is now cursed!

II. Secondly, in chapter 2, we are given A PICTURE OF CHRIST’S FREE LOVE TO SINNERS (vv. 1-5, 9, 16).

Ruth 2:1-5 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 And, behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said unto the reapers, The LORD be with you. And they answered him, The LORD bless thee. 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?"

Ruth 2:9 "Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them: have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee? and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn."

Ruth 2:16 "And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not."

As I said before, Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest season. They were poor. Their inheritance was gone. They had no one to support them and take care of them. But it was required by God’s law in Israel that the poor people be allowed to follow the reapers through the fields and glean, or pick up what the reapers left behind (Lev. 19:9-10; Deut. 24:19).

A. Ruth knew that there was a kinsman who could redeem her (v. 1).

Ruth 2:1 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz."

· He was a kinsman.

· He was a mighty man.

· He was a man of great wealth.

Boaz, Ruth’s kinsman, beautifully typifies the Lord Jesus Christ, our Kinsman Redeemer. In order for one to be a kinsman redeemer four things were necessary:

1. The kinsman had to be related by blood to those he redeemed (Deut. 25:5, 7-10; John 1:14; Rom. 1:3; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:14-15).

Deuteronomy 25:5, 7-10 "If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto he.. ..And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him: and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; 9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed."

John 1:14 "And 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."

Romans 1:3 "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh."

Philippians 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

Hebrews 2:14-15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

2. He had to be able to pay the price required for redemption (Ruth 2:1; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).

Ruth 2:1 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz."

1 Peter 1:18-19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

3. He had to be willing to pay the price of redemption (Ruth 3:11; Matt. 20:28; John 10:15-18; Heb. 10:7).

Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

Matthew 20:28 "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

John 10:15-18 "As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."

Hebrews 10:7 "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God."

4. The kinsman redeemer had to be free himself. Our Lord Jesus was entirely free from any debt of his own!

B. Ruth went out into the fields to glean with the poor, hoping she might find grace in the eyes of her kinsman (v. 2).

Ruth 2:2 "And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

· If it were possible for her to have her inheritance with God’s people redeemed, Ruth was not willing to perish in poverty! “Seek ye the LORD.”

· She went to the place where she was most likely to meet her kinsman, with the hope that he might be gracious to her. “Harvest Fields” - Church.

C. Boaz spotted Ruth and had compassion on her (v. 5).

Ruth 2:5 "Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this?"

There were many poor widows gleaning in the fields. But Boaz set his eyes upon Ruth, took notice of Ruth, and had compassion on Ruth before she even knew who he was!

Even so, the Lord Jesus Christ took notice of us, loved us, and chose us before the world was made. He loved us freely from eternity!

III. Thirdly, in this second chapter the Holy Spirit has also given us A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF GOD’S SPECIAL PROVIDENCE (2:1, 9, 16).

Ruth 2:1 "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz."

Ruth 2:16 "And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not."

As the fields of Bethlehem belonged to Boaz, so this world belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ. It is his by design, by decree, and by death (Col. 1:16-17; John 3:35; 17:2; Rom. 14:9).

Colossians 1:16-17 "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."

John 3:35 "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

Romans 14:9 "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living."

A. As Ruth’s “hap was to light on a part of the field belonging to Boaz;” so God graciously brings each of his elect to the place where he will be gracious to them.

B. As Boaz commanded his young men not to touch Ruth, so the Lord Jesus Christ has given commandment to all creation, saying, “touch not mine anointed!”

C. As Boaz commanded his men to let fall “handfuls of purpose” for Ruth, so our Savior takes care to provide for his elect, even throughout the days of their rebellion and unbelief (Hos. 2:8).

Hosea 2:8 "For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal."

Read 2:18-20. According to the law of God given to Israel (Lev. 25:25), if a man sold his inheritance and he had a near kinsman, who was willing and able to do so, the kinsman could buy back his brother’s lost inheritance.

Ruth 2:18-20 "And she took it up, and went into the city: and her mother in law saw what she had gleaned: and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother in law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee. And she showed her mother in law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."

In chapter 3, Naomi tells Ruth what she must do. She told her to go to the threshing floor where Boaz, the near kinsman, would be. She told her to humble herself, lay down at his feet, and spend the night there - “And he will tell thee what thou shalt do.” And Ruth did what Naomi told her to do (3:1-11).

Ruth 3:1-11 "Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to night in the threshingfloor. 3 Wash thy self therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6 And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my daughter: for thou hast showed more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as thou followedst not young men, whether poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

IV. This is A PICTURE OF TRUE REPENTANCE!

A. She marked the place where Boaz would be and went there (v. 4). Christ is found in the assembly of his saints.

B. She came in softly and laid herself at his feet (v. 7).

Ruth 3:7 "And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down."

The sinner who needs mercy will always be found at the feet of his Lord.

· The Leper (Matt. 8).

· Mary (Lk. 10).

· The Harlot (Lk. 7).

Many are too proud to bow as broken, humbled beggars at the feet of Christ. But this woman risked being scandalized. She risked losing the only thing she had left, her name, that she might obtain Boaz’s favor!

C. Ruth told Boaz plainly what she wanted (v. 9). Take me. I am your handmaid. Take me for your wife!

Ruth 3:9 "And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman."

D. Boaz said, “I will do all that thou requirest!” But there is a kinsman nearer than I. He must be dealt with first.

· Christ will be merciful!

· Christ will save!

· But he could never save us until first he had dealt with the law and justice of God.

V. That brings us to chapter 4. Here is the last, great picture of this book - Boaz is set before us here as A PICTURE OF CHRIST OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER (3:11; 4:1-13).

Ruth 3:11 "And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman."

Ruth 4:1-13 "Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's: 4 And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is noneside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon hithe dead upon his inheritance. 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 7 Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman. 13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son."

Boaz went up to the gate of the city where men transacted business and met Ruth’s nearer kinsman. He said, “You have first claim upon Elimelech’s field. If you want it buy it.” So the man said, “I’ll buy it!” Then Boaz said, “If you buy the field, you must also marry Ruth, his daughter-in-law.” So the man said to Boaz, “I can’t do that, lest I mar my own inheritance. You redeem her.” So Boaz bought the field and married Ruth (vv. 9, 10, 13).

Ruth 4:9 And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.

Ruth 4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day.

Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son.

A. The Lord Jesus Christ is our kinsman Redeemer.

1. He is our Kinsman by his incarnation!

2. He is mighty, for he is God.

3. He is a Kinsman of great wealth - All the fulness of grace and glory is in him!

B. As Boaz loved Ruth, so Christ Jesus loved us without a cause, freely.

· “I have loved thee, with an everlasting love!”

· “Herein is love…”

· “We love him, because he first loved us!”

· “I have drawn thee with the cords of love!”

C. As Boaz promised to redeem Ruth, so the Son of God promised to redeem us in the covenant of grace before the world began (Heb. 7:22).

D. But, as with Ruth, there was one who had first claim upon us.

1. The law of God held us as its captors (Job 9:2; 25:4-6).

Job 9:2 "I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?"

Job 25:4-6 "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? 5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. 6 How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?"

2. But the law of God says, “I cannot redeem the fallen one, lest I mar my righteousness.” The law has claim upon us, but not the ability to redeem us. The law is our kinsman condemner, but could never be our deliverer (Rom. 3:19-20).

Romans 3:19-20 "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

3. So the Lord Jesus willingly paid the price of our redemption, the price demanded by the justice of God.

· Righteousness By His Life!

· Satisfaction By His Blood!

Illustration: A. J. Gordon and The Black Birds.

E. As Boaz took Ruth to be his wife, so the Lord Jesus has taken us to be his bride (vv. 13-15).

Ruth 4:13-15 "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath borne him."

1. God has not left us without a kinsman!

2. Christ is the Restorer of our life!

3. He is the Nourisher of our old age!

F. Like Boaz, our Lord Jesus will not rest until he has “finished the thing!”

· “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it!”

· “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it.”

· “He is able to keep you from falling!”

· Christ will, at last, present you holy, unblameable, and unreproveable before the presence of his glory.

O love surpassing knowledge, O grace so full and free!

I know that Jesus loves me, And that’s enough for me!

O wonderful salvation, From sin Christ set free!

I feel the sweet assurance, And that’s enough for me!

O blood of Christ so precious, Poured out at Calvary,

I feel its cleansing power, And that’s enough for me!

Application:

Ruth, the pagan Moabitess, became the wife of Boaz, heir to all his vast estate, great-grandmother of king David, and was placed in the direct lineage of Christ. Even so, you and I are married to Christ, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, and are made to be the sons and daughters of God almighty - All by grace! All through Christ Our Kinsman Redeemer!

AMEN.