13 September 2017

The Kinsman Redeemer



Theme: A picture of redemption

Scriptures: Ruth 4:1-17

Objectives: (From the D6 Fusion Sunday School Lesson)
Know: God had a plan for Naomi and Ruth’s redemption, and He has some for us as well.
Think: Always be mindful that God provided redemption for me and for all people.
Do: Worship and serve my Redeemer, telling others of His plan of redemption.

Notes and Questions:
B1 Review of Ruth 3
C1 Boaz is the kinsman redeemer. Naomi instructs Ruth how ask Boaz to be the kinsman redeemer.
C2 Ruth follows these instructions.
C3 Boaz agrees.
C4 Boaz gives Ruth much grain as a token to Naomi and Ruth of his intentions.
B2 Review of kinsman redeemer
C1 The kinsman redeemer rules are found in God’s law: ‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold [some] of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold. ‘Or if the man has no one to redeem it, but he himself becomes able to redeem it, ‘then let him count the years since its sale, and restore the remainder to the man to whom he sold it, that he may return to his possession. ‘But if he is not able to have [it] restored to himself, then what was sold shall remain in the hand of him who bought it until the Year of Jubilee; and in the Jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his possession. (Leviticus 25:25-28, NKJV)
C2 There are three ways being a kinsman redeemer.
D1 The situation. A person becomes poor and in order to pay the debt, the person has to sell part of his inheritance (land).
D2 First way, a near relative can pay the debt.
D3 Second way, the poor person works and saves enough to pay the debt.
D4 Third way, if he cannot do the first or the second, then the land will return to him (or his descendants) in the Year of Jubilee. This is usually considered to be the special 50th year in the cycle of 7, 7s in Israeli culture.
B3 Review of Ruth 4
C1 Boaz goes to the elders at the city gate for the purpose of being a kinsman redeemer.
C2 A relative more closely related to Elimelech comes into the city.
C3 Boaz and the other relative discuss the issue. The closer relative agrees until the need to raise up an heir. The closer relative then willingly withdraws, and Boaz becomes the redeemer.
D1 Ruth 4:5 NKJV  Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also buy it from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to perpetuate the name of the dead through his inheritance."
D2 (Deuteronomy 25:5-6 (GNB92) “If two brothers live on the same property and one of them dies, leaving no son, then his widow is not to be married to someone outside the family; it is the duty of the dead man's brother to marry her. The first son that they have will be considered the son of the dead man, so that his family line will continue in Israel.
D3 Matthew 22:23-32 NKJV  The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,  (24)  saying: "Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.  (25)  Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.  (26)  Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh.  (27)  Last of all the woman died also.  (28)  Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her."  (29)  Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.  (30)  For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.  (31)  But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying,  (32)  'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."
C4 Boaz and Ruth get married, then they have a son, Obed.
C5 Obed is considered the offspring of Mahlon, Ruth’s husband who died in Moab. Obed receives the inheritance of Mahlon.
C6 The genealogy to King David.
B4 The Lord Jesus our kinsman redeemer.
C1 Redeemer
D1 To qualify, the redeemer must be a close relative, willing, and able to pay the ransom price. Love is an option.
D2 The Lord Jesus is a close relative, willing, able to pay the ransom price, and the motivation for this redemption is love.
D3 Hebrew
E1 Word
F1 גָּאַל gâ'al which means to be the next of kin, so whatever the next of kin was to do, the גָּאַל gâ'al was to do it. This will highlight in green.
F2 פָּדָה pâdâh which means to sever, ransom, release. This will highlight in red.
E2 Examples
F1 Job 19:25 NKJV  For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth.
F2 Exodus 15:13 NKJV  You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.
F3 Psalms 103:4 NKJV  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
F4 Isaiah 44:6 NKJV  "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.
F5 Exodus 13:13 NKJV  But every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. And all the firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.
F6 1 Samuel 14:45 NKJV  But the people said to Saul, "Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the LORD lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
F7 Psalms 25:22 NKJV  Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all their troubles!
F8 Psalms 69:18 NKJV  Draw near to my soul, and redeem it; Deliver me because of my enemies.
D4 Greek
E1 Word
F1 ἐξαγοράζω exagorazō
F2 Which means to buy, ransom, and rescue.
E2 Examples
F1 Galatians 3:13 NKJV  Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree."
F2 Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  (5)  to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
F3 Ephesians 5:15-16 NKJV  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,  (16)  redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
F4 Colossians 4:5 NKJV  Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
C2 Meaning
D1 Humans are sold to sin.
E1 (Romans 7:14 (GNB92) We know that the Law is spiritual; but I am a mortal, sold as a slave to sin.
E2 (Romans 7:24 (NKJV) O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Also: Ephesians 2:1 NKJV  And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.
E3 (Romans 6:6 (NKJV) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him,] that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
E4 Thus, sin is addictive. We are thoroughly and permanently addicted to sin.
E5 There is no hope for us. We cannot stop sinning by our own effort.
E6 The paycheck of our addiction is death--physical and spiritual. Physically, we will become compost. Spiritually, our souls be tortured in the Lake of Fire forever--a true death. ((Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin [is] death, but the gift of God [is] eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord).
D2 God genuinely wants all people to not go to hell. He wants them to be redeemed.
E1 (1 Timothy 2:4 (NKJV) Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
E2 (John 3:15-17 (NKJV) “That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
E3 (2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
E4 (Romans 10:12-13 (NKJV) For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”
E5 (Hebrews 2:9 (NKJV) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
E6 (Revelation 22:17 (NKJV) And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
D3 God provided a redeemer--Himself.
E1 Promised
F1 (Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”
F2 (Isaiah 59:20 (NKJV) “The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” Says the LORD.
F3 (Isaiah 53:3-4 (NKJV) He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, [our] faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
F4 (Isaiah 53:12 (NKJV) Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.
F5 (Daniel 9:26 (NKJV) “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it [shall be] with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
E2 Fulfilled
F1 (1 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV) Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
F2 (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NKJV) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
F3 (John 1:29 (NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
F4 (1 Peter 1:19-20 (NKJV) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
F5 (Revelation 5:8-10 (NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
C3 Qualifications of the Redeemer
D1 100% God and 100% Man
E1 He has the full nature, essence, and will of God.
E2 He has the full nature, essence, and will of a human.
E3 There is no mixture or confusion. He is, as God, the exact, same essence, substance of God. He is, as man, the exact, same essence, substance of a man.
E4 In his humanity, God is His father and Mary, the Virgin, is His mother.
D2 Sinless
E1 (Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all [points] tempted as [we are, yet] without sin.
E2 (John 8:46 (NKJV) “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
E3 (2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
E4 (1 Peter 2:22 (NKJV) “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth.
E5 (1 John 3:5 (NKJV) And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
E6 The redeemer had to be sinless, because the penalty for sin is death. If Jesus had sinned, then He would have to die for his own sin. Since Jesus is sinless and the God/man, he can die for all humans. He did not need to die for himself.
D3 Freely willing
E1 He freely gave Himself. He wanted to do this, because He genuinely loves.
E2 John 10:15-18 NKJV  As the Father knows Me, even so I know 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 will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.  (17)  "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  (18)  No one takes 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 command I have received from My Father."
E3 (Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
E4 (Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
D4 Resurrection
E1 (Romans 4:25 (NKJV) Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.
E2 (1 Corinthians 15:17 (NKJV) And if Christ is not risen, your faith [is] futile; you are still in your sins!
E3 (Romans 6:9 (NKJV) Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.
B5 Ruth 4:1-6,
C1 Why was Boaz doing this so quickly?
C2 Did Boaz take care of this business righteously?
C3 Why were there witnesses?
C4 What was Boaz’s motivation?
C5 What was the motivation of the Lord Jesus to be our kinsman redeemer?
C6 Why did the closest kinsman refuse? Some thoughts:
D1 It appears he would want the land but not Ruth.
D2 Perhaps, he didn’t want to marry a foreign woman.
D3 Some commentators mentioned that he might have another wife and having another wife might cause marital strife.
D4 Some felt he worried that she would have a lot of children. All of whom would expect some shares of inheritance.
C7 One stupid question: do you think Boaz was happy that the closer kinsman redeemer refused the opportunity?
B6 Ruth 4:7-12,
C1 What about the shoe? It has been suggested that the shoe is important to wherever we go. God blessed the shoes of Israel during the wandering. They did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5). (Deuteronomy 25:9 (NKJV) “Then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.’ The whole practice was not done to the closer relative, because he actually didn’t refuse to buy back the land, just Ruth. What do you think?
C2 It was all accomplished. The inheritance land, Ruth, everything was transacted and witnessed.
C3 Do you think the people of their city were pleased?
B7 Ruth 4:13-17,
C1 Naomi came back to her hometown sad, discouraged, and feeling hopeless. How has God helped her?
C2 Is there hope for us when we are sad, discouraged, and feeling hopeless?
C3 What can we do to have hope?
C4 In Ruth 4:15, what compliment is given Ruth? Why is this exceptional?
C5 How are Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz related to the Lord Jesus, or are they not?
C6 The name Obed means serving.
B8 A few more questions
C1 How many things can we name that God has redeemed us from?
C2 Since we are now redeemer, what are we to do?
B9 Next week
C1 When God makes you wait.
C2 Theme: Dedicated to serve

C3 Scriptures: 1 Samuel 1:1-28

06 September 2017

New Testament Laws Regarding the Poor



These are more or less the same as the Old Testament. Since Israel, the nation, is different from Christians, a group of people who are followers of Jesus Christ, the principles are the same even if the law, rule, is worded differently.

The principle, the foundation, of helping others is LOVE.
B1 Verses
C1 2 Corinthians 8:9 GNB  You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; rich as he was, he made himself poor for your sake, in order to make you rich by means of his poverty.
C2 Luke 4:18-19 GNB  "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed  (19)  and announce that the time has come when the Lord will save his people."
B2 Comments
C1 The Lord Jesus had everything in the way of riches. He needed nothing. When He chose and was sent to be the Savior in the Virgin’s womb, he choose to be born into a poor family.
C2 Jesus preached to the poor. He was especially interested in the SPIRITUALLY poor, that is, those who are humble, but He was interested in the poor economically and socially.
The Lord Jesus shows concern for the poor.
B1 Verses
C1 Matthew 19:21 GNB  Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me."
C2 John 12:8 GNB  You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me."
C3 John 13:29 GNB  Since Judas was in charge of the money bag, some of the disciples thought that Jesus had told him to go and buy what they needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor.
C4 Luke 19:8 GNB  Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Listen, sir! I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times as much."
C5 Luke 21:3 GNB  He said, "I tell you that this poor widow put in more than all the others.
C6 Acts 2:45 GNB  They would sell their property and possessions, and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed.
C7 Galatians 2:10 GNB  All they asked was that we should remember the needy in their group, which is the very thing I have been eager to do.
C8 Romans 15:26 GNB  For the churches in Macedonia and Achaia have freely decided to give an offering to help the poor among God's people in Jerusalem.
C9 James 2:5-9 GNB  Listen, my dear friends! God chose the poor people of this world to be rich in faith and to possess the kingdom which he promised to those who love him.  (6)  But you dishonor the poor! Who are the ones who oppress you and drag you before the judges? The rich!  (7)  They are the ones who speak evil of that good name which has been given to you.  (8)  You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."  (9)  But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker.
C10 1 John 3:17-18 GNB  If we are rich and see others in need, yet close our hearts against them, how can we claim that we love God?  (18)  My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
B2 Comments
C1 The rich, young ruler had some problems.
D1 He thought those who were rich had special spiritual blessings and were guaranteed heaven. This was because “God is blessing me so much, He must be well pleased with me.”
D2 Money was more important than God. He was covetous.
D3 He refused to have the real spiritual blessings that the Lord Jesus would give—riches in heaven.
D4 His concern for his money was more important than his concern for the poor. It was this attitude that was breaking the Old Testament verses about helping the poor.
C2 Jesus is more important than money.
C3 Jesus was in the habit of giving to the poor.
C4  Zacchaeus was a changed man. God had given him a new heart because he believed who the Lord Jesus was and what He could do. This is reflected in the deeds that he did after becoming a believer.
C5 The Lord Jesus took knowledge of the poor widow’s gift. It is not the amount, but the attitude that is important. We may give little, but God knows if we have little and will bless us for what we give. If one is poor, they may not be able to give a lot.
C6 The early church gave money, belongings, and land to help their brethren. The brethren were more important than possessions.
C7 Paul reminded the members of the local church to collect money and articles to help the poor.
C8 People, whether Christian or not, have the tendency to horde. James, under inspiration, reminds us that we should not give special attention, respect, honor, privileges, etc. to the rich. It would be better to give to the poor.
C9 God does look at our actions and will judge accordingly.
C10 Works do not save; faith in Jesus Christ saves. Giving to help the poor and needy does have a place in the Christian life.