Third Sunday after Easter – Tuesday

He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. – 1 John 2:2.

Whom has Christ redeemed?  The very best answer for you to give to this question is: Me and all lost and condemned sinners.  By answering thus, you appropriate the salvation of Christ to yourself; you seize upon it and comfort yourself with it as firmly and confidently as if Christ had redeemed you only.  And this is what you may and should do; God wants you to do this.  For Christ has redeemed all lost and condemned sinners, and therefore you also.  No man is deprived of the salvation of Christ; therefore neither you.

If it were not so, if the cheerless doctrine of Calvin, the father of the Reformed Church, were true, that Christ had only redeemed the believers, how, then, would you be altogether certain that Christ had redeemed you, even you?  For, in the first place, faith must have a strong, solid, and changeless foundation to rest upon.  The strong, solid, and changeless foundation which faith has is just this, that Christ has redeemed all lost and condemned sinners, and therefore you and me too.  This is most positive Bible doctrine.  Did you note the text above, which all are to believe?  Do you know that other Word of God: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world“ (John 1:29); and this: “The Son of Man is come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11)?  Even the unbelievers, the godless, who deny, reject, despise, and scorn Christ, have nevertheless been redeemed by Christ.  But they deny Christ, and for this reason only, they are lost.  Peter wrote by inspiration of the Holy Ghost concerning such; “They deny the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (II Peter 2:1).

My dear Christian, the risen Savior has redeemed you, for He has redeemed all lost and condemned sinners.  His redemption is finished and done for all!  Continue to believe this marvelous truth.

PRAYER – Risen Savior, in Thy victory over sin, death, and the devil, I behold the victory over my sin, my death, my evil accuser and foe.  Yes, Thou, O Lord, hast redeemed all lost and condemned sinners, and therefore also me, a lost and condemned sinner.  Thanks, thanks be to Thee, my precious Lord and Savior!  Help me to continue firmly clinging to this blessed truth, and nevermore fear nor faint in such trust and confidence in Thee.  Amen.

Jesus, my Redeemer lives;

I, too, unto life shall waken;

endless joy my Savior gives;

shall my courage then be shaken?

Shall I fear, or could the Head,

rise and leave His members dead?

—

Nay, too closely am I bound,

unto Him by hope forever;

faith’s strong hand the Rock hath found,

grasped it and will leave it never;

even death now cannot part,

from its Lord the trusting heart.

—

Then take comfort and rejoice,

for His members Christ will cherish;

fear not, they will hear His voice; dying,

they shall never perish;

for the very grave is stirred,

when the trumpet’s blast is heard

(TLH, 206, 2-3, 8).