April 3, 2022

THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED

April 03, 2022

Charles Billingsley

Often we hear a sound that seems to capture something within us, giving us a moment of pure pleasure. Other times a certain noise will drive us crazy! Can you share whatever comes to your mind?

We have entered the Easter season, preparing to celebrate that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, defeated death when He gave His life to pay for our sins by being nailed to a cross, then buried, and three days later rising to life again! No other religion except Christianity celebrates an empty tomb. Today Charles Billingsley gives us the theme song of Christians everywhere. Revelation 5:9 and 14:3 both speak of the Song of the Redeemed. Let’s prepare our hearts as we study and learn.

Focal Passage: Genesis 1, John 1.

The Song of Creation

  • Turn to Genesis 1:1-25. Are you aware that all of the atoms of creation make tones? Let’s study creation! On days one to five and part of six, what did God create? What was His statement of satisfaction at the end of each day?
  • Read John 1:1-4. Who was present at creation? Where was the Spirit?

What role did Jesus have in creation? Read Psalm 33:9. How was everything made?

  • What are some parts of creation that we now know makes sounds as if nature is singing? Read Job 38:7 and Psalm 19:1. Does anyone know what has been discovered concerning the stars? What are some things listed in Scripture that “sings”? Read Luke 19:40, Psalm 96:12, Isaiah 55:12, and Song of Sol. 2:12. Was God being literal in these verses and we have assumed He was being symbolic?
  • What are some of the animals that “talk” or sing? How are some animals used in Scripture? Read Joel 1:18 and Romans 1:20. (Why are there no true atheists?)
  • When God created man, what was different in His method? What did He say when man was finished? Why are we masterpieces of God’s work?

The Song of Sorrows

  • Turn to Genesis 3. At some point, the Song of Creation became a Song of Sorrows. Why do you think there was no surprise indicated when the snake spoke to Eve? After having intimate fellowship with God for some length of time, how could she and Adam be so ready to believe Satan?
  • Read Romans 5:12. What was the consequence of the sin of Adam and Eve? How did this usher in a time of sorrow? What are some other effects of the curse?
  • Read 1 Peter 1:20 and John 17:24. When had God already made the plan for our redemption? Read Gal. 4:4. When was “the fullness of time”? When sin entered the world in the Garden of Eden, was that the final moments of the fullness of time?

The Song of the Redeemed

  • Why do we call Christmas the “greatest story ever told”? What did Jesus leave when He came to earth? Read John 1:14. Who sings the Song of the Redeemed?
  • So often the original Greek language involves word pictures that create a whole new dimension to a verse of Scripture. Read Phil. 2:7. How did Jesus illustrate the four actions that slaves knew well when He came to redeem His children?
  • Why was a marketplace used for slaves? Why should we be the ones who were on the block to be sold? Why did Jesus draw us out of that slave block? We were slaves to sin at that time. Read Gal. 3:13. How did He pay the amount owed for the sins of the world? Read Col. 2:13-14.
  • Once the debt of our sins was forgiven, what were we released to do? Read Gal. 5:1. Although Jesus died our sins on Him, can we still reject the gift He has made available to us?

Close

The slave block that was so prevalent in America many years ago is a prime example of our lives before salvation. Although you will have to search diligently, you will be able to find written forensic evidence indicating white slavery was widespread in America in the 17th and 18th centuries, along with black slaves. As they were beaten, tortured, disrobed, and sold, they knew—in most cases—they were heading to their death.

But over 2,000 years ago, Jesus came from heaven’s throne to a manger in a small Israeli village called Bethlehem. He entered the world of darkness, where Satan held people captive, creating slaves as they gave themselves to sin. Jesus stepped in and drew us out of the slave market, then paid the price for us when His blood was shed on the cross of Calvary. The writer of the book of Hebrews says, “without the shedding of blood, there is no remission [of sin]” (Heb. 9:22). He paid the full price. Then, He set us free, giving us the choice to accept His payment for our sin and become a child of God, and inherit eternal life (John 3:16).

Does it seem beyond you to wonder why there are people who prefer to hold on to their anger, their bitterness, addictions, or lifestyles, and forego the love of Christ? Do the drugs love you? Do the one-night-stands care what happens to your soul when you leave this earth? In this day of global chaos, more and more godly leaders are “having dreams and visions” (Joel 2:28), indicating we are in the last days, which seem to be getting closer and closer. We don’t have to be theology experts to read of an anti-Christ who will arise to usher in a one-world government, as we watch and see the puzzle pieces being slowly fitted together.

Don’t wait! If there’s one message that we know the world needs to hear, it is that you don’t want to put off making Jesus your Lord and Savior. He gave His blood to redeem you—how can you ignore Him? He loves you more than anyone on this earth has ever loved you. Why would you want to keep your empty life when you can have “fullness of joy”?

There is one final Song: it is the Song of the Second Coming. A trumpet will sound, and suddenly dead bodies will be coming out of grave, people will be ascending into the skies, meeting their Lord. Are you going to stand and wish you had taken care of your soul?

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