Journey of Redemption: From Palm Sunday to Glory
Summary
On this Palm Sunday, we gather to reflect on the profound journey of Jesus Christ as He entered Jerusalem, greeted by cries of "Hosanna," and the subsequent week of trials and confrontations that led to His crucifixion. This week, which began with celebration, ended with the death of Christ, but it did not conclude there. The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning act of His work on earth, signifying the completion of redemption—a divine plan orchestrated by God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to save humanity from sin.
Redemption is the overarching theme of Christ's work, encompassing His birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection. It is through this work that we are bought back from the bondage of sin, not by a ransom paid to Satan, but by the price Jesus paid on the cross. This act of redemption sets us free and is the foundation of our faith.
Faith, then, is not merely an acknowledgment of God's existence but a deep trust in His promises and a commitment to live in obedience to His word. It is through faith that we are justified, declared righteous by God, not because of our deeds but because of our belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Justification is a legal declaration by God that we are righteous, a status that is both positional and real.
Sanctification follows justification, a progressive work of God and man that frees us from sin and makes us more like Christ. It is a lifelong process where God, in cooperation with our choices, transforms us into His likeness. This journey of sanctification is marked by our daily decisions to live in accordance with God's will, empowered by His grace.
Finally, glorification is the culmination of redemption, the moment when Christ returns, and we are resurrected with perfect bodies, free from sin and death. It is the hope of eternal life with God, where we will be united with all believers in a place of everlasting worship and fellowship.
Key Takeaways:
- Redemption as the Foundation: Redemption is the comprehensive work of Jesus Christ, encompassing His life, death, and resurrection. It signifies our liberation from sin and the fulfillment of God's divine plan. This act of redemption is not a transaction with Satan but a payment for the penalty of sin, offering us freedom and salvation. [51:48]
- Faith Beyond Belief: Faith is more than intellectual assent; it is a deep trust in God and His promises, leading to a life of obedience. It is through faith that we are justified, declared righteous by God, and invited into a relationship with Him. This faith transforms our understanding and actions, aligning us with God's will. [57:25]
- Justification and Righteousness: Justification is God's legal declaration of our righteousness through faith in Jesus. It is not just a label but a reality that we are righteous before God. This understanding reshapes our self-worth and identity, reminding us that we are not misfit Christians but beloved children of God. [01:00:53]
- Sanctification as a Lifelong Journey: Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, a cooperative work between God and us. It involves daily choices to live righteously, empowered by God's grace. This journey acknowledges our imperfections but celebrates God's transformative work in our lives. [01:04:32]
- Hope in Glorification: Glorification is the final step in redemption, where we will be resurrected with perfect bodies and live eternally with God. This hope of glorification encourages us to persevere in faith, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to be with Christ in a place of eternal joy and worship. [01:14:17]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Introduction and Humor
- [01:30] - Palm Sunday Reflections
- [03:00] - The Week of Controversy
- [05:00] - The Resurrection's Significance
- [07:00] - Understanding Redemption
- [09:00] - The Role of Faith
- [11:00] - Justification Explained
- [13:00] - The Process of Sanctification
- [15:00] - The Hope of Glorification
- [17:00] - Call to Repentance and Faith
- [19:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflections
- [21:00] - Announcements and Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 4:3, 16-25
2. Romans 6:1-4
3. Philippians 3:8-11, 20-21
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the crowd's cry of "Hosanna" as Jesus entered Jerusalem, and how did this event set the stage for the week that followed? [00:20]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of redemption, and what role does Jesus' resurrection play in it? [51:48]
3. According to the sermon, what is the relationship between faith and justification, and how is Abraham used as an example? [57:25]
4. What does the sermon say about the process of sanctification and its role in a believer's life? [01:04:32]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the difference between being declared righteous and actually being righteous in the context of justification? [01:00:53]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that sanctification is a cooperative process between God and believers? How does this cooperation manifest in daily life? [01:04:32]
3. What does the sermon imply about the hope of glorification, and how does this hope influence a believer's perspective on life and death? [01:14:17]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of faith in the life of a believer, beyond mere intellectual belief? [57:25]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your understanding of redemption. How does knowing that Jesus' resurrection is the crowning act of redemption impact your daily faith and actions? [51:48]
2. Consider the example of Abraham's faith. In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more deeply, even when circumstances seem impossible? [57:25]
3. The sermon discusses the ongoing process of sanctification. What specific steps can you take this week to cooperate with God in becoming more like Christ? [01:04:32]
4. How does the hope of glorification shape your view of current struggles and future expectations? What practical changes can you make to live with this hope in mind? [01:14:17]
5. The sermon emphasizes faith as a deep trust in God. Identify a promise of God that you find challenging to trust. How can you actively work on trusting this promise in your life? [57:25]
6. Reflect on the concept of justification. How does understanding that you are declared righteous by God affect your self-worth and identity? [01:00:53]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of living in obedience to God's word. What is one area of your life where you struggle with obedience, and what steps can you take to align more closely with God's will? [57:25]
Devotional
Day 1: Redemption as Liberation
Redemption is the comprehensive work of Jesus Christ, encompassing His life, death, and resurrection. It signifies our liberation from sin and the fulfillment of God's divine plan. This act of redemption is not a transaction with Satan but a payment for the penalty of sin, offering us freedom and salvation. Through His sacrificial death, Jesus paid the ultimate price, setting us free from the bondage of sin and death. This freedom is the foundation of our faith, reminding us that we are no longer slaves to sin but are called to live in the light of His grace. [51:48]
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." (Ephesians 1:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you still feel bound by sin? How can you invite Jesus into that area to experience His liberating redemption today?
Day 2: Faith as Trust and Obedience
Faith is more than intellectual assent; it is a deep trust in God and His promises, leading to a life of obedience. It is through faith that we are justified, declared righteous by God, and invited into a relationship with Him. This faith transforms our understanding and actions, aligning us with God's will. By trusting in God's promises, we are empowered to live a life that reflects His love and grace, stepping out in obedience even when the path is unclear. [57:25]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise of God that you find difficult to trust? How can you take a step of obedience today, trusting that God will guide you?
Day 3: Justification as a New Identity
Justification is God's legal declaration of our righteousness through faith in Jesus. It is not just a label but a reality that we are righteous before God. This understanding reshapes our self-worth and identity, reminding us that we are not misfit Christians but beloved children of God. Embracing this new identity allows us to live confidently in the truth of who we are in Christ, free from the condemnation of our past. [01:00:53]
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: How does knowing you are justified and declared righteous by God change the way you view yourself? What is one way you can live out this new identity today?
Day 4: Sanctification as Daily Transformation
Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, a cooperative work between God and us. It involves daily choices to live righteously, empowered by God's grace. This journey acknowledges our imperfections but celebrates God's transformative work in our lives. As we make daily decisions to align with God's will, we are gradually transformed into His likeness, reflecting His love and holiness to the world around us. [01:04:32]
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you desire to see transformation? How can you cooperate with God's work in that area today?
Day 5: Glorification as Eternal Hope
Glorification is the final step in redemption, where we will be resurrected with perfect bodies and live eternally with God. This hope of glorification encourages us to persevere in faith, knowing that our ultimate destiny is to be with Christ in a place of eternal joy and worship. The promise of glorification gives us strength to endure present trials, as we look forward to the day when we will be fully united with God and all believers in perfect harmony. [01:14:17]
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, ESV)
Reflection: How does the hope of glorification influence your perspective on current challenges? What is one way you can live with an eternal perspective today?
Quotes
"It is the crowning act of the work of Jesus Christ for us here on earth. Now, it's not the crowning act of all because Christ then ascended up into heaven and was crowned with power and glory, and he's seated at the right hand of the throne of God. But as concerns his work here on earth, it was the crowning act of Jesus' work." [00:48:48] (23 seconds)
"I believe that redemption is a summation of all of the work of Jesus Christ, everything that he did for us so that we could be saved. It is the work of redemption that Jesus came from heaven to earth in a woman's womb, then in a manger, lived a perfect and sinless life, died on the cross, died on the cross, but then resurrected from the grave. All of that is the work of redemption that God did for us." [00:49:15] (29 seconds)
"Faith is this idea of believing in God, not just saying, well, yeah, I guess I believe He exists, but actually believing in Him and that you say, you know what? I believe in Him and what He says and who He is and what He says about myself, about me, and I'm going to, because I believe it, live out in accordance with it. We call that obedience." [00:52:42] (22 seconds)
"Justification is in two parts. The second part is this. That we're declared to be righteous by God. It is a declaration by God. It's a legal declaration that God has made upon us. So God is the judge, has us stand before him. We're guilty. We deserve punishment. But he's made a legal declaration about us that we're no longer guilty. We're off the hook." [00:59:48] (29 seconds)
"Positionally before God, you are always righteous. But practically, the Bible tells us we do commit sin. And that's why we need this second term. Sanctification is the idea that once we're saved, we didn't get rid of every sin in our life. That was a false teaching from the 40s and 50s. That once you get saved, man, you got your hair cut, stop drinking, stop smoking. And a lot of people did that." [01:04:21] (26 seconds)
"Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and more like Christ in our actual lives, and that goes on until the day we die when we are then perfect, never to struggle with sin again. No more elections, no more car payments, no more inspections, none of these things. You can tell the things I dislike. No more dental appointments, you know, no death, no dying, no sickness, no diseases. We're perfect, and we long for that day." [01:06:30] (39 seconds)
"There's a role we play in sanctification. But now, we've set aside positionally, we're righteous. Practically, we're becoming righteous until the day we die. But then thirdly, here's the third concept that's wonderful. It's glorification. And that has to do with the day when our bodies are resurrected and we're made perfect." [01:12:54] (22 seconds)
"Glorification is the final step in the application of redemption. It will happen when Christ returns and raises from the dead the bodies of all believers for all time who have died and reunites them with their souls and changes the bodies of all believers who remain alive, thereby giving all believers at the same time perfect resurrection bodies like his own." [01:14:22] (24 seconds)
"We're going to be reunited with our bodies. We're going to be made new. We're going to be together forever in a very real place, fellowship together, worship God. We might even play some games, might hang out. We're certainly going to sing and rejoice. We're going to have times of fellowship, but always a time of worshiping God in our new body forever." [01:16:49] (24 seconds)
"The Bible says, or teaches us, that anybody who would believe by faith, God has obligated himself legally to declare you to be righteous. Have you believed? You must. Have you repented of your sin? The Bible calls upon all men everywhere to repent. Have you done that? God, I'm not asking you if you're perfect. I know you're not. I know most of you. You know me. I know you're not." [01:17:27] (30 seconds)
"Be justified, to have that legal standing, to not just be called right, but to actually be right, to be righteous before God. And that's when he begins this process of sanctification. He's working on me. Could you say amen to God is still working on me? He's working on me. I know he is." [01:18:01] (23 seconds)
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