Tag Archives: Redemption

Lost Sheep

 

In the end, it was all about lost sheep.

It was about Ben, the Island-bred murderous liar, for whom manipulation was second nature and coercion simply a means to the end of the moment.

It was about Sawyer, the smooth-talking con-man, rough around every edge, singularly bent on murderous revenge.

It was about Kate, the attractive girl-next-door killer, on the run from the authorities and her broken past.

It was about the Kims, husband and wife in name only, owners of a broken marriage and slaves to a dictatorial father/boss.

It was about John, the bitterly angry paraplegic orphan with sever daddy issues.

It was about Jack, the work absorbed, brilliant surgeon, who could fix everything except his own broken, screwed-up life.

It was about Sayid, the torturer.

It was about Charlie, the druggie.

It was about Claire, the young-mother-turned-crazie.

It was about Hurley, the large, superstitious lottery-winning schizophrenic.

It was about Desmond, the yellow-bellied time-traveller.

It was about a diverse group of fallen, flawed and ultimately lonely people.

They tried to fix things, they tried to do things their own way.  Every step was a stumble, every stumble a full-on face plant.

 

In the end, it is all about a Lamb.

A Lamb who was born a miraculous birth.

A Lamb who lived a completely human life.

A Lamb who is without spot or blemish.

A Lamb who sympathizes as a Kind and Dread Sovereign.

A Lamb who bled, died and rose again.

 

This Lamb redeemed David, the cowardly murderous adulterer.

This Lamb redeemed Jacob, the spineless mommas-boy cheat.

This Lamb redeemed Moses, the timidly fearful seeker of man’s honor.

This Lamb redeemed Peter, the loud-mouthed, impetuous, impatient fisherman.

This Lamb redeemed Saul, the hate-filled, Pharisaical butcher.

This Lamb redeemed the dying, bloody, pathetic thief on the Cross.

This Lamb redeemed me.

 

The Stories of men are powerful.  They’re riveting.  They’re didactic.  They’re inspiring.

Yet, all such stories of hope and grace and redemption pale in comparison to the glorious Light, our Lion and Lamb, in whom is no darkness.

Sermon Poetry – “Freedom from the Law”

Preacher – Jarrett Downs
Sermon Title – “Christian Liberty #2 – Freedom from the Law”
Sermon Text – Romans 7

It’s not freedom from the Law
In that I need not keep its word
Or trust emotions faint
Or do what’s right in my eyes

It fills my mouth with praise
To honor Christ as King
My bloodied Savior Lamb
My King and Perfect Potentate

Apart from Christ I am wed
To the Law I cannot keep
Perfection is Required
Then alas I am a whore

I need to be wed to Christ
The One who has kept the Law
Perfection He performed
In Christ, this sinner is freed and cleansed

This dirty prostitute
Is clothed in righteousness
The works of Jesus Christ
I now have freedom to obey

A means to sanctify
The Law is now to me
I’m freed from saving self
In Christ my heart is free

In Christ I can obey
To be like Jesus Christ
The Law is not my master
I’m wed to Jesus, my loving King

Outside of Christ we’re slaves
The Law’s an unforgiving master
Its requirements cannot be kept
As slaves, we are all rightly damned

But in Christ, our Righteous Lamb
We’re freed from the Law’s demands
We’re saved with Grace so free
We’re free in Christ to Live


The Groom is Alive

She was then freshly twenty, her eyes warm and friendly
When her husband went off to war
His nation had called him, his conscience compelled him
He had left and her heart was torn
He was gone for a year, she shed many tears
Always thinking today he would die
Then a sound down the hall, there he stood proud and tall
Her husband, her love, was alive!

Her groom was alive! Her groom was alive!
She thought she had lost him, she feared he had died
Her groom was alive! Her groom was alive!
She had ached for her darling, she shook and cried
But now he could hold her, her groom was alive

For years they’d been married, their love ever sharing
A picture of Christ and His Bride
One night they went driving, the ice sent them sliding
They rolled down the mountainside
She woke in a daze, her sight filled with haze
Her darling was still, by her side
But then his head stirred, her heart did a turn
Her husband, her love, was alive!

Her groom was alive! Her groom was alive!
She thought she had lost him, she feared he had died
Her groom was alive! Her groom was alive!
She ached for her darling, she shook and she cried
He could again hold her, her groom was alive

The Cross had been empty, their hearts had been breaking
For two tough and lonely days
Their hopes had been shattered, when his blood fell and splattered
They walked in a mournful daze
But on the third day, the stone rolled away
The tomb was all empty inside
Their joy was returned, their hearts flared and burned
Their Savior, their Love, was alive!

The Groom is alive! The Groom is alive!
My sin crucified Him, with Love Jesus died
The Groom is alive! The Groom is alive!
I ache for my Savior, I shake and I cry
My Savior is with me, the Groom is alive!

Jesus You’re My Sure Redeemer

(set to the tune of “Come Thou Fount”)

Jesus You’re my Sure Redeemer
By Your Grace I’m justified
By Your mercy you have saved me
By the Cross on which You died
Oh my Lord and loving Savior
Oh my God, my Righteous King
You have shown the World Your Greatness
And this song Your children sing

All Your children are so helpless
We cannot do any good
We’re sustained by Your redemption
We’re sustained by Scripture’s Food
We rely on Your Great Mercy
We are weak, we trust in You
Shower kindness on Your children
Comfort us with Your great Truth

You are Maker and Sustainer
Our Commander and our Friend
You’re our Savior and our Brother
And our hope until the End
When you come back in Your Triumph
When you come to bring us Home
Where we’ll worship You in Heaven
As we’re gathered ‘round the Throne

Oh my Jesus, hear Your children
As we sing Your praises loud
As we gather all our voices
As we make a joyful sound
We will glorify our Savior
We will glorify our Lord
He has given us salvation
He has given us His Word