Kinsman Redeemer: This is the Gospel

 These posts are based on notes from our sermon series on Ruth.

Reading:  Ruth 2:19-20

The story of the kinsman redeemer is the Gospel in Ruth.  And it’s the Gospel in the Old Testament—the kinsman redeemer—this weird tradition or law in the Old Testament.  It’s not just something that’s been fulfilled and now we focus on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ—just me and him in the garden alone—no.  This was the Gospel then and it’s the Gospel today. 

• Christ redeemed you from slavery.

• Christ restored your inheritance.

• Christ brought justice to your slayer.

• Christ defends you from your accuser.  And…

• Christ grafts you back into the tree of life and makes you fruitful.

Isn’t that so rich?  Isn’t that worth your time and effort?  Doesn’t that explain so much?

And it’s a model for the way you should conduct yourself in the world.  The way Christ was as the kinsman redeemer is the way you should conduct yourself too.  This is the pattern for the Christian.

Redeem others from slavery.

-Slavery to sin.  Call out sin when you see it.  The beginning of the Gospel is: there’s a problem.  It’s okay, with wisdom and compassion, to just say, “Hey son,” or “Hey buddy…tell me about what you’re doing here?  What’s your motivation?  How is this helping?” 

Consider this from James 5:20:  “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”

Putting a stop to sin saves souls from the slavery of death.  It’s worth your time.  It was modeled by Christ.  Be a kinsman redeemer by redeeming your neighbors from slavery to sin.

Redeeming Inheritance

The Israelite inheritance was the land—and the land represented Christ.  Well, today—after the Great Commission—all authority—all the land—belongs to Christ. 

Your mission is to build the Kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit.  So wherever you’re at, play the kinsman redeemer—Christian means little Christ—play the kinsman redeemer and build something. 

I hate painting.  It’s my least favorite project.  I particularly hate all the trim work that comes with painting—the taping and everything.  But painting makes a profound impact. 

And making an impact on your place is part of this kinsman redeemer pattern.  It’s part of the Great Commission.  It follows this pattern.  So paint or restore.  Invest.  Build businesses.  Do nice things in your community.  Mow the lawn.  Join a club.  Etc.  Restore the inheritance.  Be a kinsman redeemer by renewing our inheritance.

Bring justice

I’m talking here about the avenger of blood.  That’s about bringing justice to those who have been killed.  It’s legitimate to extend that principle into defending them before they’re killed too.  We’re talking about here is our responsibility to protect life.

Of course this applies to the abortion massacre.  If the abortion rate in 2023 in Kansas was 19.5 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15-44, then the number of babies murdered by their mothers in Lyon County last year was about 100.  Probably 40 in Coffey County.

The avenger of blood principle does NOT mean that we should be going and avenging these murders.  But know that Christ will.  Christ will avenge these murders.  I think we all hope that these murderers will suffer the same fate that WE did—the same fate we suffered when we died and were crucified with Christ and then raised with him—new men and women—in the resurrection.  That’s the death and resurrection we want for women who murder their children and for fathers that permit it.

But still the bloodguilt remains on our cities—and the least we can do is enforce our laws against murder and create new laws that teach our citizens what is right, that deter evil, and that protect babies.

That is an application of this principle of the kinsman redeemer as avenger of blood. 

And we could do that with drugs.  With sex trafficking.  With homosexual insanity. 

Be a kinsman redeemer and bring real, biblical justice to your community.

Defend the innocent accused

I’m going to stretch this one a little.  If you’re ever in the Atticus Finch scenario where you get to defend and innocent man, then obviously go ahead.

But who is accused even though they’re innocent?  Where does this principle apply really directly?  And that’s to Christians before their Judge who is Christ.  So I’m stretching but not too far.  How do we apply that?

What I’m saying is this:  Satan accuses you before Christ.  And you’re privy to all of that.  Satan takes your sin—the sin in your life—and he holds it up before Christ and says, “Look at this worm.  She’s not really a Christian.  She doesn’t really follow you.”

But you’re not guilty of those things.  Colossian 2:13-14 says:

He forgave us all our trespasses, 14having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross! 

What did we say earlier in the service?  We said:  In Christ, your sins really are forgiven.  Thanks be to God!

So be a kinsman redeemer to yourselves and your children and your fellow Christians—remind yourself of your crucifixion and resurrection.  And be a kinsman redeemer to other Christians.  Help and disciple your brothers and sisters—but defend them to themselves and to the accuser and to Christ—they are forgiven—they are a new creation.

Finally, be the Levirate—Take the unfruitful and make it fruitful again—continue and extend the Kingdom.

Share the Gospel and create new Christians.  I think a great way to do that is to have more kids.  Not everyone here, including me apparently, is in position to do that.

But definitely make sure our children and grandchildren follow Christ and extend the Kingdom.

And reach out to your friends and coworkers.  Most of them profess belief.  They need to be in the Church.  As our Confession states—following the Bible—there’s no ordinary way of being saved outside of the Body of Christ which is the Church.  A follower of Christ wants to be with the Body of Christ—so if you don’t want to be with the Body of Christ, then we have to start asking some pretty serious questions.

But all that is to say, reach out and encourage your neighbors to follow Christ.  Make them fruitful again.  Be the levirate.  Redeem their lines.