Audio Messages:
Pastor Wade Burleson

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The Purpose Driven God
He Came to Rescue a Lover

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Matthew 20:28 (KJV)

28. Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

"The son of man came . . . to give his life a ransom for many" (v.28). The Bible is like a love story from beginning to end. Man has turned against God, but God has purposed to wed Himself to sinners, while maintaining His holiness and justice. "I will show thee the Bride, the Lamb's wife" (Revelation 21:9) is the culmination of history. This is a story about you, if you know Christ. Jesus Christ came into the world to obtain for Himself a Bride.

1. Christ's bride is first selected . . . "he gave his life a ransom for many" (v.28).
   The church of Jesus Christ is composed of a definite number of sinners chosen by God. Election cannot be denied. It is a doctrine that makes some uncomfortable, but it is biblical. "God hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). Christ came into this world with you on His mind. Why is it important to understand this?
   1. Divine grace is truly recognized. Strict justice requires the condemnation of all men. Free grace causes one to marvel at the salvation of any man.
   2. Human pride is totally removed When the Corinthian church began to flatter themselves regarding abilities and acumen, Paul wrote I Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV).
   3. Soul rest is triumphantly received. God saves sinners. Rest in his glorious work. Notice, it is the chosen many, not the chosen few. The chosen of God encompass the world "of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation" (Revelation 5:9).
2. Christ's bride is then saved . . . "he gave his life a ransom for many" (v.28).
   This is the eternal love story. The Bride of Christ had sold herself as a slave to sin. She is held captive by the law of God, under sentence of death, in need of rescue. The word "ransom" comes from the same word "redeemed" and also "redemption." Redemption means "deliverance by payment of a ransom." Christ came to deliver His Bride. The ransom? His own life. Christ bore on the tree the sentence for me.
   1. The work of God . . . at Calvary is the ransom required by the law of God.
   2. The word of God . . . about Calvary is the means by which souls are delivered.
      "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. The Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified" (I Corinthians 1:23- 24).
3. Christ's bride is finally secured . . . "he gave his life a ransom for many" (v.28).
   Is it possible for Christ to come with you on His mind, die for you on the cross of Calvary, and then allow you to go your way, without ever experiencing redemption? Not at all! The Spirit of God is sent to this world to woo and ultimately win you over.
   1. The Spirit burdens His people to share the gospel . . . (Romans 10:15).
   2. The Spirit prepares the way for the evangelist . . . (John 16:8).
   3. The Spirit then regenerates the heart of the hearers of the God's Word . . .
      "Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power" (Psalm 110:3).
      This is what the old-timers called God closing in. "Amiable agnostics will talk cheerfully about man's search for God. For me they might as well talk about the mouse's search for a cat . . . God closed in on me" C.S. Lewis.
   4. Everyone Christ ransomed shall be eternally His . . . "God saves sinners."

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