The Songs We Sing...Redemption!!

[This is the 4th post in a series of blogs about what we do on Sunday mornings at New City Church, Macon written by Keith Watson and Arthur Lin]

Sin and the Fall cursed and separated humanity from God. Despite this fact, God continued to pursue His people. The Old Testament is filled with stories of humanity trying to redeem themselves, to “get right” with God, but failing time and time again. God was not satisfied to be separated from His people and as early as Genesis 3:15 He makes known that He has a plan to fix what sin had broken.  

Generation after generation, story after story, the Old Testament tells of God pursuing and providing for His people. God was good to care for His people and call them back to Himself. Still they sinned. Still they ran. Still God promised, “I am sending Someone – Someone who will fix this brokenness – Someone who will forgive sin. I am sending a Redeemer.”

Then, following the book of Malachi there came some 400 years of silence from God.  Just when all seemed lost, there was born a shining light of hope. The climax of the gospel story is found in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. In Him, the promise has been fulfilled. Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah that crushes the serpents head and redeems God’s people back to Him. Jesus bridges the gap between God and man. Jesus was born of the virgin Mary and lived in humble submission to the Father, living the perfect life that we could not live. Jesus humbly pursued the cross, in order to suffer and die, bearing our punishment and the wrath of God that we deserve. He suffered in our stead. He then rose from the grave triumphantly. Because He died and rose from the grave, our sins are pardoned, we are no longer condemned to death but given life with the Father. There is no longer a separation between God and us. The relationship has been mended through the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!!  Christ is the cornerstone of our faith (Ephesians 2:4-8).

On Sundays, we celebrate Christ! We celebrate Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. No longer are we condemned to death but we are forgiven, redeemed by Jesus’ blood. During this time in our service, we are reminded that while we were dead, God pursued us through His Son so that we might have life in Him and with Him. God now offers grace and mercy through His Son, Jesus Christ.

From the deep valley of the Fall, we move to the mountain top of Redemption. We are no longer dead in sin but alive in Christ!!