Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• To be qualified is a long and arduous process requiring the passing often of exams
• Qualifications are not given out without experience
• You may be an expert in a particular area
• We are looking at a far greater qualification
• To be in eternal glory
• There cannot be anything greater in life to receive

Who qualifies?

• It is the Father who qualifies (v12)
• He has children called 'saints'
• Our qualification has nothing to do with our achievement
• It is not on the basis of what we have done but on the basis of what Christ has done
• Grace is underserved and unmerited favour
• We are thankful to God for this qualification and grace

What are we qualified for?

• We have come out of the darkness into a kingdom of light
• Also a place of knowledge, righteousness and truth
• This inheritance is so glorious it is beyond our imagination

Who are the saints?

• They are those who are separated from this world
• Those who have been called to be with God
• Those in a sense who have never sinned - for this is how God sees them, because of Christ Jesus

Other questions we must ask

• What happens to the others?
• How do we get qualified?
• Why do I need to be qualified?

• Scripture teaches that the world is under the power of the evil one
• If we look at our heart we realise that we are born in sin and shaped in iniquity
• Men and women are under the power of darkness
• The imagery used here by Paul comes from the Exodus
• The Jews were removed from a place of bondage (Egypt) to a place of freedom (Canaan)
• The Jews placed blood on their doorposts at the Passover
• God parted the Red Sea and brought them out of this land
• Do we understand that the whole world is under the power of darkness
• Winston Churchill said that the power of the world is war
• What a bleak view
• Man has the potential to destroy himself
• Rom 3:16
• Yeung - the only real danger to man is himself
• We must look into our heart
• We are not fit for the presence of God
• There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves
• Have you really contemplated the evil one?
• He is a despot, a usurper
• He is in charge of the souls of men
• He blinds the mind of the unbeliever
• Therefore, each one of us is in darkness
• It is only God that can qualify us

How then can a God qualify us?

• v14 - in whom we have redemption through His blood
• Redemption
• Buying back that which was lost or a payment for something that was once yours
• Example
• Before God we are absolute rebels
• A ransom price has been paid for us
• Jesus Christ paid the high price, the infinite price - He paid with His blood
• The benefit of redemption is the forgiveness of our sins
• How do we feel if someone is unwilling to forgive us?
• God would have every right not to forgive us and to punish us for every in hell
• However, He is willing to redeem us and to forgive us
• He is willing to give us a full and free pardon
• Example of Russia Tsar Nicholas
• A hand has come down from heaven and signed His name in blood - His name is the Lord Jesus Christ
• Not only are we debt free and acquitted, but we have received an inheritance
• Jesus said: 'As the Father loved me, so He loves you'

Summary

• Are you a child of God?
• Are you giving thanks to the Father?
• Are you redeemed by His blood?