Page 59 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

The principle, as you know, that we’re going to look at is called
redemptive living. All the principles that we’ve been studying are
foundational. It’s hard to put them in order; 1, 2 & 3 because they
are ALL very important. I consider this lesson, redemptive living,
a great foundation. I’d like to first give a description of what I think
God’s word teaches about redemptive living. All things are
redemptive because God is sovereign. After we look at that, I’d like
to show how things are redemptive when we cooperate with God.
They are redemptive even if we don’t cooperate but in a special way,
they are when we do cooperate.

When I say that all things are redemptive I really mean two things;
that God is sovereign and He always gets what He wants. Nobody
can stop His purpose. His sovereignty and Lordship are absolute.
He is in perfect control of the world and everything in it. Ephesians
1:11, “…also we have obtained an inheritance having been
predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the
counsel of His will…” Job. 42:2, “I know that Thou canst do all
things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.” Psalm 135:6,
“Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in
the seas and in all deeps.” Psalm 103:19, “The LORD has
established His throne in the heavens and His sovereignty rules over
all.”

That’s the purpose; God gets what He wants but we’re calling it
“redemptive purpose”. What is meant by the “redemptive” part?
John 3:17, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the
world, but that the world should be saved through Him.” God has
redemption on His heart and He wants to save people. Luke 19:10,
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was
lost.” It’s His heart to seek and to save that which is lost. 1 John
4:14, “And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent
the Son to be the Savior of the world.”

The Lord is in control of everything, so that He can redeem the
world. Whatever happens, in some way is redemptive. 2 Peter 3:9,