Introduction: Since God gave us the New Testament, our theological knowledge has been much greater that that of His Old Testament saints. Yet even in Old Testament days, God gave a lot of knowledge about the doctrine of Redemption. Here in Psalm 49 we learn two things about Redemption.

I. Psalm 49 tells us that Redemption is too costly for any human being to afford.

Psalm 49:7-9 "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him-- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough-- that he should live on forever and not see decay."

"Ransom" means the "price of redemption." What is the price of a human soul?

Jesus said in Matthew 16:26..."For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

There are a lot of wealthy people in the world, hundreds of billionaires, and tens of thousands of millionaires (a billion equals 1000 millions). According to Forbes magazine, the richest man in the world is Bill Gates, followed closeby by Warren Buffet (they each have about 40 billion dollars). Oprah Winfrey is the first black woman billionaire. J.K. Rowling, who was on welfare just a few years ago, has now become a billionaire through the success of her Harry Potter books and films. There are more than a few millionaires who live in the Chattanooga area. Maybe some of you here this morning are millionaires, or will be someday.

Over and over again Psalm 49 makes the point that no one has enough wealth to buy favor with God.

Psa 49:16-19 "Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies, his splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed-- and men praise you when you prosper-- he will join the generation of his fathers, who will never see the light of life."

A large amount of money can make THIS life pretty nice. It is pleasant to have beautiful homes, wonderful cars, private airplanes, fine clothing, servants, private physicians, political power, and so on: but that's all money can do. Life is short. How foolish to take no thought for eternity.

Question: Where will YOU spend eternity? The Bible tells us that there is a Heaven to gain, and a Hell to avoid. Do you know for sure what would happen to you if you were to die today?

II. Psalm 49 tells us that God Himself is our Redeemer.

Psa 49:15 "But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to Himself."

The Old Testament believers knew that God was their Redeemer.

Psa 130:7-8 "O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins."

Job 19:25-27 "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the prophet Isaiah even saw that it was God's Son who would bear Israel's sins...

Isa 53:5-6 "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

III. Of course in the New Testament there are many more declarations about Redemption, and about how Jesus became our Redeemer.

Rom 3:22-25 ..."Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference (between Jew or Gentile), for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood."

Jesus made an atoning sacrifice for us. He paid the ransom price to God...

Gal 3:13 "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (death) by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." The "tree" Jesus hung on was the cross.

If any of you have seen "The Passion" movie recently, you were reminded that justification is free to us, but it wasn't cheap! Peter says that the blood of Jesus is "precious." Jesus was sinless. Jesus was the eternal Son of God. Only He had the spiritual wealth to pay the ransom for our redemption.

1 Pet 1:18-19 "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."

Paul taught Titus that redemption was not an end in itself, but a step on the path to making us Christ's servants.

Titus 2:13-14 "... We wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."

In other words, we have been redeemed in order that we might lead holy and productive lives full of good works. We are now citizens in Christ's Kingdom, His people. We live to serve Him and His ends. In other words, Jesus didn't redeem us just for our own sake, but for His sake. Redemption is not "about us." It is about Jesus, and His work for us in the world.

The author of Hebrews reminds us that our redemption in Christ was pre-figured in the Old Testament by the Day of Atonement ceremony in the Tabernacle, and now fulfilled in Christ.

Heb 9:11-12 "When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."

Conclusion: Have you been redeemed? When Jesus died on the cross, did He die for you? Was His blood poured out for you? Did He suffer for you? Have you turned to Him and received Him with thanks as your Savior and Lord? If you haven't yet done so, then why not do it now? Let us pray. Amen.