Redeemer

I know that my redeemer lives. Job 19:25

This is an excerpt from the book, The Sermons of Jonathan Edwards: A Reader edited by Wilson H. Kimnach, Kenneth P. Minkema & Douglas A Sweeney.

He that can say, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” he knows that his Redeemer is above all things for him. If he be persecuted, he knows that his Redeemer is above his persecutors. If he be tempted by the devil, and he sees that the powers of hell rage against him, he knows that his Redeemer is above all the devils in hell, and that he is able to deliver him from their hands. He knows that his foundation is sure and his refuge strong, and that his Redeemer is round about him as the mountains were round about Jerusalem, and that his name is a strong tower, and his salvation that is appointed for his walls and bulwarks is as mountains of brass.

If he has affliction in the world, and is in the midst of storms, he knows that his Redeemer is above the storms of the world, and can restrain them and quell them when he pleases. ‘Tis but for him to say “Peace, be still,” and all ‘tis calm. If he be tossed like a vessel on the tempestuous sea, he knows that his Redeemer is in the ship, and therefore knows he can’t sink.

If death approaches with its most grim and ghastly countenance, yet he knows that his Redeemer is above death, and therefore is not terrified with it, but can look upon it with a calm, pleasant countenance and say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” [I Cor. 15:55-56].

He that can say, “I know that me Redeemer liveth,” he knows that he loves him and pities him under all suffering. He knows that he has loved him from eternity, and he knows that he still loves him, and will love him, to eternity. He knows that he is the object of the free and unchangeable love of his Redeemer. . .

He that can say, “I know that my Redeemer liveth,” he knows that his Redeemer will fulfill his promises to him. He finds in his Word many great and precious promises, and they are precious to him; he is persuaded of them and embraces them.

He knows that he will never leave him nor forsake him. . .
(149-150)

As long as the saints are at a loss whether Christ is their Redeemer or no, it tends to make ‘em afraid to take comfort. When they meet with texts of Scripture that hold forth the wonderful mercy and love of Christ to believers, they will be afraid to take the comfort of them, lest they should take that to themselves that don’t belong to ‘em. And if they do sometimes allow themselves to take comfort in them, then it [is] with restraint and fear, lest they do what they have no warrant for. They dare not so much as give God thanks for giving them an interest in Christ, though that be so much the greatest mercy that ever they received, for fear they should give God thanks for a mercy they never received. . .
(152)

. . . For what can be more joyful to a man than to know that he is safe from the dreadful eternal destruction that the greater part of the world are exposed to, to know that he is out of the reach of the sting of death and the power of hell, to know that there is a glorious almighty God, and this God is his God; to know that Christ is the judge of heaven and earth, and yet to know that He is the Redeemer; to know that there is a day of judgment, and also to know that they shall stand at the right hand of Christ; to know that there is a heaven of eternal glory, and to know that this is a kingdom prepared for them; to know that God has loved ‘em before the foundation of the world, that their names were written on Christ’s heart then, and that he died out of love to them and will love them to eternity?
(154)

Do you know that the Redeemer lives?