The main theme of the Book of Ruth is arguably how a person can become a member of God’s family. Ruth was a Moabitess and outside of God’s family, yet she became a part of Israel. How did this happen?

How Ruth became a child of God is typical of how anyone today becomes a child of God. Chapter 1 shows Ruth’s total commitment to God and his people. No one becomes a child of God without commitment. As well as commitment we learn from chapter 4:1-10 the need of a formal act of redemption. Without a formal act of redemption no one can draw near to God. For Ruth this formal act of redemption was carried out by Boaz the kinsman-redeemer. For us the formal act of redemption is carried out by Jesus Christ, our great Redeemer.

Details of Ruth’s redemption are clear enough. The Levitical law required the redemption of a man’s inheritance. Elimelech and his sons had died. In order to prolong the name of a man someone would have to redeem that man’s land. The nearest kinsman would normally do this. In this case the nearest kinsman-redeemer was not willing to redeem the land as this would also mean taking Ruth as his wife. The nearest kinsman-redeemer would somehow lose his inheritance. Thus Boaz, the next nearest kinsman, took it upon himself to redeem Elimelech’s land and to take Ruth the Moabitess as wife. The formal act of redemption is completed when the nearest kinsman took off his sandal and passed it on to Boaz.

Concerning this act of redemption we note that it is essential, external, expensive and enduring.

This formal act of redemption is essential. Ruth cannot become an Israelite without it. She must be redeemed if she is to become a member of God’s community. The same holds true today. No one can become a Christian and become a part of the Christian church unless he or she is redeemed. Boaz and the nearest kinsman came to an arrangement whereby a formal act of redemption is carried out. This was essential. So it is that Jesus Christ undertook with the Father in a covenantal arrangement to carry out a formal act of redemption. This act of redemption was his death on a cross. The death of Jesus Christ is essential for redemption. Without it no one can become part of God’s community.

This formal act of redemption is external. When Boaz redeemed Ruth, Ruth was but a spectator. The act of redemption between Boaz and the nearest kinsman was external to Ruth. She had no active part in it. This is very important to grasp. Ruth contributed nothing to the act of redemption. The same is true today as regards salvation. Jesus has carried out the work of redemption apart from any input from his people. In redemption, we, like Ruth, are mere onlookers. We do not contribute any good work or claim any personal righteousness. These carry no weight at all. Redemption is external. We, like Ruth, can only stand by and watch. We stand by and watch how Jesus carries out the work of redemption.

This is so important. Today is Reformation Sunday, the day we commemorate the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformers all understood that redemption is external. They looked to Jesus and his redemptive work apart from any input on their part whereas in the Roman Catholic system which they were part of there was a reliance on human effort for salvation. Thank God for the Reformation which among other things rediscovered this crucial point, that redemption is external. Our part is not to contribute but to receive by faith.

This formal act of redemption is expensive. Boaz had to pay a price. We do not know how much he paid but pay he did. So it is that Jesus Christ, the great Redeemer, had to pay a price. The price was his own precious blood. Redemption is expensive. It cost the Redeemer’s blood. Without the shedding of the Redeemer’s blood there is no redemption.

The blood of Jesus secures our redemption from the bondage of sin. By nature we belong to sin. Sin is our master. Now by the blood of Jesus we belong to Jesus. He is our new Master. We are forgiven and his redemptive act delivers us from the dominion and guilt of sin. We are now children of God’s kingdom.

This formal act of redemption is enduring. Once Boaz had redeemed Ruth the arrangement was permanent and never to be repeated. How precious this is. Once Jesus secured our redemption there is no need for a repeat of his death, no need for any other act of redemption. This once and for all redemptive act lasts forever. In the Roman Catholic Church men like Wycliffe, Tyndale and Luther argued from Scriptures against the Roman Catholic teaching of the Mass in which it is taught that a fresh offering up of Jesus is made. Thank God for the Reformers who stood up against this false teaching. Jesus died once and for all. His death is never repeated, actually or symbolically. His act of redemption is enduring in its effects.

From Ruth 4:1-10 we conclude that the redemption of God’s people involves a formal act carried out by a second party. That second party is Jesus, our great Redeemer. His part was to die for sinners. Our part is to receive him in faith and to rejoice in his redemptive act.

(Summary of a sermon by David Yan)