"Knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1: 18,19).
St. Peter gets right to the point of how a person is redeemed (or ransomed) by God. The cost of your salvation lies solely in the blood of His only-begotten Son. Nothing you can offer God can pay the price of your redemption. God is the one who justifies the sinner, so He gets to set the price. The price: The sufferings and death of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Since the ransom price has already been set and the ransom price has already been paid, there is no room for bargaining or dickering. God ignores whatever you or I might toss into the pot of salvation. Our opinions on how we may "sweeten" the pot to our advantage doesn't matter one bit. He has created the offer of salvation. It is His salvation and He's made the rules. We can only believe in our salvation provided by Jesus Christ. Faith lays hold of what God offers us in Christ. Glory be to Jesus!
The Lenten season of the church year provides some of the most powerful hymns found in any Christian hymnal. Here is one of my favorites, based on 1 Peter 1: 19.
"Glory Be to Jesus"
Glory be to Jesus, Who in bitter pains
Poured for me the life-blood From His sacred veins!
Grace and life eternal In that blood I find;
Blest be His compassion, Infinitely kind!
Blest through endless ages Be the precious stream
Which from endless torments Did the world redeem!
Abel's blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies;
But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries.
Oft as earth exulting Wafts it praise on high,
Angel hosts rejoicing Make their glad reply.
Lift we, then, our voices, Swell the mighty flood,
Louder still and louder Praise the precious blood!
-Dale
Thanks so much Dale, awesome Word!!!
Jody
Thanks Dale, very good
WOOOEEE!!
Straight to the point!! Well written Dale!!
Thank you.
God Bless,
David B.
Our opinions on how we may "sweeten" the pot to our advantage doesn't matter one bit. He has created the offer of salvation. It is His salvation and He's made the rules.
Woweeee...David, I love this devotional....goes to show just how precious my salvation really is...great jumpin' Jehosiphat!!!!