BOUGHT WITH A PRICE
By Charles N. Spence, Jr.
Consider the words of Paul as recorded in 1 Corinthians
6:19-20, "Or do you not know that
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from
God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore
glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." A child
of God is considered a precious possession of God because of the high cost
involved in obtaining him. Before one can belong to God he must be redeemed from
the bondage of sin. Romans 6:16 says, "Do
you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that
one's slave whom you obey, whether of sin to death or of obedience to
righteousness?" Now, since all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) all have been
enslaved and need to be redeemed. The debt is too great for any individual to
pay himself (Matt. 18:24-26). All need to consider what it costs to live
contrary to the will of God.
The Bible teaches that all souls belong to God (Eze.
18:4). Whenever a person sins he kills what belongs to God. The prophet also
says, "The soul who sins shall
die." Paul says in Romans 6:23, "
The wages of sin is death." What man does when he sins is rob God of
what belongs to Him. The sinner says, "I've got to be me; this is my life;
I will do as I please." He fails to do the will of Him who made him.
However, God wants back what rightfully belongs to Him. The only way that God
can get back man is to pay a heavy price. Again, the sinner has a tremendous
debt which is beyond his ability to pay. His sins had sold him into slavery.
Yet, the price must still be paid.
God, out of His infinite love and mercy, paid the price
for man's soul. Jesus said of His purpose in coming, "Just as the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28). Thus Jesus did
in behalf of all who had a debt to pay (1 Tim. 2:6). Think about this awesome
display of love for a moment. Man robbed God of that which belonged to God. God
wants back what is His and so He buys them back at a much higher price. In 1
Peter 1:18-19, the apostle says, "Knowing
that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from
your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the
precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish or without spot."
By this act God was able to satisfy His own justice and receive back unto
Himself the souls that belonged to Him (Rom. 3:26).
All who submit to God's conditions of faith are thus redeemed.
Once redeemed, "You are not you own,
for you were bought with a price." Those who fail to meet the
conditions of faith will have to pay the price themselves. Dear reader, please
take advantage of the wonderful grace of our Lord by submitting to His will for
your life.