Category: Devotion of the Day

Bought With an Infinite Price

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
I Peter 1:18,19

Salvation is free but not cheap. The gift of God cost God His Son and the Son His life. With His own precious blood He bought us in the market, bought us out of the market, bought us never to return to the market. We are not redeemed by anything we are or have or can do.

The New Testament theme is a glorious Three R’s – Ruin, Redemption and Regeneration. There is a tendency today to make much of Christ as teacher and example, but when the Greeks came to see Him He spoke immediately of His death. Modern Greeks need the message of redemption by His blood.

It is also the incentive to consecration and service. Not the copying of an Example or following a Teacher, but because we are not our own, but are bought with a price – for that reason we are to glorify God in our body and spirit, which are God’s.

Paul’s Confession

But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers.
Acts 24:14

In His matchless defense before Felix Paul is not ashamed to belong to the sect of the Nazareness. He declares his position. He asserts revelation behind him: “Believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets.” He anticipates the resurrection ahead of him: “And have hope toward God…that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” He takes responsibility upon him: “And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God and toward men.”

It is possible to be very orthodox about revelation and the resurrection and yet to assume little responsibility for the way we live today. Paul lived today with that day always in mind. Faith in revelation past and hope in the resurrection to come should show up in godly exercise now.