Bought at a Price

                      
                                                    "You are not your own;
                                                      you were bought at a price ..."
                                                                          1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a


                                            

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          As we were prisoners of the law and of sin, Jesus bore the sins of His people,
     shedding His blood, to pay the penalty due to God the Father, because of
     our transgressions against Him.
          Drawn by the Father (John 6:44,65), those who benefit from Jesus' atonement,
     come to Him in faith and are saved.

                                                   "But the Scripture declares that the whole
                                                    world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was
                                                    promised, being given through faith in Jesus
                                                    Christ, might be given to those who believe.

                                                    Before this faith came, we were held prisoners
                                                    by the law, locked up until faith should be
                                                    revealed.  So the law was put in charge to lead
                                                    us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
                                                                                               Galatians 3:22-24


            Jesus paid our ransom, by shedding His blood for us, and satisfied the wrath
     of God the Father against us because of our sinfulness.  Through His sacrifice,
     those who are called by God, receive eternal life.

         
                                                   "[Jesus said], 'For even the Son of Man did
                                                     not come to be served, but to serve, and to
                                                     give his life as a ransom for many."
                                                                                              Mark 10:45


                                                   "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new
                                                    covenant, that those who are called may receive
                                                    the promised eternal inheritance -- now that he
                                                    has died as a ransom to set them free from the
                                                    sins committed under the first covenant."
                                                                                              Hebrews 9:15


          To demonstrate his justice, God the Father was willing to give his Son as
     payment to save those who would believe.

                             "The sins of God's people, punished symbolically in the
                              animal sacrifices of the Old Testament period, would
                              be totally punished in the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ
                              on the cross."
                                                                                         NIV Commentary


                                                   "God presented him as a sacrifice of
                                                    atonement, through faith in his blood."
                                                                                     Romans 3:25a


                             "Christians in all stations of life should realize that their
                              ultimate allegiance is not to men but to Christ, who bought
                              them with his blood."
                                                                                           NIV Commentary


                                                    "You were bought at a price; do not
                                                      become slaves of men."
                                                                                           1 Corinthians 7:23


            Only a perfect sacrifice, unblemished by sin, would satisfy God the Father and his
     holiness.  Believers are redeemed by the Son's blood, not from earthly things.
     He was chosen before the foundation of the world to die for his people.

                                                      "For you know that it was not with perishable
                                                       things such as silver or gold that you were
                                                       redeemed from the empty way of life handed
                                                       down to you form your forefathers, but with
                                                       the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without
                                                       blemish or defect.

                                                       He was chosen before the creation of the world,
                                                       but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
                                                       Through him you believe in God,
                                                       who raised him from the dead, and
                                                       glorified him, and so your faith and
                                                       hope are in God."
                                                                                             1 Peter 1:18-21


          Jesus bought believers from all over the world with his blood.


                                                      " ... and with your blood you purchased
                                                       men for God from every tribe and
                                                       language and people and nation."
                                                                                            Revelation 5:9b


          Jesus bought his church with his death on the cross.


                                                      "Be shepherds of the church of God,
                                                       which he bought with his own blood."
                                                                                             Acts 20:28b


          God showed his love for his people by sending his Son to die for them.


                                                       "But God demonstrates his own love
                                                        for us, in this:  While we were still
                                                        sinners, Christ died for us."
                                                                                              Romans 5:8


          God demonstrated his love for people all over the world, by sending his
     Son to die for and save everyone who would believe in him.


                                                       "For God loved the world in this way:
                                                        He gave his One and Only Son, so that
                                                        everyone who believes in him will not
                                                        perish, but have eternal life."
                                                                                             John 3:16


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          Simply put, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, to die for and pay the penalty
     of sin for his church (Acts 20:28); that is for everyone who believes (John 3:16).