As we move into the week of Valentine’s Day and our thoughts turn toward the concept of “love,” I am presenting here the fourth in a series of five articles spotlighting the amazing love that God has poured out on all those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ.
We’ve already seen that we were wrought, sought, and caught by the love of God. That is one thing, but to be BOUGHT by His love is another thing altogether!
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
(1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
What does it mean to be bought by God’s love? It means we could not possibly pay the bill for the penalty of our sin. Someone else had to pay the price; only one Person could do it; His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus shed His precious blood and gave His life to purchase our freedom and redeem us from our bondage to sin and Satan.
We are all slaves to sin and Satan by natural birth. Freedom comes only through a second birth, which comes only through the redeeming blood of the Lamb of God. God’s love quite literally bought us back from the grave! We were dead in our sins and trespasses—we weren’t sick, we weren’t even gravely ill, we were dead. And instead of leaving us there, Jesus bought us back into a right relationship with God the Father through His precious blood, shed for us on a cross.
Think for just a moment about how profound this truth really is. God’s love bought us—Jesus Christ paid the ransom to set us free. Just as if we were condemned slaves on the auction block, Jesus Christ stood up and BOUGHT us through His sovereign birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and supernatural resurrection.
Knowing this truth is the key to living out this truth. Keeping the cost for our salvation in view is the fuel for living a life of freedom, joy, and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
(Galatians 5:1)
You see, the love of God that bought us also builds us up in the faith. When Scripture says that the truth sets us free, it is instructing us to always keep the truth in view. Living in the shadow of the cross is living in the power to say NO to the things we must say no to and YES to the things we must say yes to. Now, that does not mean we will be perfect on this side of the grave. Far from it! But we must remember that the grace that saved us is also the grace that sanctifies us throughout life on this earth.
So . . . when you consider the fact that God’s love bought you, how does that make you feel? It should be all the encouragement, motivation, and inspiration you need to live for nothing smaller than Jesus. When you do that, you will know that the love that bought you also forgives you . . . and strengthens you!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 