The Price of Your Soul
The apostle Peter uses the word “redeemed” when speaking about the value of our souls. “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: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” (1 Peter 1:18 – 21) Temporal monetary value was not enough to pay the price of our redemption. That required more than the world and its riches! (Matthew 16: 26 – 27)
The Hebrew writer magnifies our realization of the cost, i.e., redemption, of our souls. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10: 4 – 10)
Paul continues emphasizing the price (value) of our souls. “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Corinthians 6: 20) “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” (1 Corinthians 7:23)
Considering these facts regarding our redemption, i.e., the cost paid for the salvation of our souls, can we not realize the incomprehensible love God bestowed upon us with the gift of His love and the love of His gift? (John 3:16) Are we so arrogant about our “self-worth” that we think it a light thing to read, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5: 6 – 8) Yet, many seem to take this immeasurable price of our souls for granted, and as demonstrated by their sporadic adherence to His commandments, not the least being that of diligently seeking Him (Hebrews 11:6) while remaining faithful unto death (Revelation 2:10; 2 Peter 1: 1 – 11), count this blood of the covenant wherewith they were sanctified as an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29).
Though honor to whom honor is due is righteous (Romans 13:7), the honor due God our Father and Christ His Son merits more than any man of any time! We set aside many days each year in homage to the greatness of mankind for various achievements. Not one of them died to redeem us! Our Lord set aside the first day of the week as “the Lord’s Day” (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Revelation 1:10) to remember His (Christ’s) death till He returns. Yet, how many use that day for their pleasure instead of His honor? How many prove their sincerest appreciation for the redemption of their souls by remembering His death, i.e., partaking of the communion, each Lord’s Day? It begs the question, “Do we sincerely value the price of our souls?”
Nothing, and again, I say NOTHING, should ever exceed the priority we place on Christ and Him crucified (Colossians 1:18). We can never repay that price, nor can we thank Him enough. Yet, it is more than our duty to serve Him, love Him, and obey Him. A careful reading of Colossians 1:1 -17 and Galatians 2:20 proves to the faithful Christian that ours is a life we live in Him – not “part-time, but the entirety of our lives! We must constantly acknowledge the price paid for our souls!
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