If it cost a hundred dollars to go to heaven, I might make it to Fort Worth.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Good Old Boys)
“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
–Hebrews 9:12(NKJV)
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“Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole,
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.”
–Alfred B. Smith
Most of you have probably heard this chorus, and I would suspect even sang it a time or several dozen. It is a wonderful, meaningful little chorus. Part of it is thanking for the Lord for salvation. But I want to focus on the last few words this morning.
In one sense God’s salvation is “free.” It is for whosoever will accept it. It is now free for everyone; it is not universalism. However, it is available for everyone. Even in that there are a few requirements for it is not just thrown out to everyone. There has to be repentance–asking the forgiveness of sins. There must also be the acknowledgment that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified and rose for the dead. When those requirements have been met, then salvation is freely given.
There is one more aspect to this and that is that it is not free. It cost a great price. Redemption was involved.
“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 and without spot.”
–1 Peter 1:18-19(NKJV)
I won’t go into all the details of the “kinsman Redeemer,” but simply will say that to redeem something means, “to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service.” (Collins) Your soul, your eternal destiny wasn’t free as the little chorus says. There was a great cost to redeem you. There was a price to be paid. That price was the precious blood of Christ. The crucifixion–the blood was poured out from the body of Jesus for mankind’s redemption. The price was paid–it was not free. It cost the life of Jesus, the Son of God.
It will be a terrible thing on that Judgment Day when sinners are gathered together in judgment. It will be shown that the blood of Christ purchased their redemption (salvation), yet they did not accept it, in fact, many scorned and mocked the offer of redemption. It will be a terrible day when they are shown that the price was paid for them, but they refused it.
The great “kinsman Redeemer,” came upon the scene to pay for our salvation. It is free to us; it doesn’t cost us a penny, but there was a terrible price that was paid for mankind. Never lose sight of that when singing the little chorus. Always remember that is was the precious blood of Jesus that purchased your salvation.
——————————-
“Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole,
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.”
–Alfred B. Smith
Most of you have probably heard this chorus, and I would suspect even sang it a time or several dozen. It is a wonderful, meaningful little chorus. Part of it is thanking for the Lord for salvation. But I want to focus on the last few words this morning.
In one sense God’s salvation is “free.” It is for whosoever will accept it. It is now free for everyone; it is not universalism. However, it is available for everyone. Even in that there are a few requirements for it is not just thrown out to everyone. There has to be repentance–asking the forgiveness of sins. There must also be the acknowledgment that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified and rose for the dead. When those requirements have been met, then salvation is freely given.
There is one more aspect to this and that is that it is not free. It cost a great price. Redemption was involved.
“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 and without spot.”
–1 Peter 1:18-19(NKJV)
I won’t go into all the details of the “kinsman Redeemer,” but simply will say that to redeem something means, “to recover possession or ownership of by payment of a price or service.” (Collins) Your soul, your eternal destiny wasn’t free as the little chorus says. There was a great cost to redeem you. There was a price to be paid. That price was the precious blood of Christ. The crucifixion–the blood was poured out from the body of Jesus for mankind’s redemption. The price was paid–it was not free. It cost the life of Jesus, the Son of God.
It will be a terrible thing on that Judgment Day when sinners are gathered together in judgment. It will be shown that the blood of Christ purchased their redemption (salvation), yet they did not accept it, in fact, many scorned and mocked the offer of redemption. It will be a terrible day when they are shown that the price was paid for them, but they refused it.
The great “kinsman Redeemer,” came upon the scene to pay for our salvation. It is free to us; it doesn’t cost us a penny, but there was a terrible price that was paid for mankind. Never lose sight of that when singing the little chorus. Always remember that is was the precious blood of Jesus that purchased your salvation.