God Bought Us

Love’s High Price

1) The Commitment

Decisions require a commitment. We can say, “I like that!” when talking about some piece of clothing in a store, but it is not the same as buying it. Some people ‘window shop.’ They only look at what is for sale rather than purchasing something. God in a generous mood could have said that He wanted to save us. But that is not the same as actually saving us. The Lord followed up His desire to save by committing Himself to do what was necessary to save us.

2) The Meaning of Redemption

The word ‘redeem’ and ‘redemption’ come from the meaning ‘to buy.’ In our case we were handed over to God’s wrath and were under Satan’s control. God redeemed (bought) us by Christ’s blood, not with money or other things.

You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The above word ‘redeemed’ was used when a slave was bought from another person. Ownership was transferred at an agreed cost. “For He (Father) delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14).

3) The Purchase Price

Some people don’t realize the reason Jesus had to suffer. They say they like Jesus’ love but don’t like the blood and gore of the cross. They go together, however, and cannot be separated. In order to carry out God’s commitment to really save us from His own wrath, He sent Christ His Son to suffer and die to for us. The cross reminds us of God’s real commitment to save His people.

The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed..., the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him (Isaiah 53:5-6).

Underline the three times in the above verse where the transfer of penalty from us was taken by Christ. The iniquity and its judgment was ours. God can’t overlook sin, but His justice does accept a substitute payment. That is, Christ paid our debt for us. He died for us.

Because of sin, suffering is sometimes required in order to accomplish a greater good. This is what God did through Jesus Christ. Now with His resurrection we see the greater good come about in our forgiveness.

Application: Being able to accomplish God’s will is more important than having a comfortable or easy life. God might even call us to suffer or be persecuted for His Name’s sake. Tell the Lord that He is more important than your possessions and even your life.