He Paid the Cost We Each Deserve!
“[Jesus Christ] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by Him [God] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him [through Almighty God & for Jesus the Messiah, the Only Son of God].
[Jesus our Savior] He is before all things, and in Him
[in Jesus, the Messiah] all things hold together.
[Jesus Christ] He is also head of the body, the church; and
[Jesus the Redeemer] He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself [God Himself] will come to have first place in everything.
[Seek HIM with our everything—our heart, soul, mind, & strength—yes, with everything we have to give!]
For it was the Father’s good pleasure
[God chose to send Jesus to earth, to dwell among mankind]
for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
[God is Jesus & Jesus is God & the Holy Spirit of God is Jesus Christ—3 Persons-in-One]
and through Him
[It is only through Jesus]
to reconcile all things to Himself,
[because of Jesus’ work on the cross]
having made peace through the blood of His cross;
[Jesus died on the cross of Calvary for humanity’s sins, for all our sins—for each of us]
through Him,
[through Jesus the Messiah]
I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
[While we were still sinners, Jesus died once for all]
yet He [Jesus]
[Jesus died as the substitution—He died in our place]
has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death,
[Jesus paid the price for our sins with His very life upon the cross so that we would not have to face the wrath of God for our sins committed]
in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—
[THROUGH JESUS—
yes through the shed blood of Jesus covering all our sins, one day we who have received Jesus Christ as our Savior, we will be able to stand before Almighty God, holy]
if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast,
and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard,
which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven,
and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.”
(The Letter of Paul to the Colossians 1: 15-23 NASB)
- God saved us from our bondage of sin!
- Yes, God removed us from ‘our Egypt’ in order to bless us in heaven ‘our Promise Land’!
- God brought us out!
- And also, God walked us across our Red Sea, so that He could set us free and so that He would raise us up to be eternally with Him!
- God sent Jesus to die upon the cross, so that we might come to know Him as our Savior and Redeemer.
- God redeems us, so that we might become active, vocal ambassadors for the cause of Christ Jesus.
- God saves us, not so we can then be silent as we walk throughout our lives.
This is our mission!
Child of God, what will we now do with this gift of salvation given freely to us?
- Will we serve God today?
- Will we be on-mission, loving, reaching, engaging, and discipling others in Jesus’ name?
- Will we willingly engage others in a Gospel conversation, sharing the love of God’s Amazing Grace?
- Will we fulfill our mission?
Will we join Jesus in His kingdom work where God has placed us in our Jerusalem, in our Judea, in our Samaria & in our uttermost parts of our world?
“Therefore,
(The 2nd Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 5: 20-21 NASB)
we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ,
[May You] be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf,
[Thank You God for sending Your Only Begotten Son to die for us]
so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”