The Good Of The Father (The Price Paid)

 

For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is Gods approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting 

Paul to the Ephesians 2: 8-9, Concordant New Testament 

Many Christians will speak to the fact that they are "Saved by grace," and they would be correct in saying so.  For it is by the love and mercy of the Lord that our salvation in Him has been achieved.  It is only through the mercy of the Father that we are able to lay stake to this claim.  Yet there are too many believers out there who feel that there is indeed a price to be paid for that salvation.  Are you ready to meet Jesus?  Have you confessed your sins?  Have you lived that good life?  Suddenly, our salvation which once seemed rock solid is now in doubt.  Our minds race with the thoughts of spending our eternity apart from the presence of the Lord.  An eternity sinking in that burning lake of fire that is hell.  A dear friend made the comment in response to one of my posts the other day, "The lie is harder to maintain."  Perhaps, but what is "The Lie?"  Well, I see the lie as that which has turned the minds of the Lords children astray from the truth.  What is it that makes you feel as if you've somehow lost your salvation in the Father?  Your sin?  Your life of bad decisions?  Whatever it is I can guarantee you that God has it covered.  The mainstream church, the main perpetrators of the lie, will tell us time and again of our need to "Make ourselves right with God."  Right with God?  Ok, let's think about this for a minute shall we?  Has God offered us His free gift of salvation despite knowing that we don't deserve it?  Yes!  The problem is that far too many believers refuse to see that the price for our redemption has already been paid in full by Christ Jesus on the cross.  It is Jesus who took our sin upon Himself {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:21}.  So, there was indeed a price to be paid for our sin, and Christ has paid it in full.  If you were to approach the Lord and ask Him for forgiveness of some sin you were troubled about, you would more than likely hear Him reply, 'What sin?'  For this is how God sees us through His eyes.  Not as condemned sinners, but as His loved and cherished child.  

Religion has actually convinced people that there is a invisible man living in the sky watching everything you do, every minute of every day.  And the invisible man has a special list of ten things he does not want you to do.  And if you do any of these ten things, he has a special place, full of fire and smoke and burning and torture and anguish, where he will send you to live and suffer and burn and choke and scream and cry forever and ever until the end of time!  But he loves you.  He loves you, and he needs money.  He always needs money.  He's all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing and all-wise, somehow he just can't handle money. 

~George Carlin~ 

When I was still active in the church, I recall that many things related to God came with a price.  Do you need prayer?  Well, be sure you confess anything which He might be upset about.  Your prayer went unanswered?  You probably forgot to ask forgiveness for something.  Almost everywhere you turn in the mainstream church, it seems that God is seeking payment from you for something.  Is this the price we pay for following Him?  Well, if you adhere to the teachings and theology of the mainstream church then you might believe that to be true.  On the other hand, I prefer to believe in the truth that any price which needed to be paid has already been rendered by Christ Jesus in our favor.  I use a quote from the comedian George Carlin quite frequently when discussing matters of the church.  Carlin begins his quote by claiming "Religion has actually convinced people."  Remember, if anyone is telling you that there is a price to be paid by you for your salvation,,,run!  It is the religious system which speaks to these lies, not the Father.  It is the Father who sent His Son to be the sacrifice, the price paid, for our life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  There is now nothing left to do but rest in His love and mercy.  You owe nothing!  The price has been paid.  

~Scott~