It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect (1 Pet. 1:18-19 NIV).

Have you ever wanted a special, big-ticket item? Maybe you saved and saved until you had the full amount needed to make you the purchase.

That’s a bit like what God has done for you. He long ago established a plan to redeem you from sinful humanity, building the means of salvation from ancient times until he would purchase your souls for heaven by the precious blood of his own Son!

Your redemption was not settled with the exchange of precious resources of this earth. No one can buy a place in heaven. Instead, God established a purchase plan that was secured by a binding covenant declared at the dawn of humanity. The covenant was made for us but fulfilled by Christ’s perfect sacrifice.

Those who rely on his provision have their sins fully paid for. Any other claim on the blessings of God’s covenant is an empty sham of religious ritual or personal conceit.

Only by trusting that Jesus purchased heaven’s blessings for us by his sacrifice can we claim redemption from a sinful past and a home in heaven forever. When we trust this purchase plan, God declares our salvation “Fully paid.”

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for redeeming me from empty efforts to save myself by providing for your covenant love to be secured by Christ’s blood and to be claimed by faith alone!