THE PRICE OF SALVATION


PART I

A. "AND I SAID UNTO THEM, IF YE THINK GOOD, GIVE ME MY PRICE; AND IF NOT FORBEAR" - Zech. 11:12
  1. A most unusual request:
    1. Christ or the Messiah wants men to evaluate Him.
    2. He wants us to place a value upon Him, His life, and His sacrifice.
  2. Evaluating all who were dedicated to the Lord was a part of the sacrificial service:
    1. When men were brought to God, a value had to be placed upon them according to age and sex - Lev. 27:1-6
    2. That was true, also, of the beasts that were sacrificed.
B. HOW CAN A POOR AND FINITE BEING PLACE A PRICE UPON THE SON OF GOD?
  1. Examples of some Bible characters who did place a price upon the Lord Jesus Christ:
    1. Judas sold the Lord of glory for thirty pieces of silver - Matt. 26:15
    2. The poor widow loved the Lord and gave to Him all her living - Mark 12:41-44
    3. Mary gave Him a love gift - Luke 7:38-40
  2. When we all evaluate the Lord Jesus:
    1. When our relationship with Him and His word requires a special sacrifice - EXAMPLES -
      1. Abraham sacrificed Isaac - Gen. 22:1-12
      2. Peter's love gift to his Lord - John 21:17-19
      3. Stephen brought the supreme price - Acts 7:59, 60
    2. In the hour of temptation -
      1. Adam and Eve sold their Creator for the fruit of the tree of good and evil - Gen. 3:1-6
      2. Joseph paid the price of purity in prison - Gen. 39:1- 12
      3. Daniel and his friends paid the price of loyalty in Babylon - Dan. 1:8; 3:17-23; 6:10-22
    3. When we are asked to give up the world and its sinful pleasures - Heb. 11:24-26
    4. The rich young ruler refused - Matt. 19:16
C. WHY A SINCERE EVALUATION OF OUR LORD IS SO IMPORTANT
  1. We must remember the price Heaven placed upon the Son of God:
    1. He is the bread of life that came from heaven - John 6:51
    2. In Him is the life that lighted up every being that comes into this world - John 1:4, 5
    3. He is the very essence of the Father's being - Heb. 1:1-3; Col. 2:9
  2. What He means to us:
    1. What will we do with our sins without Him? Matt. 1:21; 2 Cor. 5:21
    2. What shall we do with our sorrows without Him? Isa. 53:4
    3. What can the future offer to us without the Son of God? Acts 4:12
  3. Let us, prayerfully, think of what:
    1. He did for us - Gal. 2:20, 21
    2. What He does for us - 1 John 2:1-3; Heb. 7:24-27; John 14:1- 3
    3. What He will do for us - John 5:28-29; 1 Thess. 4:13-17
  4. The least we can do to show that we value our Lord more than words can tell, or deeds can prove:
    1. Listen to Paul - Acts 21:13
    2. It is said that when they were ready to crucify Peter, he asked a special favor of them before he was executed; he asked them to crucify him with his head down; when asked why, he told them that his Lord and Master was crucified upright and he wanted to be crucified with his head downward.
    3. The least we can do for the Master is to give our sinful and unworthy self to Him without any reservation.
    4. Think of the panorama of God's martyrs, who loved the Lord and were willing to pay the supreme price to prove their love - Heb. 11:36-39
    5. Think of the experience of God's remnant people awaiting them before the end comes! Rev. 12:17; Dan. 12:1


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