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The Cost of Salvation

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.”
Luke 9:21–22
For almost four hundred years, the people of Oberammergau in Germany have been performing a play depicting the final week of the life of Jesus. According to tradition, they began this practice after their village was spared from the bubonic plague. Every ten years they stage a massive event featuring hundreds of performers, singers and helpers. There is a story that some years ago, the actor portraying Jesus fell down during the scene when he was carrying the cross to Calvary. An onlooker was so overcome in the moment that he ran forward to help lift the cross from the actor’s back. Thinking it would be a stage prop, he only used one hand, but found he could not move the heavy wood. Afterward he met with the actor who told him, “I cannot look like Jesus unless I carry a real cross.”
Salvation is freely provided by God’s grace to all who believe, but it was certainly not free. The awfulness of sin and the eternality of Hell required a great price to be paid for salvation. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). No work of man could atone for sin, and thus the death of Jesus was required. Nothing that happened to Him was accidental. It was God’s plan from the beginning that Jesus would live a perfect life, be crucified, and then rise again. Jesus willingly came into the world knowing the price that would be required, and He willingly paid it. The Saviour regarded the cross as an absolute necessity because that was His mission.

Today’s Growth Principle: 

Rejoice today in the love of God that sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay the price for our salvation.

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“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”   --Exodus 20:7 Today’s verse isn’t just talking about using the name of God and Jesus Christ in a profane or blasphemous way. It’s also referring to breaking your promises.]] Because as Christ-followers, everything you and I say… every oath we take or promise we make… is under God. So when we break a promise, we break that promise in the Lord’s name. That means we’re taking the Lord’s name in vain when we break a promise! That’s why Jesus said to let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No.” Think about your marriage. When you stood at the altar and shared your wedding vows, you promised before God in a company of witnesses to love, honor, and cherish your mate… that you would live together until death separated you. So let me ask you today, how are you doing on your wedding vows? Have you been faithful? Are you consistently loving, honoring, and cherishing your mate? Think about your children. A lot of people dedicate their children to God, to raise them in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. Let me ask you, are you keeping that promise? Are you being intentional about introducing your boys and girls to faith in Christ? Now think about your own relationship with Christ and his body, the church. If you’ve been baptized, you’ve made a public declaration that your life has been changed by the power of Christ and you’ve said that you will live by his grace and be a part of the church. So let me ask you this: How are you keeping this promise to be a part of the church body? People make many promises to God, many oaths in his name that they don’t keep. That’s why today, it’s my prayer that when it comes to your marriage, your children, and your relationship to Christ and his body, the church, you really will let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No.” WHEN YOU BREAK A PROMISE, YOU TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN.