Amen, we are the pearl of great price and the treasure that Jesus paid so much for, For a long time I heard it taught and preached that Jesus was the pearl. That didn't make sense, that we needed to do something so extreme just to have Him. But one day a few years ago, I heard an Adrian Rogers sermon where he made it plain and simple that the church was the pearl. Oh course! How have people screw this up for so long? It's one of those passages that people have used to lay guilt trips on poor souls because they haven't given it their all.
The sooner we come to the realization that it is ALL about Him, by Him, and for Him the happier and simpler live is.
Gary, up to a few years ago I had always heard it preached that Jesus was the treasure and the pearl, and that we were to give our ALL for Him. Since I knew that Jesus is the one who paid the price, it didn't make sense but I never really went anywhere with that thinking. And then, like you I heard someone teaching about it (in my case Steve McVey) and my reaction was the same, "Of course!"
And then it shed even more light on how valuable WE are to God! The quotes John 3:16, that God so loved the world, but then makes it sound like we were such unworthy worms, when in reality God has always "so loved" the world and has seen us as precious pearls.
Jamie, I LOVE the title there! So many thoughts run through my mind about that, but I'll let you write the post... LOL :) Indeed we were bought at a price, and God didn't pay chump change for us!
“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field. For the sake of it, a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy, for which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble. It is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Costly grace is the gospel, which must be sought again and again”the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly, because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son. Ye were bought at a price, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.”
The NLT does an interesting job of this in Ephesians 2:8-10…
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
A masterpiece….priceless?
I hope you don’t mind a blatant ad…I have a new blog about Church and would appreciate your opinion and of course that of your other guests….
Amen, we are the pearl of great price and the treasure that Jesus paid so much for, For a long time I heard it taught and preached that Jesus was the pearl. That didn't make sense, that we needed to do something so extreme just to have Him. But one day a few years ago, I heard an Adrian Rogers sermon where he made it plain and simple that the church was the pearl. Oh course! How have people screw this up for so long? It's one of those passages that people have used to lay guilt trips on poor souls because they haven't given it their all.
ReplyDeleteThe sooner we come to the realization that it is ALL about Him, by Him, and for Him the happier and simpler live is.
Joel! We're thinking the same AGAIN! I told Lyds I was thinking of writing a post entitled "I Can Be Bought But I Ain't Cheap!" LOL!! :)
ReplyDeleteGary, up to a few years ago I had always heard it preached that Jesus was the treasure and the pearl, and that we were to give our ALL for Him. Since I knew that Jesus is the one who paid the price, it didn't make sense but I never really went anywhere with that thinking. And then, like you I heard someone teaching about it (in my case Steve McVey) and my reaction was the same, "Of course!"
ReplyDeleteAnd then it shed even more light on how valuable WE are to God! The quotes John 3:16, that God so loved the world, but then makes it sound like we were such unworthy worms, when in reality God has always "so loved" the world and has seen us as precious pearls.
Jamie, I LOVE the title there! So many thoughts run through my mind about that, but I'll let you write the post... LOL :) Indeed we were bought at a price, and God didn't pay chump change for us!
“Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field. For the sake of it, a man will gladly go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy, for which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble. It is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him. Costly grace is the gospel, which must be sought again and again”the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock. Such grace is costly, because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son. Ye were bought at a price, and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the incarnation of God.”
ReplyDeleteCostly grace costs the Giver, not the recipient. Otherwise it's not grace.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff Breeze man.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bud.
ReplyDeleteHi Joel,
ReplyDeleteThe NLT does an interesting job of this in Ephesians 2:8-10…
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
A masterpiece….priceless?
I hope you don’t mind a blatant ad…I have a new blog about Church and would appreciate your opinion and of course that of your other guests….
http://holykisschurchculture.blogspot.com/
Thanks
;)
Cool, LS, I love the wording of this in the NLT. A masterpiece... yes indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to your new blog, I'll check it out!
oh really?
ReplyDelete