The Apostle Paul speaking to the converts at Corinth said in 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20, do you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. After God created us in his image, he gave us our free will as free people just as he is. As free beings, we are to act responsibly towards God.
Unfortunately, God found us going astray towards eternal extinction so he had to buy back our lives at a valuable price. That valuable price is the immaculate blood of Jesus and by God’s purchase God has effectively become our owner. God purchased us with all our defects because he first loved us.
Ownership rights upon purchase
As said earlier, a purchaser becomes the owner of what he has purchased for value. Ownership rights have transferred from us as the previous owners to God who is the new owner. He has therefore rightly put us to any lawful use. For this reason, God sent down his only Son Jesus into the world to show us God’s purpose for our lives. In Luke 20: 21 the people said to Jesus, teacher, we know that you speak and teach rightly, and show no partiality, but truly teach the way of God. Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father, but by me.
One of the surest ways of undisputed ownership is by purchase. Upon purchase by the blood of Christ Jesus, we cease to be owners of our lives. We cannot lawfully retain that right any longer but to obey what God through his Son Christ Jesus the purchaser wants. God has also transferred the entire ownership rights to his only Son Christ Jesus which has made us his servants also. In explaining what is required of a servant or slave, Paul said in Colossians 3: 22 slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing the Lord.
By God’s purchase, we have been freed from the shackles of the devil which was destined for eternity in hell fire. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7: 22-23, for he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. We must upon having been purchased, no longer owe allegiance to men but to God through Christ Jesus who purchased us from death into his marvelous light.
Our status after purchase
We were purchased as servants to work to the pleasure of the Lord God Almighty through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. However, rather than remain servants, Christ Jesus has elevated us to the status of friend so he will reason with us always if we will obey him. Jesus said in John 15: 15 no longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Unfortunately though now friends of Christ Jesus, some of us continue to engage in abominable acts contrary to God’s will even in God’s business. 2 Peter 2:11 says but false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
Betrayal against the blood of Jesus Christ brings with it swift curses of destruction based on God’s rejection. Romans 6: 16 says do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. Who then is our master in our respective lives? We are often deceived that we can disobey our master and pacify him with financial contributions to his church or charity. The only acceptable thing to God is a pure heart of remorse and righteousness. Psalms 66:18 says, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.
The wealth deception
God does not recognize the devil’s wealth. When the devil tempted Jesus Christ and said in Matthew 4: 9-10, all these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Jesus replied, Begone, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. The measurement of God’s approval is in obedience to his commandments or ordinances given by the Holy Spirit.
Upon loyalty by obedience to God through Christ Jesus, he will elevate our status from servants to friends so we may freely confer with him. Once we enter into this relationship based on the blood price of Christ Jesus the relationship becomes irrevocable for life. Revelation 2: 10 says in part, be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. We must acknowledge and obey our master because we cannot be greater than him but do the pleasure of him who has called us from darkness into his marvelous light. We must always remember, we are not our own but belong to Christ Jesus.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, today we have acknowledged the value of your precious blood by which we were bought to be free people once again. From this day forward, we will no longer live for our own but for your pleasure. Strengthen us in obedience and humility to live and die for you knowing what awaits a faithful servant. We thank you blessed Jesus Christ for answered prayer, Amen!!
