Ye Have Sold Yourselves for Nought, And Ye Shall Be Redeemed Without Money - Part 1185

"For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you" as it is written. (Romans 2:24)

"Now therefore, what have I here," saith the Lord, "that My people is taken away for nought? They that rule over them make them to howl," saith the Lord, "and My name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore, My people shall know My name. Therefore, they shall know in that day that I Am He that doth speak, It is I." (Isaiah 52:5-6)

I say then, "Hath God cast away His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people which He foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How He makes intercession to God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, and digged down Thine alters; and I am left alone, and they seek my life." (Romans 11:1-3; I Kings 19:10)

But what saith the answer of God unto him?

"I have reserved to Myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace, and if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise, grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,then it is no more grace; otherwise, work is no more work." (Romans 11:4-6)

"What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeks for, but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear) unto this day.

And David saith, "Let their table be made a snare, and a trap and a stumbling block, and a recompense unto them. Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway." (Romans 11:7-10)

However, even before the establishment of the old covenant, God had decidedly made a plan to redeem His people, and to extend the election of grace to the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, but would attain to righteousness -- "even the righteousness which is of faith." (Romans 9:30)

"But Israel, which followed after the Law of righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. As it is written, "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offence; and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." (Romans 9:31-33)

Why? Because "they have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God -- for Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:1-4)

The spiritual rock?

"And did all eat the same spiritual meat, and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them -- and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:3-4)

What does this mean? "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith, for in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by love. You did run well." (Galatians 5:1-6)

But the question is -- "who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Galatians 5:7)

"For circumcision verily profit, if thou keep the Law; but if thou be a breaker of the Law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore, if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the Law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not the uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the Law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the Law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2:25-29)

It is for this reason that we as believers need to seek that spiritual Rock -- Jesus the Christ -- God manifest in the flesh, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. We need to search the scriptures for the knowledge and wisdom that only He can give, so that we can become confident in the Truth in which we are sanctified.

And similar to the establishment of the early believers on the day of Pentecost, we need to repent of our sin (if we have not done so already) and be water baptized in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:37-42)

Buried with Christ, so that we are resurrected also with Christ. (Romans 6:3-4)

"Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been plated together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin -- for he that is dead is freed from sin. 

Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ being raised from the dead diea no more, death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once, but in that he lives, he lives unto God ... alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:4-11)

Only then can we even begin to comprehend the abundance of grace that our Lord God and Saviour desires to pour upon us. This is why we can stand fast therefore in the liberty, wherewith Christ hath made us free, and not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1)

And similarly, that we can know that we have been redeemed without money, but through the precious blood of Jesus on the cross. 

Don't let anyone bewitch you. Do not be sidetracked by the religious dogma and traditions of men. Rather, receive ye the Spirit -- the Holy Ghost -- whose precious name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS -- and let Him ministereth unto you. God Almighty in the flesh, who was in the world and the world made by Him but sadly, the world knew Him not. (John 1:1-18, Isaiah 9:6; I Timothy 3:16)

Like the disciples, ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith. For "if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)

Stand in the offering plate.