What does "purchased for God" reveal about our identity and purpose in Christ? Setting the Scene in Revelation 5 - In John’s vision, heaven erupts in praise as the Lamb takes the scroll. - The anthem celebrates His saving work: “by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). - The phrase “purchased for God” is literal; Jesus truly paid a price—His own blood—to make us God’s treasured possession. The Meaning of “Purchased for God” - Purchase implies ownership. Once we were “slaves to sin” (John 8:34), now we belong to God. - Purchase implies value. The cost was the blood of Christ, “a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). - Purchase implies transfer. We have been “rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Colossians 1:13,14). Who We Now Are: Our New Identity - God’s possession: “You are not your own; you were bought at a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). - A royal priesthood: “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Revelation 1:6). - A unified, multi-ethnic family: Revelation 5:9 highlights “every tribe and tongue,” erasing all grounds for superiority. - Redeemed people: “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13). - Secure heirs: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1). Why We Were Bought: Our Daily Purpose - To glorify God with our bodies and spirits (1 Corinthians 6:20). - To live for the One who died for us (2 Corinthians 5:15). - To walk in “good works, which God prepared in advance” (Ephesians 2:10). - To proclaim His excellencies (1 Peter 2:9). - To serve and shepherd His church, “which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Living Out the Purchase: Practical Implications • Stewardship – Time, talents, and resources are no longer ours but His. • Holiness – The precious price paid demands separation from sin (Titus 2:14). • Unity – Every believer, regardless of background, shares equal worth in Christ. • Witness – Our redeemed lives are living billboards of His grace (Romans 12:1). • Hope – Because the purchase is complete—“It is finished!” (John 19:30)—our future is secure. Final Encouragement Jesus did not merely improve us; He bought us. Rest in that ownership, rejoice in that value, and rise each day to display the glory of the One who “purchased [you] for God.” |
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