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The underlying meaning of the word grace is "favour", and in the scriptural usage grace means favour
shown to those who have no claim, who have forfeited all rights, who are actively at enmity, and who deserve
nothing but condemnation.
While the grace of God is the sole moving cause for the marvellous manifestation of His love as shown in the
gospel, and while it is, and must be, absolutely without money and without price so far as the saved sinner is
concerned, it is not without cost that this salvation is so FREE. This is revealed in the words of Romans 3:24,
"Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus".
(1)
The idea of its priceless character is expressed by Peter when he said:
"Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, ... but with the PRECIOUS blood of Christ, as of
a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pet. 1:18,19).
(2)
That a price was paid is stated by the apostle Paul:
"Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a PRICE" (1 Cor. 6:19,20).
"The church of God, which He hath PURCHASED with His Own blood" (Acts 20:28).
(3)
This ransom sets us free.
"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins" (Eph. 1:7).
The word "forgiveness" here is the same as is translated "deliverance" (as of captives) and "set at liberty" in
Luke 4:18. Redemption, as used throughout Scripture, presupposes either bondage or forfeiture of inheritance, or
both. Israel in Egypt are types of sinners, and their exodus is the great type of our redemption.
(1)
Israel were in bondage (so are we by nature).
"Israel sighed by reason of the bondage" (Exod. 2:23).
"Of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage" (2 Pet. 2:19).
"Ye were the servants (slaves) of sin" (Rom. 6:17).
"Who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb. 2:15).
(2)
Israel were delivered by redemption (so must we be).
"I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their
bondage, and I will redeem you" (Exod. 6:6).
"Behold, there talked with Him ... Moses and Elias, who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease (EXODUS)
which He should accomplish at Jerusalem" (Luke 9:30,31).
(3)
Israel's redemption was by means of the shedding of the blood of the lamb.
"Every man a lamb ... Your lamb shall be without blemish ... Israel shall kill it ... and they shall take of the blood,
and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door posts ... and when I see the BLOOD, I will pass over you"
(Exod. 12:3-13).
(4)
That lamb was a type of Christ.
"Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7)
"Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
Reader, this grace is FREE, free as the air that you breathe. How do you stand in view of God's unspeakable gift?