Bought with a Price

I Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?

James 2:17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

We were bought with a price. We call him Lord but do we do what he says? We say that we have faith and that the works are meant for somebody else. Are we recognized by the fruit of our works? On that day when we say "Lord, Lord" will he know us or will he cast us out and say that he never knew us? Are we the people that James was talking about when he said "But someone will say..."? Is that me? Is that you? Are we living the life that we were called to live? Are we living like we were bought with a price - that price being the Cross? Are we chasing the comforts of this life or our we living for the life to come?

If you claim to be a Christian these are questions that you must ask. The Bible is full of warnings about people who claim that they have faith, that they are "Christians" but they do not do the things that the Bible commands them to do. And the warnings are severe. Imagine living your life, thinking that you are safe because you prayed a prayer. Imagine entering into eternity thinking that all is well because you raised your hand one Sunday morning. This is not a works based salvation. I am not saying that you must earn your salvation - the Bible is clear about that. But, what is required is repentance. Repentance. If it were possible to have faith without having that faith impact your life then why does the Bible give all of those warnings? If it is possible to have faith without truly changing your life then why the caution from Jesus himself? Faith without works is dead. Matthew 25:31-46 is another story of people who thought that they were ok when then entered into eternity.

Remember, we were bought with a price - let's live like it.