◄ What Does Colossians 1:12 Mean? ►

As members of a fallen race, we were unfit for the glories of heaven, for sin had disqualified us and rendered us dead in our trespasses and separated forever from our Creator. But through the blood of Christ, we have been qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints, by faith.

There is no merit in any one of us, and all our attempts to please God through religious strivings, self-abasement, fleshly works, or prescribed penances are of no effect, for the price of sin could only be paid for by the shed blood of the sinless Son of Man.

It is only by faith in Christ's sacrifice at Calvary that we become qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints. God in His grace gave His only begotten Son to die a cruel death as the purchase price for the sin of the world, and that alone is the criteria for the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.

It was GRACE that caused God to send His only begotten Son to be the sin-sacrifice for you and for me, but it is the BLOOD of CHRIST that cleanses us from all sin, through faith in Him.

It was GRACE that caused the Lord Jesus to stretch out His hands and be pierced for our transgressions, and it is only through His shed BLOOD that we have been brought near to the Father and have been given peace with God.

It was GRACE that caused the eternal Son of God to set aside His glory and be made in the likeness of sinful man (yet without sin). He did this so that sinners such as you and I could be redeemed from the pit of sin and death and saved from eternal separation from our Creator, through faith in Him.

We were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver and gold. We did not receive peace with God through things such as human merit, religious strivings, self-abasement, fleshly works, or prescribed penances. We did not receive salvation and all its accompanying benefits because of our vain acts, conceited conversation, or church activities, but through the precious blood of a Lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

It was GRACE that caused God to reach down to a fallen race of sinners and formulate His redeeming plan of salvation. We were bought with a PRICE: Christ's shed blood on Calvary. Therefore, let us honour God with our bodies and give Him our heartfelt thanks and unceasing praise.

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your grace, You designed Your amazing plan of redemption so that lost sinners such as I could be redeemed by the shed blood of Christ Jesus. As I look forward to receiving my inheritance, may I never forget what it cost for Him to die for me. Lord, my heart overflows with rejoicing, thanksgiving and praise, for all You have done for me. In Jesus' name, AMEN.