TO GINO/ WHAT A NICE ADDITION

 

RE: Gino (11 July 2013)

"RE: Patti C: 07.09.13: pearl of great price"

 

Hi Gino!

 

Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed my study and really got something out of it. I, too, used to think that Jesus had to be the pearl of great price and maybe even the hidden treasure. It is exciting to find out something new and wonderful when we actually do in depth studies on certain passages. As usual, I really liked what you had to say about works and grace and think it is a wonderful addition to my study....really brings it home.

 

Thanks again, you are such a supportive and encouraging person. I am going to include your letter again, below, because it really expands on what I tried to convey in my study.

Many blessings to you!!

Agape!

Patti C.

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Gino (11 July 2013)

"RE: Patti C: 07.09.13: pearl of great price"

Patti,

I loved what you said!

Most of my life, what I’ve heard or read, was backwards from what you wrote.

Most people that I’ve heard & read seem to make us the ones who sacrifice, in order to buy, the ultimate treasure, Jesus or eternal life.

I’m so glad that you put the perspective where it should be, that Jesus is the one who sacrificed in order to obtain what was precious in his eyes, the church.

　

Those of us who are saved are a purchased possession:

　

Acts 20:28 ¶ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

　

Ephesians 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

We don’t purchase Jesus, he purchased us with his own blood.

The way those two parables had so often been presented, was from a works salvation perspective.

It also made people feel good about themselves, that they wanted Jesus soooo much, that they sacrificed all that they had to get him.

When the truth is that, like you quoted, there is “none that seeketh after God”.

Also, salvation is a free gift to us, by grace through faith.

What you wrote is opposite to our pride.

Our pride, still resident in our hearts, our pride which is the lifeblood of our old nature, thrives on religion, especially on our works.

By nature we go the way of Cain, the deceitfulness of our old man, feeds our pride with works to either get saved or works to stay saved.

Either way, it is based on, “Look what I’ve done!”

It’s like saying, “I did everything I could, and now I’ll be rewarded with eternal life”.

Or it’s like saying, “Since I’ve been saved, I’ve done everything I could, so now I won’t lose that reward of eternal life”.

Both, however, are abominable, and opposite to the gospel of grace.

The LORD rejected that thinking when Cain first approached him that way, and he still rejects that thinking.

So, if Abel came with only innocent lamb’s blood, that was by faith.

It’s always been the same thing - the LORD only looked at innocent lamb’s blood.

Whether with Abel, or with the first Passover, all innocent lamb’s blood has been a forward looking picture of the blood of the Lamb of God.

The blood of the Lamb of God is the only thing that the LORD eternally looks at.

The blood of the Lamb of God is the only thing that can wash away sin.

　

Gino