May

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Recently a lot of attention has been given to the increasing cost of living with many calling it a crisis. Energy prices have sky-rocketed, fuel prices are high and generally the cost of goods and services is rising. Lots of people are worried about how they can afford to continue supporting themselves and their families. Many are looking for ways to save expense and reduce their ‘Cost of Living’.

 

While these things are serious and impact us all, they only affect our physical life in the here and now. What about our spiritual lives? Have you thought about that recently? If so, you may realise this is where the real crisis lies.

 

The Bible says in Romans 5:12 

 

“by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” KJV

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Sin and death have cursed mankind since Adam disobeyed God in the garden of Eden. That same sin is within us all and has left us spiritually dead and separated from God. But, there is a way for us to be born again and have new spiritual life.

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“So what does it cost me?” I hear you ask. What is the ‘Spiritual Cost of Living’? Well, if it was down to you it would be far too expensive. No matter how long or hard you worked you could never pay the price that was demanded. But thankfully it hasn’t been left to us because the Bible tells us that Christ has paid the price in full and He is offering you eternal life for free! 

 

In John 10:10 it is recorded that Jesus said,

 

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”. KJV

 

Jesus Christ came into the world with the purpose of providing us with spiritual life, and He gave everything to obtain it for us. So what did it cost Him? Well, He had no money so He couldn’t physically pay anything. We don’t read of Him having any possessions other than the clothes He wore. So what could He give to save us from death and Hell and give us eternal life and a place in Heaven?

 

The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:18-19,

 

“…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ” KJV

 

Christ paid the price of our sin with His blood. He gave His life that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly. That means eternal life, spiritual rebirth and a personal relationship with God. When we stop and realise the magnitude of these things it puts other things in our lives into perspective. The real crisis we all face is our sin and its consequences. 

 

The Bible says in Romans 6:23,

 

 “The wages of sin is death” KJV

 

The consequence of our sin is spiritual death which means eternal separation from God and an eternity in Hell. That is why it is so important that we all obtain eternal life, it’s the most important thing anyone can ever do.

 

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” KJV

Romans 6:23

 

It is a Free Gift from God. You don’t have to pay or do anything other than have faith in Jesus Christ, the one who died to save you. 

 

John 3:16 says,

 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” ESV

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So whenever you think about the cost of living or how expensive everything is, think about what it cost God to give His only Son to die on the cross for you, and what it cost Christ who suffered and died in your place that you might have eternal life.

R.M