Paid TO

The picture above is food artist Michelle Wibowo recreating Michaelangelo's "Creation of Adam" with about half a billion cake sprinkles. That's dedication!

A common saying among the Christian religiosity is the term: Christ paid for our sins.
Allow me to challenge your thinking. I think sometimes the words that these principles imply get compromised over time. But I really can't say that. I may be giving undue allowance to first century believers in thinking that they understood things better than we do... it's possible but not certain. I imagine things have largely stayed consistent. People who believed, believed and people who didn't, didn't.
Oh yeah....challenging your thinking. What if I told you that not only were your sins paid for but there's more: When your sins were paid FOR, your righteousness was paid TO.

Here's an illustration - There's a customer at an art studio, looking through an artists' portfolio. The collection has pieces that can either be replicated or that can serve as inspiration to produce something new. Of course, in the matter of price there's the standard idea that the cost depends on the size and scope(complexity) of the work that needs to be done. Frequently, larger orders require an upfront deposit for the materials that need to be purchased: special colors that need to be mixed or tools that need to be acquired to aid in the completed work. The balance of the payment becomes due after the customer accepts the finished product.

Now, what if the person tells the artist that he wants something of a scope and scale that this artist has never done or even seen before...trust me, as scary as this situation is, any artist would jump at this chance. Furthermore, he tells the artist that money is no object and a generous estimate would be roughly a million dollars but the customer hands over a check for 10 million dollars saying "This will cover it."
Can you imagine the effort that the artist would put into doing his best to "WOW" that customer? Precision, composition, presentation and style would be at the forefront of this artist's every waking moment to produce something worthy of the customer's generosity.

Here's The Word:

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

God had an idea for an amazing work of art and many people have a problem with God's "GOD" complex, but suffice it to say, He's the only one that can rightfully have one. God's work of art is making us part of Himself...His Righteousness. And He didn't just put down a deposit depending on our ability to perform. He showed amazing generosity in that no amount of effort on our part could compare to the price, but His concern for us wasn't getting a good return on His investment, it was to show the level of His love and desire. This surely should provoke a level of commitment in us in trying to appreciate His generosity.

Seems that so many people still understand Christianity as a prayer from back in the day plus a loving God equals "Home free".
Where's the appreciation? Where's the presentation and putting every effort into letting The Spirit bring forth the fruits of righteousness in us? Where's the real evidence (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Ephesians 5:9.
We don't put forth effort to earn this grace or to BE saved. We put for effort to appreciate His grace and to prove by the presence of The Spirit's power that we ARE saved. If Christ is your master, let Him make you His masterpiece! He paid FOR your sins and He paid TO your righteousness!


In Him,
Cros