“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” See Romans 6:23.

In ancient times people did not always have coins and they certainly didn’t have cheques or credit cards. Instead of using money, they would often trade or barter. This means they would exchange (barter, trade, swap) one item for another. For example, a cattleman might give a farmer a cow or bull in exchange for hay. A carpenter might build a house for a farmer in return for vegetables and grain. Even today people barter and trade. Suppose you had a stamp collection. Your friend might have a valuable stamp that you really want and you could offer to swap some of your stamps for that one stamp.

We have pound stores where everything is a £1. Suppose you went into a store without any money or credit cards at all. How much could you buy? Have you ever seen a sign on the front of a store which said in large letters: “COME! BUY WHATEVER YOU WANT AND BRING NO MONEY! THERE ARE NO PRICES! IT IS ALL FREE!” Would you like to go to that store? Did you know that God has a store just like that? It is called the “SALVATION STORE”, and you can read about it in Isaiah 55:1. Eternal life is free and it cannot be purchased with money. In Acts 8:18-20 we learn of one man who tried to buy God’s gift with money. Was he able to do this? No one can buy salvation because the price has already been paid! The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price, not with silver and not with gold, but with His own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Have you received God’s gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23; John 1:12)?

Is this a fair exchange? God seems to think so!

Categories: Romans