How much does salvation cost?  The LORD says, “You shall be redeemed without money.”  (Isaiah 52:3).  So, why does salvation seem to cost so much money?  Why did religious merchants set up shop in the temple at Jerusalem?  Why do our churches have book stores?  Why do television and radio ministries constantly ask for money?  Why do we insist on selling the spiritual?  Wait!  Doesn’t Proverbs 23:23 instruct us to “buy the truth?”  How do we buy the truth?

Jesus said through his prophet, “Ho, everyone that thirsts, come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1 KJ2000)   Jesus tells us to buy from him without money.  But then to the seventh church he said, “I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white clothing, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness does not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” (Revelation 3:18 KJ2000)  Jesus tells us to buy from him, and yet he doesn’t tell us how to pay for it.  How do we pay for it?  How do we acquire his merchandise?

Normally we buy a thing by spending money for that thing.  But, we cannot buy truth for money.  I may buy a book with money and I may receive some truth from that book, but I bought the book, not the truth in the book.   “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” says Jesus.  Can we buy Jesus for money?  Some may think so and some have grown rich in worldly wealth by selling him, but these merchants belong to Mystery Babylon, not New Jerusalem.  We buy truth by spending ourselves, rather than money or mammon, for it.  Truth costs us dearly because we must give all we have, our very lives, our souls, to obtain it.   Man’s gold cannot buy truth; it can only buy our idols, for “their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.”  (Psalm 115:4 & Psalm 135:15)

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking fine pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. (Matthew 13:45-46 KJ2000)  Have we found the source of truth?  Have we found the way to that truth? Do we also want the kingdom of heaven?  Are we willing to sell all we have to “buy” it?

Solomon tells us to “buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23 KJ2000)  We “buy” God’s provisions by spending ourselves for them.  Then, once we have acquired them, we do not sell them; we give them away. 

Matthew 10:8 (ESV) 
    Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 

Romans 8:32 (ESV) 
    He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 

1 Cor. 2:12 (ESV) 
    Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 

Rev. 21:6 (ESV) 
    And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

Rev. 22:17 (ESV) 
    The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.