The contributions the redeemed can be said to contribute to the price paid or to the transaction have to be imaginary. Humans are not part of the price. Christ paid all by himself.

Redeemed by Christ’s gift of himself.

Titus 2:11-15
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us,

Purified by the one who gave himself

that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

The purity of life the believer experiences is not the result of his performance. Our purity, after being redeemed from all iniquity, is the devotion to and enjoyment of the unadulterated values found only in Christ’s person.

The good or beautiful works we find ourselves engaging in are not the result of our choice, as if God has not already approved the thoughts, wishes and feelings he wants to be glorified in.

The end of ritual burning was forecast in sayings such as “I did not want sacrifice but mercy” and “You are a forever priest”. It is reiterated in the later prophets.

Here is one from Jeremiah (14:12)

When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Here is another from Isaiah 40:16, stating the insufficiency of all the wood or animals in Lebanon.

And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.

Deny Deny

The trail of denial is long and winding, disguising itself as the way of a chosen people, pilgrim people, as the global standard, and the principles that guide judge and jury. The denial of one’s roots can only end in catastrophe and in the nations of the modern era we find both the oppressed and the oppressors are busy denying their origins. With this level of denial here come old lies, shallow slogans and senility.

Divisive Diplomacy

Some leaders might just as well be senile, schizophrenic or bewitched. They lap up the vile soundbytes from the gutters of Nazism, dictatorship, and religious fantasy.
The religious people have been trafficking in doublespeak and a whole lot of Talibanism: segregating churches into ethnic enclaves, denying women and children the right to life and liberty. They want a state where biblical law (Mosaic legislation) gets superimposed on the capitalist and imperialist policies that have been the cause of every kind of evil.

A vile virus

Nationalists will deny George Washington, the House of Windsor, and the Lord of heaven and earth as long as these stand for justice that demands equal treatment of all human beings. That is the viral infection that has been allowed to take hold in public spaces.

Who is most famous for dissing foreigners?

Hey preacher!
Before we try to impress the saints with our testimony (very often it is a story common to believers) and after we have grabbed attention, ought we not to have a crystal clear story, complete with action shots, of the great and wonderful Saviour?
If there’s a different interest we ought to verify who it was that sent us.
Say, preacher! Say on!