What Is the Truth?

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were . . . redeemed . . . with the precious blood of Christ . . . ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth.​ —1 Peter 1:18–19, 22

You know (not “wish,” not “hope,” but you know) that you were redeemed. You are not “going to be” redeemed; you are redeemed! The price has been paid, the Blood has been shed, and you are redeemed—spirit and body. “If my spirit has been redeemed, and my body has been redeemed, then why don’t I always live as a right eous and healed person?” Because your soul was not redeemed! Your soul has to be renewed to the Word of God in order to make the connection between your spirit and body. What you think will determine how you live. In this verse, Peter declares that you must purify your soul by obeying the truth. The truth is what the Word says about you. Since the Word says you are righteous—obey the truth. The Word says you are victorious—so, obey the truth. The Word says you are healed—so, obey the truth. The Word says you are redeemed, bought with the Blood—so, obey the truth and live redeemed! I will not disobey the Word and claim to be sick, a sinner, or defeated. I know I have been redeemed, so I will resist and stand against anything that is anti-redemption! I will allow His Word and redemption truth to get into my soul and cause me to be purified! Soon you will prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers (3 John 2).

Pastor Tom Kehres

How Is It Mine?

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. —Revelation 5:9

This is talking about a worship service in heaven; all sorts of people and tongues worshiping the Lamb of God because He was slain. He redeemed us (bought us back) by His blood. We have found He has redeemed and purchased both our spirits and our bodies. His blood was shed not only for your spirit, but also for your body! You are God’s property. When the devil tries to trespass on God’s property, when temptation comes, when the attack comes, it is up to you to resist the devil and to resist the sin (James 4:7). Why? Because you have been redeemed! You have a right to resist sin and temptation! God will not do it—you must resist the devil and give him no place! Your spirit has been redeemed! Well, your body has also been redeemed—by the same price, the blood of Jesus. When a symptom comes, when pain comes, you can resist it and give it no place in your life! Why? Because you have been redeemed! You have a right to resist sickness and pain! God will not do it—you must resist the devil and give him no place in your body! Your body has been redeemed! Do not claim you have what you have been redeemed from! Do not say, “I’m catching the flu,” or “I think I’m getting sick.” Say, “No, I don’t receive you! I am redeemed by the Blood, bought with a price! I will glorify God in my spirit and in my body!”

Pastor Tom Kehres

Whose Choice Is It?

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. —1 Corinthians 6:19–20

Because of the cross and the price Jesus paid on it, you are no longer your own—you belong to God. You (i.e., the real you, your spirit) are God’s, and your body belongs to God. Now it is up to you to glorify God in your body and in your spirit. You can glorify God in your spirit by “being filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), by letting the Word of God dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16), by building yourself up on your most holy faith, and by praying in the Holy Ghost (Jude v. 20). It is all your responsibility to glorify God in your spirit. You can also glorify God in your body! You can present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; it is not a temple for demons, sickness, sin, and stress. It was bought by God so that His Spirit could live in it and have free rein through it. The Word says, “Let not sin reign in your mortal body” (Romans 6:12)—it is up to you! “Reckon [yourself] to be dead unto sin but alive unto God!” (Romans 6:11)—who reckons? Yield not your members as instru ments of unrighteousness to sin (see Romans 6:13)—who yields? Whatever you present, let, yield, and reckon your body to be, it will be! If you believe your body is sinful and weak, it will be sinful and weak. If you believe it is broken down and sick, it will be broken down and sick. But if you believe it is holy and righteous, healed and full of God—it will be that way. It is up to you! Say no to sin! No to “tired”! No to weak! No to sickly! Glorify God in your body.

Pastor Tom Kehres

How Much Did It Cost?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. —1 Corinthians 6:20

Notice: you were bought with a price! Not “prices,” but one price was paid for your spirit and your body. The whole body of Christ believes that Jesus went to the cross and paid the price for each one’s sins. His blood was shed, and His death defeated sin in your life and set you free from your old sins and the old sin nature. We rejoice in the new birth, which was made available so we could be made new creatures in Christ. We sing songs about the Blood washing away our sins, about Jesus as our wonderful Savior, saving us from the pit of hell, and about the miracle of salvation. But not only was the Blood shed for your spirit, not only did Jesus save you from hell, but He also, at the same time, paid for the healing of your body! You were bought with a price—one price paid for all! People only sin and go to hell because they do not know that Jesus paid the price for their salva tion. People only live in sickness because they do not know that Jesus paid the price for their healing. One cross, one death, one price paid for you (a spirit) and your body! You are no longer your own—you have been bought with a price! Just as the new birth is yours, so is divine health yours! You do not need to be saved again—you do not need to be healed again! The price has been paid!

Pastor Tom Kehres