1 Peter Chapter 1 Pt. 6 The High Cost Of Our Redemption And The Glory Of Atonement

A note about the archive index containing all lessons I have posted on this blog. 

The index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021, were posted on September 7, 2022.

The index for all lessons posted in 2022, was posted January 24, 2023.

Each index lists the lesson titles and the dates each one was posted, so that you can study subjects that we have written about.

December is almost here and our thoughts will be turning to Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. 

In the archives you will find 9 lessons titled "The True Story Of Christmas, that were posted between December 16 and December 21, 2019.

These lessons are very good resources for sharing with our loved ones, the true reason we celebrate Christmas, when we gather with our families.

The cost of our redemption and motivation for serving God.

1 Peter 1:17-21  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18)  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20)  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21)  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

In our last post, we stopped at verse 17, but today, I want to include that text with the next paragraph, since they belong together.

This section connects with God telling us through Peter, to "Be ye holy, as I am holy." Motivation comes from knowing that the believer's works and service rendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, will be judged.

Where is our heart focused?  What do we value the most?

Matthew 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 

Jesus taught extensively about serving God and others. He reminds us to set our affection on the things above, on eternal things that matter. 

We must not become bogged down in the muck and mire of mankind's depravity. 

Jesus began teaching about serving God and giving us the right motivation, with the parable of the workers in the vineyard (See Matthew 20:1-16). 

He followed this parable with the parable of the two sons (See Matthew 21:28-32). 

Then Jesus taught the parable of the landowner and tenants (See Matthew 21:33-46) and the parable of the ten virgins (See Matthew 25:1-13). 

These were followed by the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30).

Jesus gave the motivation for loving and serving God first, while loving and serving our neighbors. We should be faithful, diligent workers for His kingdom, for Jesus may return at any moment. 

No one knows the hour of Christ's return except the Father in heaven. Each of Jesus' parables teach us to watch for His return, be ready for His return and to be working until He comes for us (See Matthew 24:36-51).

Thus, the mandate all Christians have today, is to be worshipping, witnessing, waiting and working for our Lord, as we walk with Him through this earthly pilgrimage.

Our sin debt was permanently paid for by the blood of Jesus.

1 Peter 1:17-19 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18)  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

When a repentant sinner turns to Jesus for salvation, he or she is regenerated by the Spirit of God. Old things pass away and a new life in Christ begins. 

At that point, the Spirit of God indwells us, and He gives us a desire to please the Father. He gives us a desire to love and serve God. 

How can a Christian rightly love God, fear (reverential respect) Him and serve Him, as we live this life on earth? 

The right motivation to work for the kingdom of God, comes from knowing what it cost the Father to secure our eternal salvation. 

Peter tells us "You know that you were not redeemed with money or by obeying ancestral traditions." 

Luke 4:18 -19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19)  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

The word "redemption" means to buy freedom for a prisoner or liberty for a slave by paying a price, paying a ransom.

When Jesus read scripture in his synagogue, He read this text from Isaiah 61. Isaiah described the ministry of the Messiah in bringing salvation to the world.

Jesus preached the gospel to those who were poor in spirit. He preached words of comfort to those whose hearts were broken and crushed by life tragedies. 

He preached a message of deliverance to sinners held captive by the Devil (See Romans 6:1-23;  Ephesians 2:1-7, Colossians 1:12-14).

Redemption from sin is obtained only by the precious blood of Christ. This is the price which God’s righteousness required.

Why such an emphasis upon blood? The Bible tells us that blood is the only substance that can atone for mankind's sins (Leviticus 17:11). 

God gave Israel's priests a system of sacrifice that would cover the sins of the people when the blood was applied. 

Each animal sacrificed had to be spotless, without defects, blemishes or illness. Why? 

Because each animal sacrificed pointed toward Jesus Christ as God's perfect Lamb, who would take away the sins of the world. 

This is why each animal sacrifice in the Old Testament, is an innocent substitute. They pictured Jesus as our innocent substitute, dying on the cross in our place, to pay for our sins. 

Hebrews 10:10-14  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11)  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12)  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13)  From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14)  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 

The writer of Hebrews also hammered this point home. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, made one sacrifice for all mankind's sins from Adam, until the very last person is born. 

It is not possible for animal blood to take away the sins of the world (Hebrews 10:4). Sacrificing a spotless, innocent substitute was God's method to cover the sins of His people, and to restore their relationship with Him. 

Offering of blood in this manner remained in place, until Jesus died on the cross, and shed the blood of God (Acts 20:28). 

Peter was a Jew and he knew the law and kept the sacrifices that it demanded. This is why he was led by the Spirit of God, to place a heavy emphasis upon the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and declared "Behold, the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world" (John 1:29).

Peter declared that Jesus had no spot or blemish with regard to the holy law of God, Jesus fulfilled that law and was found perfectly righteous. 

Therefore, He could become our innocent substitute, the Lamb of God who would take our sins away.

Atonement is a theological term that has two aspects. First is "expiation" which means to take something away, or to remove something from us. The prefix "ex" means to take away or remove, like extracting a bad tooth. 

Psalm 103:11-12  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12)  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 

The  Psalmist reminds us that if we start walking east at the equator, we will always be walking east. It pictures removing our sins infinitely away from us. 

As the Lamb of God, Jesus took our sins away from us, as far as the east is removed from the west. He expiated them forever. 

Because of Jesus' atoning work, God is for us, not against us. 

Romans 8:31-32  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32)  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

"Propitiation" is the other aspect of atonement. The prefix "pro" means to be for something, rather than against it. 

This word means that the heavenly Father is fully satisfied with the redeeming work of His Son on the cross. He is no longer against us, but is for us. 

Thus, Paul combines both expiation and propitiation in these verses. God is "for us" because His Son, Jesus Christ expiated our sins!

Behold, Jesus the Lamb of God, our King, Master & Savior.

1 Peter 1:20-21  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21)  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

God’s eternal foreordaining of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, and completion of it in these last times for us, is an obligation on us to maintain a holy walk, considering how great a redemption Jesus bought for us.

Christians believe in God and in the resurrection hope that raised up Jesus from the dead, and crowned Him with glory and honor (See Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 5:8-14).

Thoughts to Ponder...

Christmas season is drawing near. Let us reflect on why Jesus was born. 

It was not so that we spend money buying presents and putting up decorations. 

It was not to give us a reason for family gatherings.

It was certainly not to perpetuate the myth of a Santa Claus.

The Devil has used all these things to distract humanity from the true

 purpose of observing the birth of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus was born to die on calvary. This is the only way that our sins could be perfectly expiated, atoned for and result in the Father's rightful wrath against all sin, being turned away.

This is why we must share the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Now, God is reconciled to man and each sinner who hears the gospel, repents of sin and turns to Christ, shall be saved. He or she shall be regenerated and adopted into the family of God.

One day, the Father will declare that this time of gospel preaching is over, and He will send Jesus to take all Christians home to heaven. 

Then, His wrath against a sinful, Christ rejecting world will be poured out. 

There is no greater gift than the gift of salvation! Our hope is not in earthly things, but is in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Bob