The Wonder Of It All Series

Series: Saved, Settled, and Sanctified

The Wonder of it All

1 Peter 1: 18-23

We have considered much in the past few weeks. We have discussed the gracious salvation we are afforded in Christ and the hope we have in Him, even in the midst of difficult and trying circumstances. We also considered the life we are expected to live before others, even when it seems no one cares or is interested in the ways of God. Maintaining our faith and the ability to persevere through adversity is difficult, even for mature believers. Peter understood that, having fallen victim to doubt and despair himself. He sought to equip and encourage the church to press on faithfully for the Lord regardless of circumstances.

This will be much easier if we keep our focus on the Lord, continually reminded of what we have in Him. Having admonished the church to carry out a difficult task, Peter again offers comfort and reassurance. Once again he takes the believer back to their conversion. As I have shared lately: if we are to endure, we must abide in Christ and His Word. These verses deal with the wonder of salvation and the great provision we have in Christ. As we conclude this series, I want to discuss the aspects of our salvation as we consider: The Wonder of it All.

I. The Purchase of our Salvation (18-19) – Here Peter discusses the purchase of salvation for humanity. In this purchase we discover:

A. The Payment (18a) – Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…He reminded the church, even in the midst of difficulty, to remain aware of the payment made to purchase their salvation. He speaks of the redemption of humanity in this verse. Due to the fall of Adam in sin, all are born in sin, and stand in need of salvation. In order for reconciliation to be made, payment had to be made in order to resolve the debt of sin. Christ paid the debt we owed. We had no means of securing payment for our sin.

The word redeemed speaks of “a ransom paid to set someone free.” That is exactly what Christ did for us. We were enslaved by sin, owing a debt we could never pay, and Christ paid our ransom. He redeemed us from sin by making the payment that would satisfy the debt we owed.

B. The Pardon (18b) – 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. Slave markets were common in that day. Many of the believers were familiar with slavery and the price required to free one from bondage. Silver and gold were often used as a means to set men free from bondage.

We need to consider the emphasis here also. Those who were redeemed with silver and gold were redeemed from physical bondage. Our redemption in Christ is much different. The payment was not with silver or gold and the redemption exceeds this life. We are set free from the bondage of sin in this life, and in the life to come. Our redemption from sin, in Christ, doesn’t end at death. When we receive Christ by faith in salvation, we are eternally pardoned from sin. He fully satisfied the debt of sin, and those who are in Christ, have their debt paid in full. It will never be remembered again, and we can never be enslaved to the bondage of sin and death again!

C. The Price (19) – But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. The price paid for redemption from sin was very costly. It was not secured with silver, gold, or other monetary means. Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God the Father, shed His precious blood on the cross for our sin. His sacrifice was perfect, without having committed any sin. Only a perfect sacrifice would satisfy, and only God Himself was worthy! Sin’s debt was paid by Christ the Lord as He bled and died to atone for sin. Hebrews 10:4-5; 14 – For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. [5] Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

II. The Plan for our Salvation (20-21) – Here we see the sovereign plan for salvation. Notice:

A. The Ordination (20a) – Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…Peter speaks of Christ and the great sacrifice He made. This was not some haphazard event that just happened. Popular opinion had turned against Jesus, and the majority consented to His death, but that was not the reason He died. Jesus died on the cross, providing redemption for sin, according to the foreordained plan of God before this world was ever created. Before Adam ever breathed life and fell in sin, God had a plan for the redemption of mankind. The Godhead knew before they ever created this world and all that inhabit it that Jesus would come to die for our sin!