1 Peter 1:18–21. 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (ESV)
Even a year into the pandemic, doctors and researchers are continuing to learn more about COVID-19, and that means the list of symptoms continues to grow. Most likely you’re well aware that a fever, fatigue, cough, or loss of taste and smell could mean you’ve come down with the virus, there’s another surprising symptom of COVID that doctors have been noting: high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia. Researchers say that when blood sugar levels are high, white blood cells are slowed down and are therefore inefficient at killing bacteria to fight off infections. (https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/blood-could-sign-covid-studies-130613316.html)
Contained within the narrative of the fist Passover of Exodus 12, the Lord told Moses: “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.’ ” (Ex. 12:1–13). The sacrifice and use of the blood of the lamb was the price required to spare the life of the Israelite family’s firstborn child. The lamb was a divinely ordained illustration, and its sacrifice typified the sacrificial death of an innocent substitute that redeemed those in bondage. This Passover event immediately became the symbol of substitutionary redemption (1 Cor. 5:7–8). God further decreed that Israel annually celebrate Passover to perpetually remind the nation of His powerful deliverance of her from Egypt (Deut. 16:2–3, 5–7) and to point the people toward the true Lamb who would one day die and rise again as the perfect and final substitutionary sacrifice to redeem sinners with His blood (cf. Matt. 26:28; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 11:25–26; Heb. 9:11–12, 28).
As if to reemphasize the greatness of God’s salvation presented in 1 Peter 1:1-12, vs. 18-21 shows how believers are “Redeemed with Previous Blood” by provide believers with a theology of redemption. Peter does this by answering four crucial questions: 1) What did God redeem believers from? (1 Peter 1:18a), 2) What did He redeem them with? (1 Peter 1:18b-19) 3) By whom did He redeem them? (1Peter 1:20a), and finally, 4) For what did He redeem them? (1Peter 1:20b-21).
Believers can appreciate the greatness of God’s Salvation by understanding:
1) What Did God Redeem Believers From? (1 Peter 1:18b)
1 Peter 1:18a 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, (not with perishable things such as silver or gold), (ESV)
The knowing referred to in the beginning of verse 18, refers to the nature of sin and redemption. In order to be saved from the wrath of God, one must be ransomed. This is describing the process of redemption. Redemption is a term that describes one of the essential features of salvation. It deals specifically with the cost of salvation and the means by which God received payment. Because all people are helpless slaves to sin and condemned by the law, if they are to be forgiven and reconciled to God, He has to purchase them back from their condition. Only then can He release them from sin’s bondage and curse. Redeemed (lutroo) means “to purchase release by paying a ransom,” or “to deliver by the payment of a price.” To the Greeks the word was also a technical term for paying money to buy back a prisoner of war. God asserts his power to ransom when he declares in Isaiah 52:3 ‘You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.’ No-one can pay the price to redeem his soul from death; only God can redeem His people (Clowney, E. P. (1988). The message of 1 Peter: the way of the cross (p. 70). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
A feature characterizing the unredeemed, their futile ways/way of life. This identifies a vain, useless, and worthless existence. No matter what they may think, every unredeemed man or woman is living in futile ways/a futile life. Therefore, these previous “futile ways/way of life,” includes not just their religious beliefs but also their ethical values and actions (cf. 1:15). That they are described as “futile/empty,” by which Peter means that it was worthless, and empty of hope and value when viewed in the light of the gospel (1 Cor. 3:20; Eph. 4:17; cf. Rom. 1:21; 8:20; Jas. 1:26). (Davids, P. H. (1990). The First Epistle of Peter (pp. 71–72). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)
Please turn to Romans 1
Even the grandest accomplishments unbelievers seem to achieve are pointless from eternity’s perspective. Jesus made that clear by means of two penetrating questions to His disciples: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
In Romans 1, Paul explained the need for redemption and the folly of seeking that redemption apart from faith in Christ:
Romans 1:18–23. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. (ESV)
• All those who transgress God’s holy law (the standard for achieving eternal life) are subject to His eternal wrath (v.18). Since this is a severe realization, people seek to suppress this truth. V.19 reveals how no one can legitimately claim not to know the standard, v.20 states how everyone understands the standard, v.21 shows how people transgress the standard that is known, substituting it (v.22) for human wisdom that is actually foolishness and finally (v.23) create human religion in a foolish effort to silence the basic awareness that is known.
This process of human foolishness and substitution is not new. It is something inherited from everyone’s forefathers. The Pharisees and their followers were prime adherents to such worthless tradition, which prompted Jesus’ harsh rebuke of them: “You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men’ ” (Matt. 15:7–9; 23:1–4). Traditional religion, whether it is apostate Judaism or paganism in its multitude of forms, is a feature of sin’s bondage (cf. Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:3, 6; Mark 7:8–9, 13; Gal. 1:14; Col. 2:8) from which people need redemption. Paul’s words to Titus summarize well this total bondage of the unredeemed: “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another” (Titus 3:3; cf. Jer. 2:22; Rom. 1:18–32; Gal. 5:19–21; Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5–7). From this bondage only God can free souls. Therefore, Peter asks his readers to exchange the heritage handed down by their ancestors—whether Jewish or Gentile—for the heritage of ancient Israel as interpreted through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Jobes, K. H. (2005). 1 Peter (p. 119). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.).
Quote: The Puritan Thomas Watson rightly observed that redemption was God’s greatest work: “Great was the work of creation, but greater the work of redemption; it cost more to redeem us than to make us; in the one there was but the speaking of a Word, in the other the shedding of blood. Luke 1:51. The creation was but the work of God’s fingers. Psalm 8:3. Redemption is the work of His arm” (Body of Divinity [reprint; Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979], 146).
Believers can appreciate the greatness of God’s Salvation by understanding:
2) What Did God Redeem Believers With? (1 Peter 1:18b-19)
1 Peter 1:18b–19. 18 (knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers,) not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (ESV)
Redemption’s price was not some perishable earthly commodity—like silver or gold. But why did Peter in this context even mention those prized metals? Peter knew that, unlike the temporal redemption with money that God permitted the Israelites to purchase in Exodus 30, no amount of money could redeem people’s souls from the bondage of sin. The prophet Isaiah saw the true nature of God’s ultimate redemption of His people when he wrote, “For thus says the Lord, ‘You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed without money’ ” (Isa. 52:3). The earthly commodities are “perishable” and do not persist through the ravages of time (cf. 1 Pet 1:4). They are greatly valued by human beings but end up being vain and useless, even to satisfy in this life (Eccl 2:1–11). (Schreiner, T. R. (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 85). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Having stated what believers were not redeemed with, in verse 19, Peter now declares the means by which God did redeem them—"with the precious blood of Christ”. Peter here uses blood as a vivid synonym for sacrificial death involving the shedding of blood. The shedding of blood signifies death, the giving up of one’s life. Blood is precious because without it no one can live (Lev 17:11) (Schreiner, T. R. (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 85). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Please turn to Hebrews 10
The blood was not just any blood but precious because it belonged to a lamb without blemish or spot. Peter’s words implicitly picture the immense sacrifice the owner of such a lamb made when he killed his flock’s finest, purest, most perfect animal, the very kind of animal God always required for sacrifice (Lev. 22:19; Num. 6:14; 28:3–4; Deut. 15:21; 17:1; cf. Ex. 12:5; Lev. 22:17–25). Animals were without defect physically, but Peter’s point was that Jesus was sinless (cf. 2:22). He was a perfect sacrifice because of his perfect life (Schreiner, T. R. (2003). 1, 2 Peter, Jude (Vol. 37, p. 86). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
No sacrificial lamb or any other animal sacrifice could ever really take away sin, as Hebrews 10 makes clear:
Hebrews 10:1–10 1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (ESV)
• Christians no longer have to offer animal sacrifices and keep other ceremonial parts of the OT laws, for these have been “abolished.” In order to establish the second means “in order to establish obedience to God’s ‘will’ God’s will (see vv. 8–9) thus provides sanctification (the state of being made holy) through a different, onetime offering, namely, the body of Jesus Christ, i.e., His physical death (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2377). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.)
Illustration: Origin Of Yellow Fever Vaccine
In West Africa, in 1927, a blood specimen was taken from a native named Asibi, who was sick with yellow fever. A rhesus monkey which had just been received from India, was inoculated with the specimen. Asibi recovered, but the monkey died of the disease. All the vaccine manufactured since 1927, by the Rockefeller Foundation, the government and other agencies as well, derives from the original strain of virus obtained from this humble native. Carried down to the present day from one laboratory to another, through repeated cultures, and by enormous multiplication, it has offered immunity to yellow fever to millions of people in many countries.
Through the creative imagination of science, the blood of one man in West Africa has been made to serve the whole human race. The blood of this person makes sick people well. The blood of Christ, makes dead people live.
Believers can appreciate the greatness of God’s Salvation by understanding:
3) By Whom Did God Redeem Believers? (1 Peter 1:20a, 21b)
1 Peter 1:20a, 21a 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times (for the sake of you) 21 (who through him are believers in God), who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, (so that your faith and hope are in God). (ESV)
In this section Peter more fully describes the uniqueness of the precious Lamb, Jesus Christ. The first aspect of that is His predetermination. That He was foreknown (proegnosmenou), literally “he having been foreknown,” clearly indicates that God planned to send the Son as the incarnate Redeemer before the foundation of the world. The Father did not react to the Fall with a last-minute fix; before the Fall—even before the creation—He predetermined to send His Son as the Savior (Acts 2:23; 4:27–28; 2 Tim. 1:9; Rev. 13:8; cf. Isa. 42:1; Rom. 8:29–30; Eph. 1:5–11). Salvation for the elect of God was accomplished two thousand years ago on Calvary. (The permanent, eternal benefits are appropriated) through the active belief of individuals. Through Christ we believe in God. We confidently put our trust in God as the One who raised Jesus from the dead (Rom. 4:24) and gave him a share in his glory (1 Pet. 3:21–22; Acts 3:13). (Walls, D., & Anders, M. (1999). I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude (Vol. 11, p. 14). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
The precious Lamb, secondly, is unique because of His incarnation. The verb rendered made manifest/has appeared (phanerothentos) contains the idea of making something clear and is an aorist passive, which denotes a historical event—in this context, the Son becoming human (cf. Gal. 4:4–5, (Phil. 2:6–8; cf. John 1:14;). The incarnation in human history has come within the framework of God’s eternal purpose. (Waltner, E., & Charles, J. D. (1999). 1-2 Peter, Jude (p. 62). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.)
The phrase in the/these last times is a familiar expression referring to the entire period between the birth of Christ and the Second Coming (cf. the synonym “last days” in 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; James 5:3; 2 Peter 3:3; and “last hour” in 1 John 2:18). The Greek for times (chronon) refers to a chronological point in God’s calendar of events. Therefore, the last times/days began with Jesus’ birth as He inaugurated the Kingdom. They will be consummated at the Second Coming (Utley, R. J. D. (2000). The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I & II Peter (Vol. Volume 2, p. 223). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.)
The third feature of the Son’s uniqueness stated in verse 21, is His resurrection. The Father “raised (the Son) from the dead” in unmistakably powerful proof that He was the sacrifice for sin and had accomplished God’s redemptive work (Acts 2:24, 32; 3:15; 4:10; 13:33; 17:31; 26:23; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:20–26). As God raised Christ from the dead, we believe and expect that he will also raise us. As Martin Luther said: “Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime” (Martin Luther as recorded in Barton, B. B. (1995). 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude (p. 45). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Pub.).
Please turn to Philippians 2
Fourth, Peter reminds believers in verse 21, that Christ is unique because in ultimate, culminating affirmation, God gave Him glory. That phrase points to the ascension (Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50–51; Acts 1:9–11), when Christ returned to the heaven of heavens and the glory He had enjoyed with the Father from all eternity (3:22; Luke 24:26; John 17:4–5; Eph. 1:20–21; cf. Ps. 68:18). Writing of the superiority of Christ, the author of Hebrews referred to His ascension as the reward for His perfect redemptive work: “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9; cf. 9:24; 12:2). The glorious realities of God’s saving work in Christ have direct, personal connection to the believer. God has accomplished and applied it all specifically for your sake, so that you would live by faith and hope in God. ( VanDoodewaard, W. (2017). Feed My Sheep: A Commentary on 1 & 2 Peter (p. 45). Welwyn Garden City, UK: Evangelical Press.)
Philippians 2:9–11 assigns Christ absolute lordship over all:
Philippians 2:9–11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (ESV)
• Here we see how the Father gives Jesus messianic dominion over all creation, and everyone will one day rightly give praise to Him as their Lord. But when his kingdom reaches its fullness, Jesus does not keep the glory for himself. Instead, “the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). Even in his exaltation, Jesus remains the model of loving service to the Father. (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2283). Wheaton, IL: Crossway )
Poem:
When only a young lady, Frances Ridley Havergal saw a picture of the crucified Christ with this caption under it: “I did this for thee. What hast thou done for Me?” Quickly, she wrote a poem, but was dissatisfied with it and threw it into the fireplace. The paper came out unharmed! Later, at her father’s suggestion, she published the poem, and today we sing it. “I gave My life for thee, My precious blood I shed; That thou might ransomed be, And quickened from the dead. I gave, I gave, My life for thee, What hast thou given for Me?”
• A good question, indeed! I trust we can give a good answer to the Lord. (Frances Ridley Havergal As recorded in Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 399). Wheaton,)
Finally, Believers can appreciate the greatness of God’s Salvation by understanding:
4) For What Did God Redeem Believers? (1Peter 1:20b-21a, c)
1 Peter 1:20b-21a, c 20 (He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times) for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, (who raised him from the dead and gave him glory), so that your faith and hope are in God. (ESV)
Please turn to 2 Corinthians 5
As if to underscore an already clear truth, Peter finally reiterated for his readers that Christ’s redemptive work was for the sake of you, meaning all the redeemed. (cf. 1 Pt. 2:24, 3:18Isa. 53:4–6; 2 Cor. 5:21; 8:9; Eph. 1:6). Because of this wonderful reality, every believer gratefully and joyfully sings: “I will sing of my Redeemer; And His wondrous love to me; On the cruel cross He suffered, From the curse to set me free”. (Philip P. Bliss as recorded in Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Epistles of Peter and the Epistle of Jude (Vol. 16, p. 66). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.)
The redemption of a people who now live for Christ by living for others, effected by the power of the Spirit (3:3, 6, 18) and the death of Christ (5:14–15), is the beginning of the new creation. Paul explains this to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 5:
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)
• Christ became our substitute—that is, Christ took our sin upon himself and, as our substitute, thereby bore the wrath of God (the punishment that we deserve). He did this in our place (“for our sake”). Thus the technical term for this foundational doctrine of the Christian faith is the substitutionary atonement—that Christ has provided the atoning sacrifice as “our” substitute, for the sins of all who believe (cf. Rom. 3:23–25) (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2230). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).
Since redemption is through Him, through Christ alone as verse 21 states (Acts 3:16; 4:12; cf. John 3:36; 10:7, 9; 1 Cor. 1:4; 1 Tim. 2:5; 1 John 5:11–12; 2 John 9–11), there is no other way to God (John 14:6). This marks the exclusivity of the gospel as the only way of redemption. People cannot be believers in God apart from acknowledging the death, resurrection, and sovereign lordship of His Son. In fact, all who do not believe the gospel cannot know God at all and are subject to eternal destruction (2 Thess. 1:7–9). Since redemption through Him produces believers in God, it is obvious that salvation is appropriated by faith (Mark 1:15; 16:16; John 6:29; 20:31; Acts 11:21; 13:39, 48; 16:31; 20:21; Rom. 3:28; 5:15; 10:9–10, 14–15, 17; Eph. 2:8–9). Saving faith includes both belief in the one, true, and living God (Heb. 10:39; 11:6) and belief through His Son, Jesus Christ (John 6:40). Contained in the phrase believers in God is all that is implicit in genuine saving faith. Biblical faith or trust is not primarily something we do, but someone in whom we put our trust. It is God’s trustworthiness, not ours, which is the focus. …. The focus is not on the abundance or intensity of human faith, but the object of that faith. ( Utley, R. J. D. (2000). The Gospel according to Peter: Mark and I & II Peter (Vol. Volume 2, p. 223). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.)
Finally, the end of verse 21 reveals the ultimate, twofold blessing of redemption—so that believers faith and hope will be in God. Faith enables believers to trust God for necessary grace in the midst of life’s present circumstances, struggles, and anxieties (5:7; Pss. 5:11; 31:1; 37:5; 56:11; Prov. 29:25; Isa. 26:3; Nah. 1:7; Phil. 4:6), and hope enables belief in future grace, to be revealed for them in heavenly glory (see the discussion of 1:4, 5, 13 in chapters 2 and 5 in this volume; cf. Ps. 146:5; Acts 23:6; 24:15; Rom. 5:2; 8:18, 25; Gal. 5:5; Titus 2:13; Heb. 6:11, 19). The broader context of chapter 1 encourages us: Hang in there. Don’t waste your lives in irresponsible living. The same God who allowed his son to suffer will also allow you to suffer. He raised Jesus to glory, and he will also raise you to glory. (Through faith in Christ alone) you are redeemed. The ransom price was the life of Jesus Christ. Because he was raised from the dead, you, too, can look forward with confidence to that hope. ( Walls, D., & Anders, M. (1999). I & II Peter, I, II & III John, Jude (Vol. 11, p. 14). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)
Illustration: Shackleton Found Them Ready
While on one of his expeditions to the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton was once compelled to leave some of his men on Elephant Island, with the intention of returning for them and carrying them back to England. But he was unavoidably delayed, and by the time he could go for them he found to his dismay that the sea had frozen over and his men were cut off. Three times he tried to reach them, but his efforts ended in failure. Finally, in his last effort, he found a narrow channel through the ice. Guiding his small ship back to the island, he was delighted to find his men not only alive and well, but all prepared to get aboard. They were soon on their way to safety and home. After the excitement ended, Sir Ernest inquired how it was that they were ready to get aboard so promptly. They told him that every morning their leader rolled up his sleeping bag, saying, “Get your things ready, boys, the boss may come today.”
The return of the Lord Jesus to this earth is much more certain than Sir Shackleton’s return to Elephant Island. Christ’s promise to return to claim His redeemed is established upon His Word and His character. It is still “the blessed hope” of all who love Him—a hope that will not fail.
