What does the Biblical word “redemption” mean? How was our redemption accomplished? What were we redeemed from? Who did Jesus come to redeem? You’ll find answers to these questions and more in this message.
[powerpress]
Teaching Notes:
1 Peter 1:18-21
Intro:
The word Redeem means “to ransom”; “to set free by payment of a ransom”; “to purchase out of slavery.” Jesus is our Ransomer. Under Mosaic law, if someone had to sell themselves into slavery to pay off their debts, he could either redeem himself if his finances improved, or he could be redeemed by a close blood relative (Lev.25:47-49). For that to happen, 2 conditions had to be met. The person redeeming had to be 1) Able to redeem (wealthy); and 2) Willing to Redeem. We are that slave. All men are born into this world slaves of sin & unable to free themselves. Our debts are so great that we will never be able to free ourselves from them. But Jesus Christ has become our Kinsman-Redeemer. He came to pay the price necessary to free us from slavery to sin. In order to be our Kinsman, He had to become man. Heb.2:14. Christ was both able and willing to ransom us from sin.
Peter is explaining why we should conduct ourselves in fear during the time of our stay on earth. Why? Because we have been redeemed by infinite cost to God.
1. The Power of Redemption: we were redeemed from
A. The Power of Sin: 1Pet.1:18. Futile = empty life used to live in sin. Worthless. Vain – going nowhere. Lacked purpose & significance. Inherited. Forefathers lived that way & we followed them. Why were our lives so empty? Context 1:14 – our lives were characterized by lusts that were ours in our ignorance. 1Pet.4:3. We gave ourselves to the empty things of this world. Now have lives w/ meaning & significance. Titus 2:14. Christ’s redemption is so powerful that it sets us free from the old, empty way of life, and brings us into a rich, full, significant and purposeful life!
B. The Penalty of Sin: Gal.3:10,13. Sin is the transgression of law (1Jn.3:5). If we transgress we must pay the penalty. What is it? The Curse – eternal condemnation. Christ bore for the Curse for us. Eph.1:7. Set free from eternal condemnation. We have the forgiveness of our trespasses.
C. The Presence of Sin: Eph.4:30; Rom.8:23. Christ’s redemption is so powerful because it sets us free from penalty & power of sin in this life, and even the presence of sin in the life to come.
2. The Price of Redemption:
Not Silver or Gold: this is an allusion to the Kinsman-Redeemer buying a relative out of slavery with silver and gold coins. When Christ purchased us He used a different currency.
With Precious Blood: the price He paid was His blood – the giving of His own life. Why was it precious blood? 1) Perfection of Person (unblemished and spotless – refers to Passover lambs – Ex.12:5). This speaks of Christ’s absolute holiness. He was the Perfect Sacrifice. 2) Identity of Person: Jesus is God – Acts 20:28. Oh the dignity, majesty worth of His life! It is of infinite worth! The cost of Calvary is beyond all human computation. The value of His shed blood is beyond compare! Mk.10:45; Heb.9:12; Rev.1:5; 5:9.
3. The Plan of Redemption:
Foreknown: Other Bible translates say “marked out; ordained; fore-ordained; predestined, chosen for this purpose). In the eternal counsels of the Trinity, Jesus Christ was set apart as the Redeemer. Acts 2:23. The Cross was not an afterthought. God didn’t starat with Plan A in the Garden of Eden, and then quickly come up with Plan B when Adam sinned. The Cross was planned before the Fall. God was not wringing His hands in anxiety, watching to see what Adam would do. He wasn’t asking for an all points bulletin every 5 minutes from the angels. He was not surprised at the Fall. It was part of His eternal plan to glorify His Son. Christ’s death was an appointment – not an accident. The creation of the world was necessary to create a stage upon which this drama of redemption could be played out that God would receive glory.
Before the Foundation of the World: What took place then? Jn.17:24 (the Father loved the Son); Eph.1:4 (believers were chosen); Rev.17:8 (believers names were written in the book of life); Mt.25:34 (the kingdom is prepared for believers). Christ is a chosen Savior for a chosen people.
4. The Persons of Redemption:
who was Jesus chosen to be the Redeemer of? For the Sake of You: Who? 1:1 – chosen, sanctified and obedient. Believers in God. Appeared – Christ was hidden in heaven but now appeared through incarnation. Christ had all those who would ever believe in mind when He went to the cross. Acts 20:28; Mt.20:28.; Eph.5:25-27. Christ’s death was sufficient for all, but efficient only for the elect. His death made salvation possible for all, but certain for His chosen ones.
5. The Proofs of Redemption:
The Proof Redemption Was Accomplished By Christ: How can we know Jesus’ mission was successful, that the debt has been fully paid, that the Father has accepted His sacrifice? 1) Resurrection – Rom.4:25; 2) Glorification – ascension, enthronment, given all authority in heaven and earth & the name above all names. Both prove our redemption finished. Paid in full. God accepted it in full.
Proof Redemption Applied To Us: we will possess faith & hope. To those Christ redeems, He sends His Spirit to impart faith and hope. Faith: looks back to historic events (incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection). Hope: looks forward to what is certain because of these events. Because Christ was raised and dwells with the Father, I have strong hope I will be raised and dwell with the Father.
Application:
The reason Peter tells us all about Christ’s redemption here is to motivate us to holiness and fear of God. Look at 1:17-18. Incentives:
The Power of Redemption: has set us free from our old lives of sin.
The Price of Redemption: how can we trample under foot His precious blood shed at an infinite price.
The Persons of Redemption: how can we continue in sin after Christ came and laid down His life for us in particular?
__________________________________
© Stone Bridge Ministries
Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Stone Bridge Ministries.
Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Brian Anderson. © Stone Bridge Ministries. Website: www.StoneBridgeMinistries.net
Follow Us!