The Blood that sets us Free
August 20, 2020
Commentary
There were over 60 million slaves in the Roman empire at the time Peter was writing this letter. A slave could purchase his freedom if he had the money and if his master was willing to set him free. Also, someone else could pay the price, thus redeeming them, so he could go free. Redemption was a precious thing in that day. God judges all people by what they do (v. 17). We were not redeemed by perishable silver or gold (v. 18). We were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ shed for us, thus freeing us from slavery to sin (v. 19). Jesus was chosen and destined for that task even before the world was created so that we could have faith and hope through Him (vv. 20-21).
Our love for God is demonstrated by our loving the brethren (v.22; 1 John 4:20-21). It can be hard to measure our love for God, but our love for our fellow Christians can be plainly seen. Believers have experienced the new birth through the Word of God which is an incorruptible seed that abides forever (v. 23). God has demonstrated His love, and His children are to love as He does. The Word of God is eternal (vv. 23-25). Men’s hopes are dead hopes which are like cut flowers that bloom awhile and then they fade and die. The Christian’s hope is fresh and fruitful because it is a “living hope” (v. 3), purchased by “the living Christ” (v. 3) and promised in “the living Word” (v. 23). Christ’s return will be the completion of our hope as we will be with Him throughout all eternity.
Application
Is God’s love being shown in my life? To believers? To unbelievers? What examples can I give as proof of this fact?
1 Peter 1:17– 25 (NET)
17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence. 18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22 You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. 23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.