Redeemed to Grow - 1 Peter 1:13-2:3 - 04262026

Devotional

Day 1: The Precious Blood of Christ

When you visit a store like Walmart or Target, you would not be allowed to open up and start drinking or eating or wearing anything without first paying for it.  The store owns those things until you have made an exchange with a cashier.  When you do that, the item is yours to do as you wish.

You may eat what you bought (if it's food).  You can write whatever you want on it (if it's paper).  You can pair the clothing item with whatever you want.  Why?  Because it is yours now.  You purchased it.

In a similar way, Jesus has purchased you for Himself.  He paid the price that was on your price tag.  What was that price?  His death.

Death is on each one of our's price tag.  It is the price to purchase or redeem us.  Praise God, He paid our price and paid for it in full!

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
(1 Peter 1:18-19, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for paying for you in full!



Day 2: Turning Away from an Empty Life

Now that you have come to understand that Jesus purchased you in full, what should you now do?  Now that you are His, how should you, then, live?

Jesus didn't just pay a price, He purchased you.  There are huge ramifications to this thought when it comes to our lives.

First, is in our response.  How else might we respond to the redemption we've received, then by living in "obedience" to His Word?  

Second, the power the flesh had over us has been removed, now that we have been redeemed.  Those hurts, habits, and hang-ups no longer have control over us.  Jesus does!  And when we come to understand what we've been redeemed FROM our lives are open to live in abundant FREEDOM as a result!

“As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
(1 Peter 1:14-15, NIV)

Prayer: Praise God for the freedom you've received now that your eyes have been opened to all He's done for you in Christ!



Day 3: Strangers in a Perishing Land

Peter says that now that you've come to understand that you have been redeemed/purchased, you should then live as “foreigners” in the land you're in.  We're not "tourists".  We're on a path and journey that leads to a heavenly home.  

Jesus didn’t redeem you to make you comfortable. He paid the price to purchase you to make you His own. Everything about yourself is meant to reflect Him.  His values.  His teachings.  His ministry.  His Gospel.

This isn't something we "associate" with.  We ARE His and are meant to represent Him in all we do.  Respect the customs in the land you live in, but don't compromise the life of Christ as you do.

“Live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.” (1 Peter 1:17, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal to you the ways you have allowed the world to influence you more than His Word.



Day 4: Craving the Purity of God's Word

Why does a newborn cry when he/she is hungry?  Isn't it due to the hunger pangs from deep inside?

How about yourself?  You don't cry when you're hungry, do you?  Probably not.  But you know you're hungry because of the way you "feel" or when your stomach "growls".

So, how might you know when you're hungry for God's Word in your life?  Do you have a desire?  A pang?  Some sort of feeling deep inside?

Most likely, the busyness of our lives gets in the way and you don't realize you've been without God's Word until "days" have passed.  

Or maybe there's something "else" you've been “nibbling” on that has "dulled" your appetite for God's Word.  What might that be?  A hobby?  Work?  Family?  Tiktok?  Laziness?  It doesn't have to be a "bad" thing.  Our flesh knows how to distract us from the very thing that gives us life.  Don't let it!

“Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:2-3, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to make you physically hungry for Scripture.



Day 5: Rip off those Sweaty Clothes

If you've ever done any lawn work, you know how sweaty and nasty you could get.  Your clothes get wet and clingy.  It's a very miserable feeling to experience.  

When you're finished with your lawn work, you don't, then, go inside and sit on your couch.  If you do, you'd contaminate that couch with the sweat you're drenched with. No, you go into the bathroom and rip those clothes off.  You jump in the shower and get the sweat off.  Then you put on a fresh set of clothes.

Similarly, we have a responsibility to rip off the old way of life we used to wear.  The ways Peter mentioned ought to make us feel as uncomfortable as those sweaty clothes.  We shouldn't want them on us just as much.

"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deciet, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. ...now tht you have tasted that Lord is good." (1 Peter 2:1, 3 NIV)

Prayer: Pray and ask God to reveal to you the character He would have you remove that doesn't represent His heart.

Sermon Summary

First Peter presents a sharp spiritual summons built on the cost of redemption and the demand of holiness. Scripture asserts that redemption did not come through silver or gold but through the precious blood of Christ, and that reality grounds every ethical expectation that follows. The text calls for clear minds that set hope fully on grace, urging believers to abandon ignorance and refuse old patterns. Holiness appears not as a way to earn favor but as the natural fruit of being bought and set apart; every area of life must reflect that consecration.

The epistle presses for practical sobriety: minds alert, self-control in place, and hope fixed on the coming revelation of grace. Identity shifts from owner of the self to one purchased at a cost, prompting a new posture as sojourners in a foreign land. This foreigner identity reframes daily conduct—speech, relationships, business, leisure—and resists cultural comforts that would reclaim former ways. Peter lists concrete sins to cut away: malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander, and he pairs renunciation with appetite for the pure spiritual milk of God’s word so that growth follows conversion.

The call moves from theological truth to spiritual craving. Believers must not merely know gospel facts but hunger for the holiness and purity that reshape character. The evidence of genuine new birth shows up in sincere, deep love for brothers and sisters, and in a life increasingly conformed to the imperishable word that endures. The text closes with an urgent invitation: respond to the rescue that has been purchased by Christ and let that rescue redirect desire, behavior, and the course of daily life.

Key Takeaways
  • 1. Redeemed by the Lamb's blood Redemption redefines identity and obligation. The payment of Christ transfers ownership from death to God, so life choices carry new significance. This truth removes any spiritual basis for casual or partial holiness and demands a life lived to honor the Purchaser. Recognition of that price restructures moral priorities and cultivates grateful obedience. [00:24]
  • 2. Holiness follows from being saved Holiness does not secure salvation; holiness flows from it. Once grace has been received, the believer’s character will increasingly reflect God’s holy nature across ordinary actions and relationships. This is not about legal performance but about a transformed heart that refuses former patterns. Authentic faith yields a persistent desire to be set apart in all things. [13:27]
  • 3. Prepare minds; set hope on grace Clear thinking and sober attention anchor spiritual growth. Setting hope fully on grace protects against false religious habits and self-reliance while keeping the heart open to God’s transforming work. This posture fosters spiritual alertness that notices compromises and redirects desire toward Christ. Intentional mental preparation shapes faithful response in moments of choice. [08:52]
  • 4. Rid sin; crave pure spiritual milk True renovation requires ruthless removal of corrupting behaviors and a simultaneous hunger for the pure word. Cutting out malice, hypocrisy, envy, and slander makes space for spiritual growth; craving purity of scripture and Spirit nourishes that growth. Spiritual maturity springs from both decisive repentance and an active appetite for God’s truth. Growth becomes visible as love deepens and conduct aligns with the enduring word. [29:36]
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Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 Peter 1:13–2:3 (NIV)
13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. [...] 2:1 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.


Observation questions

  1. In 1 Peter 1:13, the word “therefore” signals a shift in the text. What two actions does Peter urge believers to take in response to God’s work in their lives?
  2. What specific sins does Peter command believers to “rid themselves” of in 1 Peter 2:1, and how does he contrast this with what they should crave instead?
  3. The sermon emphasized that believers are “purchased” by Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). What does this metaphor imply about ownership and identity? [21:16]
  4. How does Peter describe the believer’s status in the world in 1 Peter 1:17, and what attitude should accompany that status?


Interpretation questions

  1. Why does Peter connect holiness to God’s character in 1 Peter 1:15-16? How does this redefine holiness compared to a checklist of rules?
  2. What does it mean to “live as foreigners” (1 Peter 1:17) in practical terms? How might this mindset affect daily decisions about relationships, work, or entertainment?
  3. The sermon stated, “Holiness is not a prerequisite for salvation—it’s the result of it.” [04:21] How does 1 Peter 1:14-15 support this idea?
  4. In 1 Peter 2:2, why is craving “pure spiritual milk” linked to growth? What happens if believers neglect this craving?


Application questions

  1. “Prepare your minds for action” (1 Peter 1:13). What distractions or habits make it hard for you to stay spiritually alert? What small step could you take this week to cultivate a “sober” mindset?
  2. The sermon warned against “nibbling at the table of the world” instead of feasting on God’s goodness. [41:22] What “small things” (e.g., media, attitudes, relationships) might be dulling your appetite for holiness?
  3. Peter lists malice, hypocrisy, envy, and slander as sins to remove (1 Peter 2:1). Which of these most easily creeps into your speech or thoughts? How could you actively “rid yourself” of it?
  4. How would your daily choices change if you truly saw yourself as a “foreigner” here (1 Peter 1:17)? Name one area (e.g., finances, time, speech) where this perspective could reshape your actions.
  5. The sermon asked, “How are you honoring God with your body?” [26:39] What ordinary part of your routine (e.g., meals, rest, work) could become an intentional act of worship this week?
  6. “Crave pure spiritual milk” (1 Peter 2:2). What practical habit could help you hunger more for Scripture—even if it means sacrificing something else?

Sermon Clips

Grace comes first. God's grace comes first. It always comes first. We're reminded in first John four nineteen that we did not love God first. He loved us first. His grace comes first. No one earns God's grace. Otherwise, it wouldn't be called grace. No one earns it. If we had to earn it, then it wouldn't be free. It wouldn't be the free gift that Paul refers to in Romans six twenty three, the free gift of God. [00:09:44] (35 seconds)  #GraceComesFirst Download clip

God's grace is unearned and granted because of the heart of God, not because of how good you are. Grace always comes first. There is nothing that you and I have to do to earn God's favor. It is who God is. As John also reminds us, God is love. It's because God loves you. He imparts to you his grace, his forgiveness, all of that from him. You don't deserve it. I don't des we don't deserve it, but he offers it anyway because that's who God is. [00:10:19] (34 seconds)  #GraceIsUnearned Download clip

And it it it's wet. It's sticking to you. You have to peel it off. I'm getting I'm getting I know. I know. I'm getting there. It you know, it it it's sticking to you. You have to peel it off of your skin, and you're trying to get it off, and then it gets all up in your face. And you wanna puke. It's nasty. Rid yourselves is what Peter says here, chapter two verse one. Rid yourselves. Rip off. Tear it away. Get rid of these things. These things do not belong in the life of a believer, Peter is saying right here. [00:31:32] (49 seconds)  #RipOffSin Download clip

Because there is one thing that is assured in your life, and that is that if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your lord and savior, if you not commit yourself to him, that you are due a sinner's death, an eternal death. Jesus purchased you, redeemed you, bought you from that death to where now he owns you, where he has now rescued you, where he has purchased you to be to free you from death's ownership to where now god owns you. [00:22:56] (39 seconds)  #RedeemedFromDeath Download clip

Because now it belongs to you. But until you make that payment to purchase that pack of of Oreos, it doesn't belong to you or whatever kind of candy or whatever that you wanna eat. Right? It doesn't belong to you. We've been bought. We've been bought. We've been purchased. And but it wasn't from Walmart. It wasn't from a convenience store. We were purchased from death. Death, before you come to Christ, you don't own yourself. Death owns you. [00:22:21] (36 seconds)  #BoughtNotOwnedByDeath Download clip

Is what is it that we are craving? What is it that we are striving for? What is it that we're that we're trying to build? What is it that we're serving? What is it that we're chasing after? What is the very thing that we crave or that we desire to see see happen? And what he says is is that the keyword isn't the spiritual milk. The keyword here is pure. It's the purity of the gospel. It's the purity of God's word. It's the purity of the spirit amongst us. [00:36:23] (35 seconds)  #CravePureGospel Download clip

It's the representation of that holy character of God. I mean, we you could read the Bible all you want. You could know it. You you can you can proclaim it all that that you as you care for. But if it has not affected your character and your your personality and the person that you are, then there is a disconnect there. God doesn't want us just craving his word. He wants us to crave the purity of his word in our life. [00:38:22] (30 seconds)  #WordShapingCharacter Download clip

We've been bought. This is one of those things that we need to settle within our minds, that we need to settle within our hearts, that I am no longer myself, my own. I have been bought. God now owns me. Now if I was to go into a store, I can't just go into the store and pick something up and open it up and start eating it. Some parts of America, you might be able to do that today and get away with it. Right? But you're not supposed to do that because it doesn't belong to you yet. [00:21:28] (31 seconds)  #YouBelongToGod Download clip

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