Understanding Redemption: The Cost and Call of Christ

 

Summary

In the first chapter of Peter's epistle, we are reminded of the profound truth of our redemption through the precious blood of Christ. This redemption is not achieved through perishable things like silver or gold, but through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb without blemish or spot. This passage calls us to reflect on the vastness and glory of God's plan of redemption, a theme so grand that even the angels in heaven are eager to understand it. As believers, we are invited to delve into this mystery, recognizing that our salvation is not just a theological concept but a personal reality that tests and defines our faith.

Peter's message is not just for theologians or church leaders but for every believer, regardless of their status or background. It challenges us to examine our understanding of salvation and our anticipation of eternal glory. The essence of being a Christian is not merely about singing songs of praise but about truly understanding and living out the reality of our redemption. This involves acknowledging our natural state of sin and the need for deliverance, which can only be achieved through Christ's sacrifice.

The sermon emphasizes that our greatest need is not just moral guidance or encouragement but a complete deliverance from the bondage of sin. This deliverance is made possible through the ransom paid by Christ's blood, a concept deeply rooted in the imagery of the Old Testament sacrifices. The blood of Christ is the ultimate ransom, setting us free from the slavery of sin, the condemnation of the law, and the tyranny of the devil.

Understanding this redemption leads us to a life of gratitude and devotion. It compels us to live not for ourselves but for Christ, who purchased our freedom at the highest cost. This profound truth should evoke a response of worship and a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly.

Key Takeaways:

- Redemption through Christ is not a mere theological concept but a personal reality that tests our faith. It challenges us to examine our understanding of salvation and our anticipation of eternal glory. True Christianity involves a deep understanding of our redemption and living out its reality. [04:24]

- Our greatest need is not just moral guidance or encouragement but a complete deliverance from the bondage of sin. This deliverance is made possible through the ransom paid by Christ's blood, setting us free from sin, the law, and the devil. [09:05]

- The imagery of the Lamb in the Old Testament sacrifices prefigures Christ's ultimate sacrifice. His blood is the ultimate ransom, fulfilling the requirement for our redemption and setting us free from the slavery of sin. [31:19]

- Understanding our redemption leads to a life of gratitude and devotion. It compels us to live not for ourselves but for Christ, who purchased our freedom at the highest cost. This truth should evoke worship and a commitment to follow Him. [51:57]

- The love of God is demonstrated in the sacrifice of Christ. It is a holy, pure, and just love that planned our redemption through the death of His Son. This love is beyond human comprehension and calls us to respond with faith and obedience. [47:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to 1 Peter
- [01:10] - The Vastness of Redemption
- [02:26] - Singing the Song of Moses and the Lamb
- [03:33] - The Test of True Knowledge
- [04:54] - The Christian's Anticipation
- [06:30] - The Need for Deliverance
- [07:53] - The Precious Blood of Christ
- [09:05] - Understanding Redemption
- [11:57] - Slavery to Sin
- [17:19] - Slavery to the Law
- [21:29] - Slavery to the Devil
- [24:08] - The Concept of Ransom
- [30:24] - The Heart of the Gospel
- [38:17] - The Lamb of God
- [45:58] - The Glory of Redemption
- [51:04] - The Call to Believe

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1 Peter 1:18-20

Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Peter 1:18-20, what are believers redeemed from, and what is the means of this redemption?
2. How does the sermon describe the significance of the "precious blood of Christ" in the context of redemption? [30:24]
3. What imagery from the Old Testament is used to explain Christ's sacrifice, and how does it relate to the concept of redemption? [31:19]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the sermon emphasize that redemption is not achieved through "corruptible things" like silver and gold? What does this imply about the nature of our salvation? [28:09]
2. How does understanding our redemption through Christ's sacrifice challenge our perception of sin and deliverance? [09:05]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the love of God is demonstrated through the sacrifice of Christ? How does this understanding affect our view of God's character? [47:08]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal understanding of redemption. How does recognizing it as a personal reality, rather than just a theological concept, impact your daily life and faith? [04:24]
2. The sermon highlights our need for complete deliverance from sin. What steps can you take to acknowledge and address areas in your life where you feel enslaved by sin? [09:05]
3. Consider the imagery of the Lamb in the Old Testament sacrifices. How does this deepen your appreciation for Christ's ultimate sacrifice, and how can this understanding influence your worship? [31:19]
4. The sermon calls us to live a life of gratitude and devotion. What are some practical ways you can express gratitude for your redemption in your daily actions and decisions? [51:57]
5. How does the understanding of God's love, as demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice, challenge you to respond with faith and obedience in your current circumstances? [47:08]
6. Reflect on the idea that our greatest need is deliverance from sin. How can this perspective shape your prayers and interactions with others who may not yet understand this need? [09:05]
7. The sermon suggests that true Christianity involves living out the reality of our redemption. What specific changes can you make in your life to align more closely with this calling? [04:24]

Devotional

Day 1: Redemption as a Personal Reality
Redemption through Christ is not just a theological concept but a personal reality that tests and defines our faith. It challenges believers to examine their understanding of salvation and their anticipation of eternal glory. True Christianity involves a deep understanding of our redemption and living out its reality. This means acknowledging our natural state of sin and the need for deliverance, which can only be achieved through Christ's sacrifice. As believers, we are called to delve into this mystery, recognizing that our salvation is not just a theological concept but a personal reality that tests and defines our faith. [04:24]

1 Peter 1:18-19 (ESV): "knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot."

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your understanding of redemption as a personal reality in your life today?


Day 2: Deliverance from the Bondage of Sin
Our greatest need is not just moral guidance or encouragement but a complete deliverance from the bondage of sin. This deliverance is made possible through the ransom paid by Christ's blood, setting us free from sin, the law, and the devil. The imagery of the Lamb in the Old Testament sacrifices prefigures Christ's ultimate sacrifice. His blood is the ultimate ransom, fulfilling the requirement for our redemption and setting us free from the slavery of sin. This profound truth should evoke a response of worship and a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly. [09:05]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you feel is still in bondage to sin, and how can you seek Christ's deliverance in that area today?


Day 3: The Ultimate Ransom
The imagery of the Lamb in the Old Testament sacrifices prefigures Christ's ultimate sacrifice. His blood is the ultimate ransom, fulfilling the requirement for our redemption and setting us free from the slavery of sin. Understanding this redemption leads us to a life of gratitude and devotion. It compels us to live not for ourselves but for Christ, who purchased our freedom at the highest cost. This truth should evoke worship and a commitment to follow Him. [31:19]

Hebrews 9:12 (ESV): "He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption."

Reflection: How can you express gratitude today for the ultimate ransom paid by Christ, and what steps can you take to live a life devoted to Him?


Day 4: Living a Life of Gratitude and Devotion
Understanding our redemption leads to a life of gratitude and devotion. It compels us to live not for ourselves but for Christ, who purchased our freedom at the highest cost. This profound truth should evoke a response of worship and a commitment to follow Him wholeheartedly. The love of God is demonstrated in the sacrifice of Christ. It is a holy, pure, and just love that planned our redemption through the death of His Son. This love is beyond human comprehension and calls us to respond with faith and obedience. [51:57]

2 Corinthians 5:15 (ESV): "and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can demonstrate your gratitude and devotion to Christ in your daily life today?


Day 5: Responding to God's Love with Faith and Obedience
The love of God is demonstrated in the sacrifice of Christ. It is a holy, pure, and just love that planned our redemption through the death of His Son. This love is beyond human comprehension and calls us to respond with faith and obedience. Understanding this redemption leads us to a life of gratitude and devotion. It compels us to live not for ourselves but for Christ, who purchased our freedom at the highest cost. This truth should evoke worship and a commitment to follow Him. [47:08]

1 John 4:9-10 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

Reflection: How can you actively respond to God's love with faith and obedience in a specific area of your life today?

Quotes



In the first chapter of the first Epistle of Peter, for as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation with received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. [00:16:48]

It's almost impossible to stop reading the moment you start reading these great and moving and glorious Words which are here written for us by the Apostle. You see, it's all one great theme, and what we've been doing now for a number of Sunday evenings is to look at different aspects of this theme. [00:65:43]

The Apostle here is giving us a display of the Gospel. It's a great enunciation of the Gospel in its various parts, as I say, yes, but it's also another thing. It is something that tests us as we listen to it all along. Every definition of it becomes a test. [00:203:12]

We have seen that this gospel tells us something about our state and condition by Nature, the sort of life we live, our vain conversation received by tradition from our fathers. We've seen that we have also seen that our whole position is a very precarious one because we are face to face with a God who judgeth every man according to his works. [00:324:88]

Our greatest need of all in this world is the need of knowing God that we may receive the blessings that he alone can give us. Well now then here arises the great question, how can we get into that position where we know God as our father and begin to receive some of the blessings? [00:376:44]

Before you were redeemed, you were not in that position. You have been redeemed. You are therefore in the you call upon the father now because you have been redeemed. If you hadn't been redeemed, you couldn't do it. Therefore, I say the first thing we are told about men as he is by nature in this world is that he needs to be redeemed. [00:510:52]

Our fundamental need as men and women born into this world in sin is not to be helped nor to be encouraged. It is to be delivered. You see, it is because so many have never understood that they need first and foremost to be set free, to be delivered from a bondage that they've never understood. [00:554:39]

The position is not merely that men do certain things that are wrong. The terrible thing is that their whole condition and position is one of slavery. Now that is the teaching of the Bible everywhere. Let me give you some of these indications of it in the Biblical teaching. [00:779:63]

We are not only slaves to sin, we are slaves of the law of God. We are under the law and under the Dominion of the law. What does this mean? Well, it means this, that whether we like it or not, there is a law of God, and we all know about it, and it makes things worse for us instead of better. [00:1049:24]

We are all in a great castle, and there's a mighty wall surrounding us, and we're allowed to walk back and forth in the grounds of the castle, and some fools think they're free because they can walk about. You try getting out if you can. You try to scale the walls and get Freedom. [00:1341:48]

The precious blood of Christ, a of a lamb without blemish and without spot. You know, that's the gospel. This is the heart of the Gospel. This is Christianity, that we know God and are reconciled to him and become his children and begin to receive His blessings for one thing only and for one reason only. [00:1829:88]

The love of God is Holy, it's pure, it's clean, it's righteous, it's just, it's Heavenly, it's precious. It means this, you see, not that God do some eternal OG is gloating over man in sin and delighting in punishing him. No, no, God has mercy and compassion and love even to this extent. [00:2831:11]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from May 25, 2017. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?