Redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1. The Ineffectiveness of Worldly Redemption (1 Peter 1:18)

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"

• Meaning:
  Peter reminds believers that their redemption from sin and futile ways was not achieved by earthly wealth or tradition. Silver and gold, though valuable, are "corruptible," meaning they perish and cannot secure eternal salvation.

• Psalm 49:6-8
  "They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)"
  • Wealth cannot purchase salvation or ransom a soul.
• Isaiah 55:2
  "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness."
  • True satisfaction and redemption come from God, not material possessions.
• Matthew 15:9
  "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
  • Human traditions and practices cannot lead to salvation.

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2. Redemption Through Christ’s Precious Blood (1 Peter 1:19)

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

• Meaning:
  The cost of redemption is the "precious blood of Christ." His sacrifice, as the spotless Lamb of God, fulfilled the Old Testament typology of a sinless and perfect offering for atonement. This underscores the uniqueness and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice for humanity's sins.

• Exodus 12:5
  "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:"
  • The Passover lamb was a foreshadowing of Christ, symbolizing purity and perfection.
• John 1:29
  "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
  • Jesus is identified as the ultimate Lamb of God, whose blood removes sin.
• Hebrews 9:12-14
  "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
  • Christ's blood is infinitely superior to animal sacrifices, achieving eternal redemption.
• 1 John 1:7
  "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."
  • The blood of Christ purifies believers completely.
• Revelation 5:9
  "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
  • Redemption is universal, achieved through Christ's sacrificial death.

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3. The Futility of Tradition (1 Peter 1:18)

"from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;"

• Meaning:
  The "vain conversation" refers to the empty lifestyle or conduct inherited through human traditions, which are incapable of producing righteousness or salvation.

• Isaiah 64:6
  "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."
  • Human efforts and traditions are insufficient to achieve salvation.
• Mark 7:13
  "Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye."
  • Traditions often nullify the power and intent of God’s Word.
• Colossians 2:8
  "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
  • Believers are warned against being led astray by human traditions.

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4. Application for Believers

• Believers are called to value the work of Christ above all material wealth or human tradition.

• The sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice should lead to lives of gratitude, holiness, and reverence for God.

• Romans 12:1
  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
  • In response to Christ's sacrifice, believers are urged to live consecrated lives.

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Conclusion

1 Peter 1:18-19 beautifully encapsulates the essence of salvation through Christ’s blood. It challenges believers to reject reliance on material wealth and tradition and instead embrace the eternal, transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. This message is echoed throughout Scripture, affirming that redemption is solely through the Lamb of God.