The meaning or the original idea of “redemption” is “purchase from slavery.” We are redeemed, that is, delivered by Christ’s blood from guilt and condemnation, from the love and practice of evil. Redemption includes deliverance from the bondage of sin — sin no longer holding the will and the affection. Sin masters a man, fetters his will, and binds him with iron chains of habit, which holds him in spite of resolutions and a pricking conscience. Redemption through Christ’s blood breaks the chains and fetters and sets him free from slavery to sin.
“Ye were redeemed from your vain conversation (conduct, manner of life) received by tradition from your fathers,” (1 Peter 1:18). The word “vain” shows the emptiness, hollowness of sin. No man gets the good, which he expected by his sin.” “It is as when an hungry man dreams and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and is empty,” (Isaiah 29:8). Sin is vain; it yields no result that satisfies. A godless life is a wasted and barren life.
“The precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot” redeems us from sin and its vanity. Christ makes us free from sin, from the penalty and guilt of sin, from the love and practice of sin, from the bondage and dominion of sin. Sin’s reign had its fortress in our will and affection, but Christ’s death, His redemption, has broken the yoke and cast out the usurper; now Christ is enthroned as the rightful Lord in our hearts.
“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you,” (1 Peter 1:20). The incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ were not the result of a change of purpose to meet unforeseen circumstances; they were foreseen and foreordained in the eternal counsel of God. The sacrifice of Christ was foreordained from all eternity. Christ was manifested in due time. Christ’s manifestation — His death, His resurrection, His ascension — was all for us sinful men, that our faith and hope might be in God. We are not worthy of this unutterable love, this tremendous sacrifice, but He loved us so, and counted it not too great a price.
“Who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory” (1 Peter 1:21). The New Testament is a continuous witness to our Lord’s resurrection. The Gospels carefully record it; the book of the Acts presents it as the chief theme of apostolic preaching; the Epistles base the whole of Christian doctrine and life upon it. God, who raised Jesus from the dead, gave Him glory. It was in obedience to the Father that Christ endured pain, humiliation, and death. So, it was by the will of the Father that Christ partook of glory.
What a redemption this is which is based on God’s eternal purpose! And what a hope which goes back through all time, and finds its foundation in the everlasting thought of God! “That your faith and hope might be in God,” (1 Peter 1:21). God did all this that we might believe in Him! The resurrection of Christ encourages faith in God, a righteous Ruler, a gracious and forgiving Father. A risen Christ also awakens and sustains hope. His resurrection fills us with hope. Christ had promised that where He is there we will be, if we believe in Him. He is in heaven, on the right hand of God. Believing in Him, we have the purifying hope to be where Christ is, to see Him as He is and to be made like unto Him.
• Further reading (King James Version): 1 Peter 1:17-21. 1 Peter 1:18,19; Psalm 49:7,8; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14; Acts 20:28; Isaiah 53:3-7,11; 1 Corinthians 5:7,8. 1 Peter 1:20,21; Genesis 3:15; Micah 5:2; Galatians 4:4,5; 2 Timothy 1:9,10; Acts 2:23,24,32; 3:14-16; 4:10-12; Romans 4:22-25; 1 Peter 1:3; Romans 10:9,10; Philippians 3:10.
