Download 1 Peter 1:18-21 - Ebenezer Baptist Church

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God Of All Grace
BLOOD OF REDEMPTION (part 9)
1 Peter 1:18-21
INTRODUCTION: It is beyond our comprehension the love of God that drew salvation's plan for
mankind. The Father gave His Only Son to redeem us from our sins. In response to God's saving grace, we
should be motivated to live holy lives in the light of Christ's atoning death on the cross for us.
I. REDEMPTION
Three words in the Greek give us a clearer meaning of redemption. The three words together mean to
purchase and remove from the slave market and to set free.
A. BONDAGE OF THE SINNER.
Every person who has not been redeemed by Christ is in bondage to Satan, sin and death. Jesus said in John
8:34: "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." Peter describes life as futile apart from Jesus
Christ.
The sinner is held captive unable to free himself from sin and Satan. He has the sentence of death upon his
soul. He is in bondage and is in need of someone to purchase him from his bondage.
A story told by Paul Lee Tan illustrates the meaning of redemption. He said that when A.J. Gordon was
pastor of a church in Boston, he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which
several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied,
"I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?" "I'm going to play with them, and
then I guess I'll just feed them to an old cat we have at home." When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad
exclaimed, "Mister, you don't want them, they're just little old wild birds and can't sing very well." Gordon
replied, "I'll give you $2 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it's a deal, but you're making a bad bargain."
The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked
around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling
creatures soar into the blue. The next Sunday he took the empty cage into the pulpit and used it to illustrate
his sermon about Christ's coming to seek and to save the lost -- paying for them with His own precious
blood. "That boy told me the birds were not songsters," said Gordon, "but when I released them and they
winged their way heavenward, it seemed to me they were singing, 'Redeemed, redeemed, redeemed!"
B. BLOOD OF THE SAVIOR.
In the Old Testament the blood of animals was offered to cover the guilt of sinful man. In the New
Testament God's Lamb, the Lord Jesus, would take away sin from those who call upon the name of the
Lord.
1. Adam and Eve. ( Gen. 3:21)
2. Abraham and Isaac. (Gen. 22:1-14)
3. Passover lamb in Exodus. (Ex. 12:1-13)
4. Jesus the Lamb of God.
Jesus is the Lamb of God. John the Baptist said: "Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the
world." (John 1:29) Someday, all the redeemed will stand before God and sing a new song.
"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." Rev 5:9
The blood of Jesus is the price paid for the sinner's redemption. We have received forgiveness of our sins
and this should cause us to praise and worship our Lord.
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace." Eph 1:7
Jesus has obtained eternal redemption for us by His own blood.
"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." Heb. 9:12
When a large religious service was being conducted at the Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco, many
people quickly became aware that the minister delivering the main address was not thoroughly orthodox.
Although a gifted speaker, he began to direct most of his eloquence against the power of the blood of
Christ. Ruth E. Marsden relates that when his fluent oratory ended, a timid, elderly lady stood up in the
midst of the crowd and softly began to sing a great hymn by William Cowper as a touching rebuttal to the
modernist's remarks. A hush fell over the assembly as they heard those faint but familiar words: "There is a
fountain filled with blood drawn from Immanuel's veins, and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all
their guilty stains." Before she could begin the second stanza, approximately a hundred people rose to join
her. By the time she reached the third verse, nearly a thousand Christians all over the audience were singing
that blessed song of faith. The triumphant, thrilling strains rang out loud and clear: "Dear dying Lamb, Thy
precious blood shall never lose its power, till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more."
Many were deeply moved as that humble believer stood up for her Lord and with the light of Heaven upon
her face gave testimony that she had found peace through the blood of His cross!
C. BLESSINGS OF SALVATION.
The redeemed are forgiven of their sins and are saved from wrath through Christ.
"Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him,”
(Rom. 5:9).
We are washed from our sins in His own blood, and He has placed us in an exalted position.
"Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. And hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever." Amen. Rev 1:5-6
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus. “Nothing but the Blood”; Robert Lowry
II. REVELATION
A. CHRIST'S APPOINTMENT AS REDEEMER. "was foreordained"
Salvation was no afterthought with God. Calvary was arranged before God created the world and man had
sinned. God knew that man would need a Savior. Jesus was appointed as the redeemer of sinful man. The
plan of redemption was an act of God in eternity past.
B. CHRIST'S APPEARANCE AS REDEEMER. "was manifest in these times for you"
At the appointed time in the history of mankind, Jesus made His appearance by being born in human flesh.
"Was manifest in these times for you" speaks of Christ's incarnation as the Son of God. Jesus would offer
Himself as the sacrifice for the sins of man. The blood of Christ has been paid to redeem us from sin and
death.
"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the
law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Gal 4:4-5
III. RESURRECTION
A. AFFIRMING REDEMPTION. "who raised Him up from the dead"
The resurrection affirmed the payment of Jesus death on the cross for our sins was complete. Jesus is seated
at the Father's right hand receiving the glory given unto Him for all eternity. (John 17:24)
B. APPROPRIATING REDEMPTION.
The blessing of redemption is appropriated by faith. "That your faith and hope might be in God."
We cannot come to God except through Jesus. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." 1 Tim. 2:5-6
Lessons for Life:
Jesus died and rose again so our faith and hope might be in God. In this life we have sorrow and pain, but
we have a promise secured in Christ who is seated at the Father's right hand making intercession for us. All
the saved are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. Our redemption in Christ should motivate us to live
holy lives dedicated unto Him. Are you redeemed by Christ's precious blood? Trust Him today as your
Lord and Savior.