I Peter 1:18-19 – “Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold (presents the fact that the most precious commodities [silver and gold] could not redeem fallen man), from your vain conversation (vain lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers (speaks of original sin that is passed on from father to child at conception);
“But with the Precious Blood of Christ (presents the payment, which proclaims the poured out Life of Christ on behalf of sinners), as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot (speaks of the lambs offered as substitutes in the Old Jewish economy; the Death of Christ was not an execution or assassination, but rather a Sacrifice; the Offering of Himself presented a Perfect Sacrifice, for He was Perfect in every respect [Ex. 12:5]):”
It is easy in ministry to fall into the habit of preaching about the Gospel, but not preach the Gospel itself. The Gospel Message is Christ, who He is, the Redeemer and Saviour, and what He did, die on the Cross for my sins as the Only Sacrifice God the Father would accept.
REDEMPTION
In Verse 18 Peter states, “Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,” presents the fact that the work accomplished by Christ on Calvary was all of Him and none of us. We play no part except as it regards sin. Man in his guilt could not atone for man’s sins. Therefore, God became Man, sinless, perfect, spotless, and blameless. He died in our place because He was sinless, God accepted His Death as a Sacrifice, with His Blood atoning for man’s sins, past, present, and future.
The word “redeemed” means to set free by the payment of ransom. This term refers to the buying of slaves in the slave market. Peter, by the use of this word, clearly states that all before Salvation are slaves to sin, Satan, passion, and self-will. No matter how educated fallen man may be, no matter how much money he may have, no matter how cosmopolitan and sophisticated he may be, without Christ he is a slave .
SILVER AND GOLD
The highest form of commerce that man values and strives for is silver and gold. However, no matter the worth of silver and gold, they are worthless when it comes to purchasing man’s Spiritual Freedom. The value of a human soul is so great, so valuable as to defy all description. The soul of man is so valuable that there is nothing on Earth that can redeem it. Therefore, God had to become Man in order that man could be bought back. His Death, His Body broken, was the only Sacrifice God could accept. “He Who knew no sin, became sin (Sin-Offering in the Greek), that we might be made the Righteousness of God in Him” (II Cor. 5:21).
VAIN CONVERSATION
This statement refers to our former lifestyle before conversion. Vain means “empty nothings.” Solomon said, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2). Life is meaningless nothings without Christ.
TRADITION
The phrase, “By tradition from your fathers” refers to the Mosaic Law, even though perfect and given by God to Moses, was taken by man and perverted until it had become nothing but tradition. The Law, even though from God, could not redeem man, but only point out man’s futile endeavors of perfection and good.
Our Faith must be placed and maintained exclusively in who Jesus is, the Redeemer and Saviour, and what Jesus has done, died on the Cross for my sins as the Only Sacrifice God the Father would accept.
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST
Now Peter tells us the only thing that can redeem a slave of sin is “The Precious Blood of Christ.” Precious means valuable, honored, costly. His Blood untainted by the Fall was pure, and it could do for man what silver, gold, tradition, and the Law could not do. His Blood was the payment, which proclaims the poured out Life of Christ, all on our behalf. His poured out Life is the only thing that could satisfy Divine Justice. The Blood of Christ is precious, valuable, costly, and honored because the Blood of Jesus has done the following for all who will say “yes” to Him.
His Blood is precious because:
1. Through His Blood we have God’s Atoning Grace.
2. His Blood has washed away our sins.
3. His Blood has given us the Promise and Power of a redeemed, regenerated life.
4. His Blood has made us Holy, Righteous, and acceptable.
5. His Blood has justified us, and sanctified us.
6. His Blood brings healing to the mind, the soul, and the body.
7. His Blood frees us from the guilt of our past.
8. His Blood makes it possible for the Holy Spirit to live and dwell in man’s heart.
9. His Blood has made us acceptable that we may now enter into the very Presence of the Throne of God.
Yes, my friend, the Blood of Jesus Christ is the most precious substance in the world. As the songwriter wrote long ago:
“What can wash away my sin? “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. “What can make me whole again? “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.”
Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart
Your Evangelist,
Donnie Swaggart
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