Bought with a Price
By: Patty Nicholas-Boyte
1 Peter 1:17-20 (NASB)
17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you
Many believers in the ancient Roman world would have seen huge, ornate, temples to various gods. Their experience with these “gods” would typically be those who donate the most, or who bring the biggest sacrifice might be blessed with good fortune. Often the legal cases of the day were heard either at the city gate, or in front of one of the temples. It was very difficult to find impartial justice.
Yet, The One who impartially judges according to each one’s work is described in verse 17. Peter tells us The One true living God is an impartial judge, and that we have the privilege of addressing Him as Father. Next, Peter tells us the reason we have been granted this unique access to the Almighty is the high price that Jesus paid for us, His blood. The blood of Jesus, unblemished, spotless lamb, sacrificed for us, which is more precious than gold or silver. He was God at the foundation of the world, and He appeared, or endured all He did for our sake, yours and mine. He willingly (foreknown) paid the price for us as if we were the only person on earth.
Because of the cost, because of the unique access – we get to call Him Father, and because he chose our redemption willingly, our only response should be to conduct ourselves with fear during our stay on earth. In this case, fear means awe. To conduct ourselves with Awe of the Father, should be a natural response, but it will also be an example to others.
Peter is kind of giving us a pep talk here. When times are hard, remember who God is, remember what He did for us, and remember now, our relationship with Him.
Romans 5: 6-9 (NASB)
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God
What can we learn from 1st Peter?
· Live our lives so others will see the God of the universe through us.
· Conduct ourselves as though what we do impacts Heaven, which it does.
· We were bought with a price, not some meager inheritance that rusts or tarnishes. Act like we are worth the price Jesus paid for us.
· Remember that is we were the only people on Earth, Jesus would have still sacrificed everything for us.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NASB)
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
What questions can we ask ourselves that can affect change?
- How will I conduct myself today?
- How do my words affect others? Do I lift up and speak life, or tear down and speak harshly?
- Do my actions speak that I have been bought with a price and redeemed?
- Is there anything I can do differently so that others will see more of Jesus and less of me?