Not of Corruptible Things

If you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with coruuptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot.      1Peter 1:17-19

Peter here is the middle of his letter to his readers letting them know about living before God Our Father. Reminding them that holiness essentially defines the Christians new nature and conduct and that there is indeed a stark contrast to their former way of life before Christ. God says that the New Covenant is one of abiding in Christ, which enables the believers to bear fruit that glorifies Him. Thus holiness and reverence of God is a major part of the new believers lifestyle. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with coruptible things, as silver and gold, from that empty former life(v.18)—As obedient children not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance, that is being no more ignorant of the things of God, of His grace, of His mercy, of great love for you!. Today, there is still too much unawareness about God. Isaiah the prophet said, ” Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortend, that it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.”(Isaiah 59:1-4)  This universal truth applies to all men through out all generations, that sin separates you from God. It is a sad thing when persons do evil, but even sadder when they delight in poisoning or ensnaring others with their evil habits. Paul wrote to the Romans : For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.( Romans 1:18-19)  This is not an impulsive outburst of anger aimed capriciously at people whom God does not like. Rather, it is a settled and determined response of a righteous God against sin, and those who refuse to repent.

So we no longer live that empty life after the flesh, but now we live in the rich life that is after the Spirit of God. We’ve been redeemed, set free from the bondage of sin, set free from the slavery to our flesh. Redeemed—Meaning to buy back something, in this case, someone from bondage by the payment of a price; to set free by paying a ransom. “Redemption” was a technical term for money paid to buy back a prisoner of war. Here it is used of the price paid to buy the freedom of the one in bondage of sin and under the curse of the law (Galataians 3:13). Silver and gold have only temporary value. There’s no eternal value to them at all, only in this life. But God is eternal, so when talking of a man’s soul, your talking about something that is eternal. You cannot purchase something that is eternal with something that is of temporal value. Meaning you cannot buy salvation, you cannot earn it. You do not even deserve it, none of us do. It is a gift of God and is a work of grace. It is something that you receive, the work which God has done, through His Son, Christ the Lord. Who shed His blood at the cross of calvary as the purchase price for our sin debt which no man could ever pay. The price paid to a holy God was the shed blood of His own Son.

Beloved friend, Peter’s audience was mainly to the Jews of his day. By including himself, that we received by tradition from our fathers—he was writing about all the traditional things that the Jew is about, and even to this day is currently still caught up in. Bound by traditions is not just in their race though, many people are still dead in their sins and trespasses against God because of tradition. So what would God have us to do? Well, for starters, He would want us to always know that He loves you. And that you are precious to Him in His sight. And that you are not cheap. You were bought at a price that puts significant value in who you are as a person. You are His witnesses to everyone in this world. Let His life and light shine forth through you today. You never know who is watching you, nor what impact your life would be making in someone’s decision follow after Christ, and God’s plan of salvation.

May the Lord bless your walk !

Author: rontrujillo

Married 37 years We have six children. All of whom are adult. Three are married one of them blessed us with three beautiful grandchildren. Retired Firefighter @ Boeing Aircraft 37 years (Formally McDonnell Douglas) Born Again Summer of 1981 View all posts by rontrujillo