Online Bible Verses - 1 Peter 1: 18 - 19 Redeemed
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
1 Peter 1: 18 – 19
Redeemed, a term which carries with it a great deal of meaning. Some definitions:
To pay off.
To set free; rescue or ransom.
To make up for.
To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of.
Why would we need to be redeemed? Scripture tells us that we have moved away from what is good; good being defined not by us but by God. From Romans chapter 3:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
11 there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
As is my habit, and I think it a healthy one, let’s apply a few of the definitions to myself. No need to get overly specific nor volunteer too much information. First one up, “To pay off”. A senior officer in the Navy once told me, upon discussing a disciplinary fix I had found myself in, “Sooner or later Ensign, we all have to pay the piper.” Accountability is reality. In the eternal and spiritual realm, I do not relish standing before God with only my own track record as a means of claiming righteousness; the type of righteousness that would qualify me to be in His presence. I would much rather have my account paid for, with assistance from One with a much larger checkbook.
“To set free”: After years spent running from the unsettling reality of who I was, stand alone, freedom seemed the only out. How could I be free of the nagging and perpetual realization of what existed within me and in the world around me? I need help from someone much bigger than I, my big brother, my dad or my coach.
“To make up for”: Compensation. Help in traversing a divide I cannot jump. A push. A lift coming from a true Friend.
“To restore the honor, worth, or reputation of”: To be viewed as flawless, despite glaring flaws. How a parent views a child.
The reality of what is in the here and now, coupled with the prospect of time never ending, points to me standing before my Creator. I believe I will need Him to love me and pardon me. I also believe He does and has.
