1 Peter 1:17-23

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1 Peter 1:17–23 NRSV

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter Fear and Faith (1:17–21)

Peter fleshes out what this attitude involves. If he talked about God as the Father who should be reverenced because he judges his people, Peter now introduces a deeper motive for Christian conduct in the fact of redemption. The picture is of people who were in bondage but have now been set free. The concept of redemption in the ancient world applied to a variety of contexts, including the emancipation of slaves from their masters and the release of prisoners of war. In the Old Testament the picture was used to describe how God set his people free from bondage in Egypt and brought them out to live in freedom in the Promised Land. Later the return of the exiles from Babylon was depicted in similar terms (Is 52:3). Redemption generally takes place by the payment of a ransom.

1 —> 1 Peter 1:18

1 Peter 1:18 NRSV

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,

—> We had to be ransomed because of sin.

We were in bondage to sin and ultimately death.

You don’t pay a ransom for no reason.

1 Peter 1:18–19 NRSV

You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

2 —> We were bought for a high price that gives us value.

In this day and time slaves would save what little money they recieved to try to buy their freedom.

- the blood of Christ is worth more than silver or gold

-We are sinful and God the Father was willing to pay the highest price for us.

1 Peter 1:22–23 NRSV

Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

3 —> We are made right by our obedience to the truth, for the purpose of loving one another