1 Peter 1:13-25 | Behold the Sovereign Redeemer

I invite you open your Bibles with me to 1 Peter 1.

Series: Behold our God

Today: Behold Our Sovereign Redeemer.

We are going to explore God’s incredible plan of redemption, which unfolds from Genesis to Revelation. But rather than covering every chapter, we’re going to zoom in on a powerful passage in 1 Peter 1:13–25.

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:13–25 “13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.”

What is the news good news?

The good news that Peter is referring to is God’s plan of redemption. Listen to the last sentence in our Statement of Faith:

“Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.” EFCA Statement of Faith

The Bible is one story: God’s Plan of Redemption

The Bible was written over a span of 1,500 years.

It has 1,189 chapters across 66 books

It was written by 40 writers from various backgrounds in 3 different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, & Greek)

It has 1 consistent message: The good news of God’s Plan of Redemption (i.e. The Gospel: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and New Creation

Why is it important to know and understand God’s plan of redemption? It really answers the deep questions of life: Who am I and What Am I doing here?

Redemption: The act of buying someone who had become enslaved. (ESVGSB)

Redemption: God’s plan to rescue a fallen humanity and all of creation.

Show Plan of Redemption GRAPHIC

Let’s look at four critical components of God’s plan of redemption:

God’s Plan of Redemption: Purposed from eternity

God’s story of redemption doesn’t begin in Genesis 1. It was purposed in eternity. Peter says that Jesus the Lamb was “foreknown before the foundation of the world”

In this passage, God’s foreknowledge means that the Father determined, predestined to send his Son to the world in order to rescue us from our slavery to sin.

[slide] “God chose him as your ransom long before the world began.” 1 Peter 1:20, NLT

This is NOT the only place in the NT. Let me show you three more passages:

[slide] “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ.” Ephesians 1:4, NLT

[slide] “For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:9, NLT

[slide] “This truth gives [to those God has chosen] confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.” Titus 1:2, NLT

Our Triune God saw our bondage to sin: The Father purposed salvation, so he gave his one and only Son to accomplish salvation. The Holy Spirit gives new life to those who trust in Jesus for salvation.

Application: The message of the gospel tells me that I’m a worse sinner than I ever realized and I’m more loved than I ever dreamed of.

God’s Plan of Redemption: Set into motion

God acts with limitless knowledge and sovereign power.

[Slide] God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake. 1 Peter 1:20, NLT

Galatians 4:4 “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman”

OT Prophecies

The Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”

A messenger would prepare the way for the Messiah. Isaiah 40:3 “A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

The Messiah would enter Jerusalem as a king riding on a donkey. Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The Messiah would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver. Zechariah 11:12 “Then I said to them, “If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” And they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver.”

The Messiah would die by having his hands and feet pierced. Psalm 22:16 “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet”

The Messiah would be resurrected. Psalm 16:10 “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”

Our God acts with limitless knowledge and sovereign power.

On his sermon at Pentecost, Peter says, “this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.” (Acts 2:23)

Isaiah 46:9–10 “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’”

Application: You can fully trust a God with limitless knowledge and sovereign power.

God’s Plan of Redemption: Accomplished at the 1st Coming

God redeems a people for himself

[Slide] “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” 1 Peter 1:18-19, NLT

Ransom: The price paid to secure a slave’s freedom.

Psalm 49:7–9 “Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, 8 for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, 9 that he should live on forever and never see the pit.”

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus said that he came down from heaven to give his life as a ransom for many (the heart of Xmas).

John 8:34 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.”

2 Peter 2:19 “They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.”

In Christ, we have redemption through his blood. We were in bondage to sin and to Satan. We under under the wrath of God awaiting the justice that we deserve. But God… through the gospel of his grace send his Son to die on our place.”

Application: Good news for weary “redeemers.” You don’t have to work and perform to earn your redemption. There is only one perfect redeemer…

Application: Walk in a manner worthy of the gospel: 1 Peter 1:14–15 “14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,”

God’s Plan of Redemption: Completed at the 2nd Coming

God will make all things new.

[slide] “Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.” 1 Peter 1:13, NLT

4 future realities to look forward (The already and the not yet)

Restored creation

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.” (Re 21:1)

The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:18–23 “18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”

Restored perfection (free of sin)

1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Restored relationship with God

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Re 21:3)

What do I mean by a restored relationship with God? It is true that in Christ we have experienced reconciliation with God and his Spirit dwells in us (1 Cor. 6:19; 2 Cor. 5:18). This is the already. But we have a “not yet” element still to take place: we will see his face. (Rev. 22:4)

Restored bodies

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Re 21:4)

The New Testament teaching overwhelmingly teaches that believers in Christ will be given new bodies at the resurrection:

· The apostle Paul spends a whole chapter (1 Corinthians 15; 58 verses) talking about resurrected bodies.

· Philippians 3:21 declares that our lowly bodies will be transformed like the glorious body of Christ.

Sin will be no more

Evil will be no more

Pain will be no more

Death will be no more

Application: Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.

Biblical hope vs. everyday conversation hope

Everyday conversation hope (expresses a wish/desire):

I hope to go to college

I hope to get married and have a family some day

I hope to get ____ for Christmas

I hope the Vikings win the Superbowl this year.

Biblical hope on other other hand have to do with trust and confidence; the expectation of what is sure to come. (The Lexham Bible Dictionary)

Whenever the Bible talks about hope he does it with a sense of eager expectation or anticipation.

Peter wrote to a church that was experiencing suffering.

Conclusion

“All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle