You Have Been Redeemed

Read: 1 Peter 1:17–25.

PRAY

-When you realize how much something cost, you begin to treat it differently.

-If someone gives you a free meal, you’re thankful. But if someone gives you a gift that cost them everything — their time, their sweat, their life — you treasure it.

-That’s what Peter is reminding the church in these verses. He’s saying: You’ve been redeemed — bought with the precious blood of Christ. So now, live like it.

While i was unpacking and praying through this scripture this week, I kept coming back to a couple of phrases that were sticking out to me and i feel like we need to unpack them.

The first is:

1. The Father Judges Impartially (v.17a)

-Peter begins by reminding us of a truth we don’t like to hold together: God is both Father and Judge.

-We love the idea of God as our Father — approachable, compassionate, patient, welcoming.

-But Peter says that same Father is also the Judge who evaluates each one’s work impartially.

-He doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t let anyone slide. He doesn’t adjust His standards depending on who’s standing before Him.

Romans 2:11 says the same thing: “For there is no favoritism with God.”

-This means that the Judge of the universe isn’t bribed, swayed by status, impressed by reputation, or softened by excuses.

-His justice is perfect. And His judgment is right.

But This Makes Us Uncomfortable

-If we’re honest, this is where many Christians — and many skeptics — wrestle deeply: How can God be all good, all knowing, and all loving… and still judge people?

-Its important to remember:

A good Father disciplines.

A loving Father holds His children accountable.

A wise Father doesn’t ignore wrongful behavior just because He loves the person who did it.

Yet we still struggle with God’s judgment for a few reasons:

1. We Confuse God’s Judgment With Human Judgment

Human judgment is often:

biased

inconsistent

emotional

limited in information

influenced by favoritism, culture, or personal history

-So when we hear “God judges,” we assume He judges like we do — harshly or unfairly.

-But He doesn’t. God sees the heart perfectly. He knows motives, intentions, wounds, temptations, thoughts, and the full story.

-He judges with complete knowledge, complete justice, and complete love. Not one of those ever contradicts the other.

2. We Prefer God as Comforter, Not as King

-Culturally, we want a God who comforts but doesn’t correct. A God who blesses but doesn’t rule. A God who saves but never evaluates.

-But a God who never judges isn’t loving — He’s indifferent. Indifference is the opposite of love.

-If God never judged evil,

child abuse would go unanswered,

genocide would go unanswered,

betrayal, hatred, violence, oppression — unanswered.

-A God who never judges is not a God worthy of worship. He would be passive in the face of evil. Judgment is actually proof of God’s goodness.

3. We Underestimate the Seriousness of Sin

-We compare ourselves to others and say:

“At least I’m not as bad as them.”

“I make mistakes, but I’m a good person.”

“God knows my heart.”

-Yes — and Scripture says the heart is deceitful. such as Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable—who can understand it?”

-Jesus himself tell us in Mark 7:21–23 “For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.””

-We see small sins; God sees the ripple effect. We see moments; God sees eternity.

-Sin is not just breaking a rule — it’s breaking relationship.

-It’s rejecting God’s kingship. It’s choosing our way over His. It’s destructive to us and to the people around us.

-God doesn’t judge because He is cruel. He judges because sin destroys, and God loves us too much to leave us there.

4. We Forget That Being God’s Child Doesn’t Remove Accountability — It Increases It

-A child in a loving family isn’t less accountable — they’re more accountable.

-They carry the family name. They reflect the character of their father. They aren’t held to a lower standard — they’re called to a higher one.

-And this is actually what makes judgment good for the believer: God isn’t judging to destroy you — He’s judging to restore you, refine you, and reward you.

-A Father judges to:

correct

protect

mature

strengthen

make His children more like Him

-Judgment is part of God’s love, not in conflict with it.

5. Ultimately, God’s Judgment Was Already Poured Out… on Christ

-This is where the gospel gives us balance: God’s love and God’s justice met perfectly at the cross.

-The judgment our sin deserved fell on Jesus. The love we don’t deserve flows to us through Jesus.

-So when Peter says, “God judges impartially,” he’s also saying:

-“If you want to know what God’s justice looks like, look at the cross.”———“If you want to know what God’s love looks like, look at the cross.”

-The cross proves that God is:

all good

all loving

all knowing

all just

-None of these qualities cancel the others out. They are all fully expressed in Jesus.

How we respond….

-With humility.

We can’t rely on:

our background

our reputation

our knowledge

our church attendance

-We rely only on grace. We walk in reverence because God is holy.

-We walk in confidence because God is our Father. We walk in hope because judgment for our sin has already been carried by Christ.

-God’s judgment doesn’t contradict His goodness — it reveals it. -It doesn’t weaken His love — it proves it. -It doesn’t deny His wisdom — it displays it.

And that truth shapes how we live.

-Let the reality of an impartial God shape how you live and treat others. Our Father looks beyond status, reputation, or appearance; He looks at the heart.

The next phrase i want to unpack is:

2. Conduct Yourselves in Reverence (v.17b)

“Conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers.”

-When Peter uses the word “reverence,” he’s describing a posture of the heart that is almost lost in our modern world.

-Reverence doesn’t mean terror. -Reverence doesn’t mean flinching every time you think God is watching. -Reverence is not fear of punishment — it’s awe of God’s presence.

-It’s the awareness that the holy God of the universe is with you, sees you, loves you, and walks with you.

-It’s living with a deep sense that God matters — and therefore, everything in your life matters.

1. Reverence Is a Deep Awareness of God’s Holiness and Nearness

-Holiness means God is completely other — completely pure — completely unlike anything else.

-Nearness means that the God who is completely holy chooses to get close to His people.

-Reverence is holding those two truths together.

It’s saying:

“God, You are high above me — yet You invite me near.”

“You are holy — and I want my life to reflect Your holiness.”

“You are glorious — and I don’t want to treat You casually.”

-Reverence is what happens when awe and intimacy meet.

2. Reverence Is Not Fear of Punishment, But Awe of the One Who Saved You

-Some people misunderstand this verse and think Peter is saying we should walk around scared.But that’s not the heart of reverence. Reverence is not about punishment; it’s about relationship.

-A child who fears punishment hides. -A child who reveres their father honors him, listens to him, and wants to bring joy to his heart.

-Reverence comes from knowing:

God rescued me.

God redeemed me.

God saved me at the highest cost.

-This is not a fear that makes you run away — this is a fear that makes you draw near. It’s the trembling joy of standing before someone so great, so kind, so holy, so loving that your soul can’t help but bow.

3. Reverence Means We Take God Seriously, Not Casually

-We live in a time when reverence seems rare.

People are casual with God. Casual with worship. Casual with sin. Casual with prayer. Casual with the Word.

-But Peter reminds us: God is not casual with us.

-He redeemed us. He knows us. He guides us. He calls us. He disciplines us. He loves us.And He deserves our full devotion, not half-hearted belief.

-Reverence means:

We weigh our words before we speak.

We check our motives before we act.

We examine our hearts before God.

We align our lives with His holiness.

We don’t shrug off sin.

We don’t treat worship like a warmup for the sermon.

We don’t treat God like a buddy; we treat Him as Lord.

4. Reverence Is Living Every Day With the Awareness: “My Life Belongs to Him.”

-When you know your life is not your own — that you were bought with the precious blood of Christ — reverence becomes the natural response.

Reverence changes how you:

speak to others

respond to temptation

handle conflict

make decisions

use your time

spend your money

treat your family

worship in church

live when no one else is watching

-Reverence brings weight and meaning back into ordinary days.

-It turns every moment into an opportunity for worship.

5. Reverence Brings Freedom, Not Bondage

-People sometimes think reverence sounds restrictive — like it limits your joy. But the opposite is true. Reverence frees you.

-It frees you from:

trying to impress people

living for approval

being shaped by culture

chasing empty pleasures

drifting through life without purpose

-When you fear God rightly, you stop fearing everything else.

-Reverence stabilizes your life because it roots you in the character of God.

The next thing Peter said that stuck out to me was:

3. Your Time Living as Strangers (v.17c)

-Peter uses a powerful word to describe the Christian life: “Strangers.” Some translations say “aliens,” “foreigners,” or “sojourners.”

-He’s saying: This world is not your home. You’re not a permanent resident here — you’re passing through.

-Being a stranger doesn’t mean you’re distant or disengaged from the world. It means you don’t fit the world’s values, because you belong to a different Kingdom.

-It means:

You live here… but your loyalty is elsewhere.

You work here… but your identity is elsewhere.

You struggle here… but your hope is elsewhere.

-Peter is saying, “Don’t adopt the values of a world you’re only passing through.”

-Think of how travelers live. When you stay in a hotel, you don’t repaint the walls, buy new furniture, or remodel the bathroom — because you’re not staying there forever.

-So why would we invest our whole hearts in a world that’s passing away?

As Strangers we should think differently about:

success

comfort

purpose

time

money

suffering

identity

morality

relationships

-We evaluate everything not by earthly standards, but by eternal ones.

This is exactly what Paul means in Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven…”

-Citizenship determines your culture — your values, your worldview, your behavior. And if your citizenship is in heaven, your life will reflect heaven even while you walk on earth.

- Strangers Means We Don’t Chase What the World Chases

-If this world is not our home, then:

We don’t chase earthly glory.

We don’t cling to temporary treasures.

We don’t build our identity on fading things.

-We pursue what lasts:

holiness

love

obedience

faithfulness

eternal rewards

people’s souls

the mission of God

-If you’re a Christian walking faithfully, at times you will absolutely feel out of place.You’ll feel like you don’t fit. You’ll feel like you’re swimming against the current. You’ll feel like your convictions don’t match the world’s narrative.

-That is not a sign something is wrong. It’s a sign something is right.

-If you feel at home in a world that opposes God, that’s when you should be concerned.

-Peter’s point is: Don’t fear the tension — embrace it. You are supposed to feel different because you are different.

- Strangers Means Hope Is Always Ahead, Never Behind

-When you’re traveling, you’re always looking toward your destination. A traveler moves with purpose. You endure the journey because you know where you’re headed.

-So Peter says: “Live with reverence during your time as strangers.”

-In other words: Don’t build your life on a world you’re only walking through.

-Our real home is where:

Christ rules fully

sin is gone

tears are wiped away

justice reigns

worship is unbroken

joy is complete

-Don’t get too comfortable here. Live with light luggage — ready to go wherever God calls.

-When we remember we’re strangers, it changes how we spend our time, use our money, and pursue success.

Lets move on to the next thing Peter says:

4. Redeemed from Your Former Empty Way of Life (v.18–19)

“For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life… not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.”

-Peter contrasts what we were with what we are now.

-Before Christ, we lived in patterns and pursuits that promised fulfillment but left us empty. Scripture calls it an “empty way of life” because it is life without true purpose — endlessly chasing affirmation, pleasure, success, or security that can never satisfy the soul.

-It’s living for what fades instead of what lasts. Peter is reminding believers that we were rescued from a lifestyle that could never give us what our hearts were created for.

-We were redeemed — bought back at the highest price imaginable: the blood of Jesus.

-Redemption means that God didn’t just forgive us; He purchased us out of slavery to sin. And the price wasn’t silver or gold — it was the precious blood of His own Son. The Cross wasn’t a symbolic gesture; it was the full payment for our freedom.

-When Peter speaks of redemption, he lifts our eyes to the staggering value God placed on our lives. We weren’t cheap to Him — we were worth the life of Jesus.

-Redemption is costly — it reminds us that sin’s power is broken, and we belong to God now.

-Because our redemption came at such a high cost, it means two things: sin no longer has the right to own us, and God now lovingly claims us as His own. We are not our past. We are not our failures. We are not slaves to old patterns. We belong to God — bought, freed, and restored.

-This truth reshapes how we live: with gratitude, with purpose, and with the conviction that our lives now reflect the One who paid everything for us.

-A slave set free doesn’t return to the chains that bound him. Likewise, redeemed people don’t return to the emptiness they were rescued from.

Peter than moves on by saying:

5. Foreknown Before the Foundation of the World (v.19–20)

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.”

-Peter wants believers to understand that the Cross was never God’s reaction to human failure. It wasn’t Plan B after sin entered the world. Christ was “foreknown before the foundation of the world,” meaning that God had already determined that redemption would come through Jesus long before creation began.

-The Cross was woven into the story from the very beginning. This shows us that God operates with intentionality, not improvisation. Salvation was not a last-minute rescue — it was the centerpiece of God’s eternal purpose.

-God wasn’t surprised by sin, rebellion, or brokenness. He knew the full cost of creating humanity — every sin, every betrayal, every moment of darkness — and He also knew that rescuing us would require the blood of His Son. And still, He created us. Still, He pursued us. Still, He chose relationship with us.

-This truth should leave us humbled: God looked at the whole story — including our worst moments — and said, “They are worth it.” His love is not sentimental; it is sacrificial, deliberate, and unwavering.

-God’s sovereignty means He rules, plans, and accomplishes all things with wisdom and authority. His love means He gives, serves, and sacrifices for our good. When Peter says Christ was foreknown from eternity, he’s showing us the intersection of both: the sovereign God who planned salvation and the loving God who personally carried it out.

-The Cross reveals the depth of God’s control over history and the depth of His compassion for humanity. We are saved not by accident or by our worthiness, but by a God whose eternal plan was driven by eternal love.

-You are not an accident. You are part of a divine plan that began before time. Let that anchor your identity — you are loved with an eternal love.

The last few verses really reflects on:

6. How We Should Live as Christ-Followers (v.22–23)

“Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again…”

Redemption always leads to transformation.

Peter connects purity with obedience and love — we are called to live purely and lovingly.

“Born again” means a new nature, new desires, and new purpose.

Our love should be sincere, not superficial — constant, not conditional.

-Live as one who’s been changed. Let love be your mark (John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””

-Love is the natural overflow of a heart touched by redemption.

7. This Life Is Temporary—Make It Count! (v.24–25)

“All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

-Peter closes with a reality check: life is short, God’s Word is eternal.

-Everything we build fades, but what’s done for Christ lasts forever.

-When we root our lives in God’s Word, we build on something unshakable.

-Don’t waste your short time on temporary things. Invest your life in what outlasts you — God’s Word, God’s people, and God’s mission.

-Because God is impartial, live with reverence.

-Because you’ve been redeemed, live differently.

-Because this life is temporary, live with eternity in view.

Ask yourself this week:

Does my life show reverence for the God who redeemed me?

Am I living like a stranger here — or settling in too comfortably?

Am I loving others sincerely and living with eternal purpose?