Christ Before Time

1 Peter 1:17-21

Christ Before Time

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, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, 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.[1]

Salvation is cloaked in mystery—not mystery such as might be presented in an Agatha Christie novel or in a tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle—but mystery in that left to our own imaginations we cannot understand the motive behind salvation. Statements made in this text leave us astonished, questioning how they could be true. Yet, because we know that God cannot lie, we receive these statements as truth.

Consider what Peter has written. Questions are raised that astonish the most astute among us. How could the blood of Christ the Lord serve to redeem? How could He have been destined before the foundation of the world to redeem fallen mankind? How could He have sacrificed Himself for man the rebel? Does this mean that God created us, knowing that we would rebel and require His death? Did God bring all things into existence knowing that He would need to sacrifice Himself for His fallen creation? There are implications and questions beyond discovery that arise from the text. Except for the revelation of God Himself, we would be left astonished and without answer. Nevertheless, we are obligated to learn of the plan of God—a plan that was formulated well before the creation of the world. Join me in study of that plan and in consideration of some of the implications arising from the implementation of that plan.

Peter Asserts that Christ was Pre-existent — God is the Eternal God. Before ever the world was created, God prepared a plan for the redemption of His fallen creature. Almost all modern translations speak of our being redeemed in this particular passage. Indeed, the concept of redemption is a glorious biblical concept that perhaps is inadequately addressed from the pulpit today. Peter reminds us as Christians that we were redeemed, or as the text of the English Standard Version states—ransomed, and the redemption price was provided before the world began. That business of redemption (ransom) perhaps requires some attention.

Whenever you and I think of redemption, we perhaps think of exchanging a coupon for goods at a store, cashing in a bond or other such thoughts. However, that does inadequate justice to what Peter is saying. Likewise, whenever we speak of ransom, we think of perhaps being held captive by a hostile power and being released upon payment of price. In point of fact, this latter thought comes much closer to the biblical concept being presented than does the word “redeemed.”

Consider that before we were saved, we were in bondage. The unsaved are in bondage. I am not gloating, but rather I am speaking as one who once was trapped in that same slavery, though in Christ I have been delivered. That this is the case is evident from the Word of God. You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind [Ephesians 2:1-3].

That old way of life, a form of bondage to our own desires and submission to the pattern of the dying world about us, is described as futile, or empty. It had no value so far as God was concerned. Therefore, when we were ransomed we were set free from bondage to the old way of living. What was that old way of living?

For the most part, we thought that we could do something to make ourselves acceptable to God. Perhaps we thought that if we lived a “good” life, our “goodness” would outweigh any evil associated with out lives. We thought that through performance of religious rituals we would make ourselves pleasing to God. Perhaps we were determined that we would simply ignore God and declare ourselves free. Regardless of what we may have thought, we were slaves to sin. Our goodness was insufficient to make us perfect. Our religious acts could never take away guilt. Declaring ourselves to be free did not make us free. We were enslaved and if we were ever to be free, God Himself would of necessity be the One to free us.

Peter reminds us that we were ransomed. However, his emphasis is not upon the fact that we were ransomed, but rather he focuses on the value of the ransom paid. The price of our redemption cannot be measured in gold or silver, nor in any other treasure associated with this world. Rather, the ransom paid was the life of the Son of God. Moreover, this ransom was prepared before the world ever began.

In speaking of Christ as a lamb without blemish or spot, Peter is reminding readers of the role of Christ both to fulfil the type of the Passover Lamb and to provide for the results sought through the various sacrifices associated with the Jewish worship rituals—the peace offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering.

Unquestionably, the fact that Peter stresses the flawless nature of the lamb points to the Passover. Permit me remind you of what was accomplished through Passover. Israel had been in bondage in Egypt when God sent a deliverer—Moses. Moses instructed the people to prepare for deliverance from slavery. In order to ensure that they were not judged together with all Egypt, the people were to secure a lamb. The lamb was to be inspected closely to ensure that it is unblemished. At twilight on the day of the Passover, the lamb was to be slain. The blood was to be collected and some of that blood was to be placed on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the house as a sign that the people believed God. That night, the death angel passed throughout the land of Egypt, killing the firstborn son in each house, except for those houses that had the blood of the Passover lamb smeared on the doorposts and on the lintel.

In similar fashion, the Son of God was presented as our Passover Lamb, to spare us from judgement and death. This is the reason that John the Baptist cried out when He saw Jesus coming, Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world [John 1:29b]. Jesus, the Son of God, had a mission, which was to present Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind, His blood providing a shelter from judgement for all who receive it.

Just as our Saviour has delivered us from bondage, so He is the means by which all sin is forgiven and we are therefore permitted to enter into peace with God. What a precious comfort are the words that John has written for us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [1 John 1:9].

Delivered from all unrighteousness, we have peace with God. This is the message Paul presents in Romans 5:1, 2. Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Since sin is an offence against the Infinite God, any sin is infinitely offensive. Therefore, if sin is to be removed, the sacrifice presented must itself be infinite in order to provide atonement for the sin. If I will be free of condemnation before God, I must be perfect. However, I was born in sin and I am a sinful man. Though I try to live a good life, I cannot do so. Though I try to maintain the rites that I imagine pleasing to God, I cannot do so perfectly. I cannot simply declare myself free of sin, because death forcefully reminds me that I am a sinner and under sentence of death. If death reigns over my life in the flesh, how much more am I accounted as dead in my spirit! I need a sacrifice that is perfect and infinite if I have hope of freedom from guilt.

Before the world began, the Triune God met in glorious conference to provide a means of life for me. Before ever God created the world, He knew that man the creature would rebel and plunge the universe into ruin and condemnation. God prepared the world for man, perfectly crafting the earth for man’s presence. He created a sinless and perfect world for the man and the woman He created, and then He gave them perfect freedom. The Enemy deceived our first mother and our first father rebelled against the goodness of God, and the entire race was therefore condemned.

Yet, before any of these events transpired, God had prepared a Saviour—Christ the Lord. Before man was created, and long before man fell, God prepared a Saviour. In pre-adamic conference, God the Son presented Himself as a sacrifice for sinful man. Therefore, though knowing that man would rebel and plunge the race into death, God created man and prepared for His redemption. This message is emphasised with a scarlet stain on every page of the Old Testament until it finds fulfilment in the Person of Christ Jesus our Lord as He presented Himself in the place of sinful man.

When our first parents sinned, the promise of a Redeemer was presented by God [see Genesis 3:15]. There would come an offspring of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head. As Abraham trudged up the mountain with his only son, Isaac, the lad asked, Where is the lamb for a burnt offering [Genesis 22:7]. The Patriarch, in faith, replied, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering [Genesis 22:8]. Every sacrifice of every bullock, of every lamb, of every dove presented on Jewish altars, pointed forward to the coming sacrifice. It was not the blood of animals shed that freed worshippers from condemnation, but it was the faith that God would send a perfect sacrifice that secured salvation and brought peace between God and man.

Since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins [Hebrews 10:1-4].

Those are the words of the author of the Hebrew letter, reminding readers that mere ritual could never suffice to provide propitiation. However, that same author points readers to the reality that is found in the sacrifice of Christ the Lord. Every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified [Hebrews 10:11-14].

Before ever the world began, Christ was prepared as the perfect sacrifice for the sin of all mankind. Who could have imagined? Who could have thought of such a thing? God was demonstrating His mercy and His grace before even man was created. Therefore, our message is simply this. In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [2 Corinthians 5:19-21].

Christ was no afterthought—some panicked response to man’s fall into sin. Christ was appointed before the world to provide salvation. Before man sinned, God provided for our ransom. With the Apostle we cry out: Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counsellor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen

[Romans 11:33-36].

Amen, indeed! God in wisdom knew man would rebel and before ever the rebellion was carried out, a means for the ransom of fallen man was provided. Such grace is beyond anticipation, but it is not beyond securing. Anyone may have this mercy and anyone may have this grace, if they will only receive the sacrifice God has presented.

Peter Affirms that Christ was Revealed in Time — One of the earliest letters in the New Testament is Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. In that letter, the Apostle speaks of the incarnation of the Son of God and the consequences of that momentous event. When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God [Galatians 4:4-7].

The birth of Jesus Christ is a historic event. Moreover, that birth had a decided purpose in the divine economy. God presented His Son as the Saviour of the world. Jesus our Saviour came to present Himself as a sacrifice for sin. Therefore, Peter speaks of this event, emphasising that God was in control both of the presentation and the timing of the event. Christ … foreknown before the foundation of the world … was made manifest in the last times for your sake. There are several truths which merit consideration at this time.

The Father determined the time for the birth of Jesus. Throughout the Old Testament are repeated prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah. That He would be born of a virgin and that He would be the Son of God—are clearly foretold throughout Scripture. The precise location for His birth was prophesied, and if people were but willing to look, the timing of His presentation in Jerusalem as the Messiah was foretold. There should have been no mystery concerning this great event in history, though to this day men attempt to deny that it ever occurred. However, the mere fact that our calendar is divided into BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini—Year of our Lord) serves to remind us that this event did occur!

Peter emphatically states that the Son of God was manifest in the last times. Whatever can be meant by that phrase the last times? Those words are nothing less than an attestation that we are in the last times. These are the last days. Christ was presented in the last times. With the death of our Lord Jesus Christ we witnessed the transition from the Age of Law to the Age of Grace, or the Church Age. With these particular words—these last times—Peter is attesting that God has worked in various Dispensations throughout history as He systematically destroyed every excuse imaginable that man can advance in order to reject His mercy and His grace. We are in the final days before Christ shall come again.

I confess that during my tenure here with this congregation I have not spoken nearly often enough of this glorious return of Christ our Lord. Perhaps that doctrinal deficit accounts for the reason we are less than enthusiastic about winning the lost. Perhaps we believe that this life is all there is, or that what shall follow is of no great moment for us. However, Christ our Lord is coming again to reign on earth. At His return, the wicked shall be judged and all rebellion shall be put down and we who are His redeemed people shall reign with Him for a thousand years.

This truth is integral to His redeeming His people from sin and condemnation. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father [Philippians 2:5-11].

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing [1 Thessalonians 5:1-11].

Jesus spoke to His disciples immediately prior to His Passion. Listen in with me on His comforting words intended to prepare the disciples for His death. Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also [John 14:1-3].

Before the creation of time, God anticipated man’s need. At the beginning of the end of time, God’s provision for man’s redemption has been revealed. This is the consistent message of the Word of God. The emphasis arising from this knowledge is that man is without excuse. Intuitively, all people know that they are responsible to know God and to honour Him as God. To refuse to so honour Him is to continue in rebellion.

This message of divine grace is eminently personal. It is not a collective salvation that God offers. Rather, God deals with each of us as individuals—calling us individually and requiring us to respond personally. Just how personal this salvation is, is revealed in this statement by the Apostle Paul. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me [Galatians 2:19b, 20].

Christ was revealed at the beginning of these last days that He might be crucified in my place. He died because of me. I, therefore, have been crucified with Christ. This being true, I no longer live, but rather Christ lives in me. This was my testimony when I was baptised. I was buried with Christ in baptism and I was raised with Christ to walk in newness of life [see Romans 6:3, 4]. Therefore, the life I now live is lived by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. The transaction is complete at the moment I by faith believe this message of life.

My faith and my hope are in God. I believe that Jesus died because of my sin and that He was raised from the dead for my justification. I believe that this demonstrates the mercy of God for me, a sinful person. I accept that I could never do anything to merit His love and that I could never make myself acceptable to Him. Therefore, I confess that my salvation is all of grace. I further confess that because of His salvation, I have been changed from an object of wrath into a child of God, transformed by the mercies of Christ and declared holy before God who is perfectly righteous.

This is the glorious message presented in Ephesians 1:3-7. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ … has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

It is because of this promise of His return that we are taught to strive for holiness now. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation [1 Peter 2:9-12].

Peter Attests the Consequences of Faith in Christ — We who are Christian know God—He is our Father. We have been born into the Family of God through faith in Christ the Lord. We have been born of the Spirit of God. We are children of the True and Living God. Therefore, we know that God is holy and righteous. Because He is holy, we also are called to be holy. We are destined to be holy and pure before Him.

Now, at this precise time, before the throne of God, we are declared to be holy. We who are born of the Spirit of God are even now perfectly righteous in the sight of the Father. This is an imputed righteousness as result of our faith in Christ the Lord. God the Father views us through the sacrifice of His Son, and thus we are declared pure and righteous because of the perfect and completed work of Jesus the Son of God. In other words, God declares us holy because of the work of Christ on our behalf. Indeed, we look forward to a day when we will actually be absolutely perfect because we will have at last been transformed into the likeness of Christ our Lord. It is in anticipation of that day that prompts John to write the words that encourage believers to this day.

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. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure [1 John 3:2, 3].

For the moment we who are Christians are content to await His return, but we always bear in mind that we are not destined to live in this world. Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself [Philippians 3:20, 21]. At His return, our Lord Jesus Christ will transform our fallen bodies so that we are fully like Him in His resurrection. Then, just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven [1 Corinthians 15:49]. At last, we who are the redeemed of God will be fully redeemed and suited for Heaven.

For a moment, consider what it means to be holy. The concept of holiness speaks of separation from wickedness and separation to righteousness. Separation always has two facets. Many people think that if they live by a standard characterised by repudiation of selected actions they can be considered holy. However, separation from wrong actions, while perhaps commendable, is incomplete. Separation must lead us into a commitment to God and especially to commitment to finding out what pleases God.

A holy person is one who seeks to find what pleases God and then courageously does that which is pleasing to God. A holy person avoids that which is clearly sinful and that which is of doubtful value while seeking to do that which honours God. A holy person is not some sort of plastic individual, but the holy individual realise that he or she must give an answer to God and not to man. Though conscious of the impact of their life on others, they seek first and foremost to discover what is pleasing to the Father.

Though we are now declared holy in Christ and though we shall yet be absolutely holy at the return of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are nevertheless commanded to now be a holy people. Our responsibility to be holy has three bases. First, it is the command of the Father that His children should be holy. In this way, they reflect their divine parentage. Again, the children of the Living God are to be holy because they know that their Father shall judge impartially and because they also know that He is a holy and righteous judge. Beyond that, the knowledge of the cost of our ransom—when we allow that knowledge to penetrate our consciousness—serves to motivate us toward holiness.

God commands us to be holy. In itself, His command is sufficient reason for any of us to strive to live a holy life. We speak of Christ as Lord without considering that in applying that title we are acknowledging that He has the right to do with us as He wills. As Lord, He is Master over us and we are responsible to obey Him. Thus, when our Master has spoken, we are responsible to obey.

However, our God is not a cosmic bully—distant and austere, as say, the god of Islam. God is not a distant and vicious deity who seeks blood. Rather, He has presented Himself as a God of mercy and grace, calling us to respond to His love. Therefore, though He commands, we respond as does a child to a loving father. He is our Heavenly Father, and we would not dishonour Him. Therefore, as obedient children, we refuse to be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance. Instead, we are determined to be holy just as He has commanded [cf. 1 Peter 1:14, 15].

We know that Holy God will judge us, and that motivates us to seek holiness. Though God is gracious toward us as His beloved children, we nevertheless are certain that He is perfectly just. Though sin has already been judged in the sacrifice of Christ the Son of God, we know that God will hold us accountable if we deliberately sin. Because He loves us, He will not permit us to disgrace His Name nor injure our testimony. What else can the words of the Hebrew letter mean?

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

nor be weary when reproved by him.

For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [Hebrews 12:3-11].

Above all else, we realise the value of the sacrifice that purchased our salvation, and knowing the cost to our Lord Jesus Christ, we seek to honour Him through a holy life. The life of our Saviour has provided an infinite sacrifice. The import of this is that no sin need separate us from the Father, but neither must we consider this sacrifice of little worth. If we realise the precious nature of our Saviour’s sacrifice, we will not dishonour Him, but rather we will make every effort to honour His sacrifice.

Again, that Hebrew letter raises the question that is almost too awful for a child of the Living God to consider. What should one think of the individual who disdains the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified? How should one consider the individual who willing treats the sacrifice of Christ our Lord as though it were of no value? Listen to the words of that ancient author.

Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace [Hebrews 10:28, 29]

That one who has received grace would disdain such grace is unthinkable. If we are aware of the mercies of the Lord, we will endeavour to honour the Lord through living a holy life. This is the call of God. This is the expectation of the Lord. This is the desire of the Spirit.

What we can never do in our own strength, God enables us to do—to live a life pleasing to God. This is the message of life that we proclaim. Who today would be a Christian? Who today would seek to please God? The way to holiness begins with becoming alive in Christ the Lord. Listen to the Word of God on this issue.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].

This is the invitation of the Spirit issued through the cry of this preacher and through the prayers of this congregation. If you will be saved, call on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, believing that He died because of your sin and believing that He has risen from the dead for your justification. Then, having believed, permit His Spirit to work thoroughly in your life to create the life that is pleasing to God. This is the work of God for all who will call on Christ the Lord. Amen.

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