Tag: Salvation

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Understanding Redemption: The Costly Blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

(18) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Explanation

Talk about seeing transformation happen! Jesus prophesied in a sense what he was going to do with Simon Peter in changing his name. In John 1 there is a declaration of Jesus Christ as the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Andrew witnesses this truth to Peter who hears it (Simon) and meets Jesus.

One of the amazing things to study in the New Testament is the life of Peter with Jesus in the Gospels, God using Peter in the book of Acts, and the thoughts of Peter in 1 and 2 Peter. In 1 Peter, he writes to a dispersion of believers in Asia Minor who were their because of persecution that they were facing persecution. They had been and were being transformed as well.

In this text Peter reminds them of what they already knew. They were not redeemed, a word that means bought back, with perishable things. Their sin debt wasn’t paid by things that are subject to decay. It was paid already, but not with gold or silver. It wasn’t paid by the “vain conversation”, the empty lifestyle and pagan religion that they were taught outside of Christ. The religion of their familes didn’t give them forgiveness of their sin.

So, what price was paid for their redemption? The blood of Jesus Christ was the currency of their ransom and redemption. It is called “precious blood”. It is costly, valuable, honored blood. Peter states that this blood is “as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”. He’s making the same comparison that Andrew heard, and by which he was likely introduced to Jesus Christ in the first place. Jesus is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. 

[11] For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)

He was like the lambs of the sacrificial system who were required to be without spot or blemish. They had to be perfect. This redemption has already been paid for by Christ. Christ was without sin. His blood was precious because it was the blood of the only begotten Son of God. It was precious because He was without sin. His sacrifice was the sacrifice of a Savior who had merited righteousness.

Application

Simon Peter was transformed by Jesus. He went from an uneducated, salty fisherman, to an imperfect but wise leader who was used among other apostles to help establish the early church and get the Gospel to us. His challenge to those he wrote and to us is to believe in this lamb that was prophesied, who came, and died for our sins. He wants us to live a life that endures persecution, and pursues righteousness in light of the cost of our redemption and salvation- the precious blood of Christ. He encourages us to leave the vain, empty, false beliefs of who we were before we were saved. We live a life that honors Christ because the substitutionary and atoning work has already been done on the cross so that we can live.

Response

  1. Have you heard and believed (Simon)?
  2. Are you being transformed and used by God to reach others (Peter)?

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Moses and Jesus Contrasted: A Biblical Perspective

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional2 Comments

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

John 1:17

Explanation

Here we have an interesting contrast.

We have two contrasting figures.

Moses gave the law. Jesus fulfilled the law.

Moses broke the law. Jesus kept the law on our behalf.

Paul tells us that the law had a specific purpose.

[22] But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. [23] But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. [24] Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [25] But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. [26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:22-26

The law exposes our sin and helps us to understand our death sentence. 

Thankfully we do not need to stay subject to the law for salvation. Jesus kept the law and then took our penalty so that we can have life. Grace and truth, what Christ was full of, was given to us by Christ Himself.

[20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

The law came from God through Moses. It exposed our sin. Jesus Christ came and kept the law, took our sin, and gave us His righteousness.

Application

We need to acknowledge these realities to find life in Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that we have broken God’s law. We acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and that we can only come to the Father through Him.

Response

  1. Have you accepted Christ, repenting of your sin and turning to Him by faith for salvation?
  2. Have you thanked Him lately for your salvation if you are saved?
  3. We are not saved so that we can keep breaking God’s law. God wants to change us by giving us His Spirit. Is there a sin you need to forsake?
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Born of God: The Right to Sonship Explained (John 1:12-13)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13

Explanation:

The word “as many as” is the word οσοι, and is interpreted “all who”, “whoever” , all, “those”.  Its only distinction is that they received him.  The word “power” is the word ἐξουσία.  The idea is not a power as in an ability, but power as in a “right”, or “privlege”.  Paul had just made the statement that the Jews had not received their messiah.  Here he is saying that those who have the right to be the sons of God are now that through receiving Christ.  It is a belief not just that He existed, but a belief in His identity in relationship to ours.  

This right to be born as a son of God doesn’t come by blood.  You are not a son of God by being a Jew, a blood relative of Abraham.  In the first centruy, jews believed that they were saved based on the merit of their father, Abraham.  This isn’t true.  God has no grandchildren.

Romans 9:6-7

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

This right to be born as a son of God doesn’t come by “the will of the flesh”.  You are not a son of God by pursuing after the law to deserve the designation of “righteousness”.  

Romans 9:31

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

This right to be born as a son of God doesn’t come by “the will of man”.  John Philipps said about “the will of man” here.

“No amount of parental or personal resolve can make me a child of God. My parents may have me baptized as a baby, but that does not make me a child of God; that is only “the will of man.” I may use all my strength of character to live a good life, perform religious duties, achieve spiritual goals, but those things will not impart new life. It is a birth. We are “born of God. “- John Phillips

Clearly, our right to be born into God’s family, and his regenerating work that happens when we receive Him is all of God.  We are responsible to receive, and He does what He promised He would do- new birth!

Application

Receive. Believe and receive  are used here synonomously.  This means that we must believe Him as He presents Himself and not just in his existence.  How does He present Himself?  As a Savior who takes away our sins, and as our Lord who should be obeyed.  We receive Him personally as our personal Savior and Lord, and not just a mental excercise that He is that for the world.  When we receive Him, we are born again by the Spirit.

Sonship.  The new birth puts us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father through the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We should live as people who have a relationship with God, communicating with Him and hearing from the Word.

Humility.  Nothing in my hands I bring.  Only to the cross I cling.  I do not claim to have any merit for a gift because I received it and opened it.  Thanks goes only to the one who gives it.  There is nothing to boast in and no work done by receiving it.  Yet, I am responsible to receive it.

Response

  • Humble myself.
  • Pray more.
  • Proclaim Jesus.
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Our Ultimate Salvation- 1 Corinthians 1:8-9

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

“[8] Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (
1 Corinthians 1:8-9)

Explain: 

The Gospel that we believe will lead to our final salvation. Christ will “confirm you unto the end” and present us “blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This “day of our Lord Jesus Christ” refers to when Christ returns. He saved us when we accepted Him as Savior, and He will save us in the end. He is growing us now through sanctification, and that process will come to full fruition in that day when He presents us as holy. We can be assured of this because “God is faithful.”

Apply: 

We can live with confidence knowing that the same God who called us to salvation will complete His work in us. Our future blameless standing before God rests not on our faithfulness, but on God’s faithfulness. The faithful fellowship we have with Christ now through prayer, His Word, and acknowledging His presence gives us assurance that He will be faithful to present us holy when He returns.

Respond: 

  • When you struggle with doubt about your salvation, how does God’s faithfulness (not your own) provide assurance?
  • What difference does it make to know that your future blameless standing depends on God’s character rather than your performance?
  • How should the promise of Christ’s return affect how you live today?