Sunday Notes, May 1, 2011
Dear friends,
This Sunday we will return to the the first letter of Peter to the church in exile, verses 17-21. The key word in our passage is redemption, meaning to buy back or buy off the market or pay a ransom. It is much like buying a car off the lot. We pay the money and drive it away, it now belongs to us. So the Father has bought us, not with perishable things, but with the life and death of His Son. God had planned this from the beginning of the world so that we would have faith and hope in Him alone.
Exodus 12:1-13 and Deuteronomy 15:19-23 are two OT examples of offering a lamb without blemish. Yet these animals plus anything we could offer, such as money, are useless to redeem our soul. Only the blood of Christ of sets us free from the kingdom of darkness, the dominion of the devil and our own evil imagination. Yet even then we fight against sin the rest of our lives.
It is helpful to write this passage out on paper in your own hand. This writing exercise will slow down our thinking so we can think seriously about what this Scripture is saying.
Think and discuss these kind of questions in 1 Peter 1:17-21
* How are we to live now before God?
* How is fear the beginning of wisdom relative to redemption?
* What does a life of “passing through” or exile mean for our daily living?
* In what way is a life without Christ futile?
* How do you understand “fore known before the foundation of the world” in verse 20?
* Why is it important that God be the only reason for our faith and hope?
Peter gives us here specific instructions on how to live a life pleasing to the Lord so that at the judgment seat of Christ we will hear: “well done, you faithful and good servant .” This comes from believing and thinking the truth. I counsel you to fill your mind with the Word, do not neglect this. Make quality time this week to examine the Scriptures to see if what we believe is true.
See you Sunday,
Lee
