REDEEMED - OH YES! 1 PETER 1:18-21

Steve Shepherdhttp://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?

SermonID=137668&Sermon%20Redeemed%20-%20Oh%20Yes!%20by%20Steve%20Shepherd

Redeemed - Oh yes!Don’t you just love this title?

1 Peter 1:18 NET You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed — not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like

that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ.

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him

you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your

faith and hope are in God.

A boy had made a little boat, all painted and fixed up beautifully. The day came to sail his boat. He took it to a nearby creek. The water was almost at flood stage due to heavy rain the day before. The current pulled his boat away quickly and soon it was out of sight. Frantically the boy ran down the bank but

just couldn’t catch the boat. The boy was so sad and down hearted, His

beautiful boat was lost.

In passing a pawnshop one day he saw his boat.

Happily he ran in to the pawnbroker and said, "That is my little boat."

"No," said the pawnbroker, "it is mine, I bought it."

"Yes," said the boy, "but it is mine, because I made it." "Well," said

the pawnbroker, "if you will pay me two dollars, you can have it."

That was a lot of money for a boy who did not have a penny. He resolved to have it; so

he cut grass, did chores of all kinds, and soon had his money.

He ran down to the shop and said, "I want my boat." He paid the money and got his

boat. He picked it up, and hugged and kissed it, and said, "You dear little boat, I

love you. You are mine. You are twice mine. I made you, and now I have bought you."

Doesn’t this story sound familiar? John 1:1 NET In the beginning was the

Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with

God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of

mankind.

In showing Jesus is Devine, John explains that everything was created by

Him. The 4th verse follows the logical conclusion that even life itself comes from him. He made us and everything we have. From the beginning we

are His! But sin enters our lives and pulls us away from Him. Our text shows, “you were

ransomed … by precious blood … of … Christ.”

Just as in the story, we are TWICE GOD’S!

Dr. A. J. Gordon was the preacher of a church in Boston many years ago. One day he met a little boy out in front of the church. The boy was carrying a rusty bird cage in

his hands and several little birds were fluttering around on the bottom of the cage,

as if they knew they were going to be destroyed.

Dr. Gordon said, “Son, where did you get those birds?” The boy answered, “I trapped them out in

the field.” “What are you going to do with them?” the

preacher asked. “I’m going to take them home and play with them and have some fun with them.” “What will you do

with them when you get through playing with them?” Dr. Gordon asked. “Oh,” said the boy, “I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have

around the house.”

Then Dr. Gordon asked the boy how much he would take for the birds and the boy answered, “Mister, you don’t want these birds. They’re just little old field birds and

they can’t sing very well.” Dr. Gordon said, “I’ll give you two dollars for the cage and the

birds.” “All right,” said the boy, “It’s a deal, but you’re making a bad bargain.”

The exchange was made and the boy went whistling down the street, happy because

he had two dollars in his pocket. Dr. Gordon took the cage out behind his church and

opened the door of the cage and the birds flew out and went soaring away into the

blue, singing as they went.

The next Sunday Dr. Gordon took the empty bird cage to the pulpit to use it in illustrating his sermon. He said, “That little boy said the birds could not sing very well, but when I released them from the cage they went singing away into the blue, and it seems

that they were singing,

“Redeemed, Redeemed, Redeemed.”

Honestly, I don’t know how those birds felt to be freed after being caged with the

possibility of death, but I know what is to be freed from sin that leads to death! Don’t you? If you don’t know about this and

haven’t experienced this feeling of freedom then you need to find out.

Our text gives us the lowdown on what it means to be redeemed by God.

1- REDEEMED WITH MONEY – OH NO!

2- REDEEMED WITH BLOOD – OH WOW!

3- REDEEMED FROM SIN – OH WONDERFUL!

4- REDEEMED BY CHRIST – OH WHY?

REDEEMED WITH MONEY – OH NO!

1 Peter 1:18 NET You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your

ancestors you were ransomed — not by perishable things like silver or gold,

NOT WITH PERISHABLE THINGS SUCH AS PRECIOUS METAL OR MONEY.

Dallas, TX—Four men who tried to dupe the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas into

certifying that they were entitled to $33 million belonging to Iraqi President Saddam

Hussein were arrested.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

The men presented a document to the bank that a Secret Service spokesman described as an obvious forgery. One tipoff: Saddam’s

name was misspelled “Sadam.” When arrested, the men gave authorities

documents that purported to represent $166 trillion in assets belonging to the likes of

Manuel Noriega, Idi Amin and Fidel Castro.

“It was totally bizarre,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Melsheimer said. “You can’t just walk into

the bank and negotiate a multimillion-dollar note, especially when it has Saddam Hussein’s

name on it—and spelled wrong.”One prosecutor called this case: “The Mother of all counterfeits.”

There is another counterfeit that is taking place in our world. And it’s a rather common

counterfeit. IT’S A COUNTERFEIT REDEMPTION.

The mother of all counterfeits is what people have believed in regard to their

redemption and eternal salvation. It’s the idea that man can buy his own salvation.

He can buy his way into heaven with money and/or good deeds.

Ephesians 2:8 NET For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do

them.

NOT FROM WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST.

We can’t purchase our redemption or salvation by our good works, our good

deeds, our kindness, or even money that we give to help others. We should do these,

however, because we are saved and headed to heaven, but not because we are

trying to get saved!

If we are saved by the grace of God and we know this, we will want to do good, give, be

kind, etc.I have heard many people say something

like, "Well, so and so, really deserved to go to heaven because he was such a nice

guy." But niceness doesn’t buy any person’s

salvation in heaven! When are we ever going to learn this?

Sally Field said of Paul Newman when he passed away, "God only made a few perfect

people and Paul Newman was one of them." Hey, I liked Paul Newman as an

actor. And I hope he was a nice guy, a great man, but he was not perfect and all the

money he gave to charity couldn’t buy him a home in heaven!

Nor will it you or me.

REDEEMED WITH MONEY – OH NO!

NO WAY! 1 Peter 1:18 NET You know that from your

empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed — not by

perishable things like silver or gold,

REDEEMED WITH BLOOD – OH WOW!

1 Peter 1:18 NET You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you

were ransomed — not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely

Christ.“you were ransomed Redeemed … by precious

blood … of … Christ.”OH WOW!

When eight-year-old Little Johnny came home from the playground with a black eye,

bloody nose, and torn clothing, it was obvious he had been in a scuffle and lost.While his father was patching him up, he

asked what happened. "Well, Dad," explained Little Johnny,

"I challenged Danny to a duel. I even gave him his choice of weapons, just like you

taught me."

"That seems fair," his father replied. "I know, but I never thought he’d choose his

eleven-year-old sister!" Little Johnny exclaimed.

I think it is similar to what happened in the heavenly realms. In a sense, the devil

challenged God to a fight but he had no idea that God would chose His own Son to defeat him. And he had no idea that God would use

the blood of His own son to defeat Him!

Hebrews 9:22 NET Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with

blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

A Calcutta paper relates that a young Hindu came to the house of a missionary for an

interview. In the course of the conversation, he said: “Many things which Christianity

contains are found in Hinduism, but there is one thing which Christianity has and

Hinduism has not.” “What is that?” the missionary asked.

His reply was striking: “A Saviour.”

The difference in our faith and that of many others is that we have a Savior. And He

became the perfect sacrifice for our sins by giving up Himself on the cross!

Hebrews 9:11 NET But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to

come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that

is, not of this creation,

12 and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he

himself secured eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the

ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and

provided ritual purity,

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself

without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

A man came up to a minister at the close of the service and said, “I don’t see any necessity for the blood of Christ in my

salvation. I can be saved without believing in His shed blood.”

“Very well,” said the minister. “How then, do you propose to be saved?”

“By following His example,” was the answer. “That is enough for any man.”

“I suppose it is,” said the minister, “and that is what you propose to do?” “I do, and I am sure that is enough.”

“Very well. I am sure that you want to begin right. The Word of God tells us how to do that. I read here concerning Christ, He committed no sin nor was

deceit found in his mouth. 1 Peter 2:22 NET

I suppose that you can say that of yourself, too?”

The man become visibly embarrassed. “Well,” he said, “I cannot say that exactly. I have

sometimes sinned.” “In that case you don’t need an example, you need a Savior; and the only way of salvation

is by His shed blood.”We are redeemed with the blood of Christ - OH WOW! Wow, that God would choose to do that

for us!

REDEEMED FROM SIN – OH WONDERFUL!

1 Peter 1:18 NET You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your

ancestors you were ransomed — not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but

by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely

Christ.

Vietnam - "Imagine killing 55 million rats in a year -- and still losing ground," says The

Associated Press. "Vietnam’s vermin plague has gotten so bad that the central

government has banned exports of traditional rat predators and closed restaurants that specialize in serving up cats or snakes."

It sounds like they have a real problem with rats. But mankind has a worse problem with

the old rat called sin.

In planning for a revival meeting in a large city, the famous evangelist Billy Sunday wrote a letter to the mayor in which he

asked for the names of individuals he knew who had spiritual problems and needed

help and prayer.

How surprised the evangelist was when he received from the mayor a city telephone directory. In other words, there is not a

person alive who doesn’t have a problem with sin. And just because someone has

unlisted number it doesn’t mean they don’t have a problem with sin!

It’s like G. K Chesterton said: "What’s wrong with the world?" a

newspaper editorial once asked. Chesterton wrote in reply, "I am."

If we were completely honest, we all could say the same.

What’s that scripture in Romans 3:23? How does it read? for all have sinned and fall

short of the glory of God. NET

The drunk husband snuck up the stairs quietly. He looked in the bathroom mirror and bandaged the bumps and bruises he’d received in a fight

earlier that night. He then proceeded to climb into bed, smiling at

the thought that he’d pulled one over on his wife. When morning came, he opened his eyes and there stood his wife. "You were drunk last night weren’t you!" "No, honey." "Well, if you weren’t, then who put all the band-aids on the bathroom

mirror?"

What’s the moral of the story? BE SURE YOUR SIN WILL FIND YOU OUT!

(Numbers 32:23)If not by your wife, then by God!

No one escapes the all-seeing eye of God when it comes to sin!

The problem of sin is a problem to get rid of.

Daniel Webster was having dinner with some men in the city of Boston. A minister of

considerable reputation sat opposite him at the table, and said, “Mr. Webster, can you

comprehend how Jesus Christ can be both God and man?”

Webster fixed his eyes on him, and said: “No, sir, I cannot comprehend it. If I could

comprehend it, He would be no greater than myself.

I need a superhuman Savior.”

Because of the enormity of our sin, the grossness of our sin, the quantity of our sin, we need someone to save us. We all need

a superhuman Savior.

1 Timothy 1:15 NET This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" — and

I am the worst of them!

16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus

could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to

believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only

God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

In a dream a man sinned and confessed it to the Lord. Ten minutes later he committed the same sin and then said, “Oh, God, there

I went and did it again.” A big booming voice came out of the

clouds, “Did what?”

We have both a perfect and a superhuman Savior in Jesus! How wonderful!

REDEEMED BY CHRIST – OH WHY?

20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last

times for your sake. 21 Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are

in God.Christ was the center of God's plans of

salvation from the beginning.

But was manifest. Though Christ was God's plan from the beginning he was only manifested in these last times. In that

period, the end of the Jewish age and near the end of the temple and of the Jewish

nation. (PNT)"Peter regarded the Christian era as the last

period in the religious history of man." (Coffman)

Romans 16:25 NET Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel

and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages,

Ephesians 3:5 NET Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy

apostles and prophets by the Spirit,

Colossians 1:26 NET that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and

generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.

20c for your sake. Christ was manifested for the sake of his people, who have become his people by

faith. (PNT)

21a Through him you now trust in God...

This tells to whom Christ has been manifested, i.e., those who believe in him and his resurrection and in the glory that God gave him. "Not that any secrecy was

kept from the world in general, for the gospel was preached to every creature

under heaven."

21c So that your faith and hope are in God.

This translation makes the purpose of Christ's resurrection and glory to be that of

creating faith in God; "In fact, faith and hope in God are both the

purpose and the result of Christ's resurrection and ascension." (Coffman)

What are the benefits of Faith & Hope?

Romans 5:1 NET Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also

obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope

of God's glory.

Romans 8:24 NET For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we

eagerly wait for it with endurance.Colossians 1:27 NET God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this

mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

A gem dealer was strolling the aisles at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show when he noticed a blue-violet stone the size and

shape of a potato. He looked it over, then, as calmly as possible, asked the vendor,

"You want $15 for this?" The seller, realizing the rock wasn’t as pretty as others in the

bin, lowered the price to $10.

That stone was later certified as a 1,905-carat natural star sapphire, about 800 carats

larger than the largest stone of its kind. It was appraised at $2.28 million. It took a lover

of stones to recognize the it’s worth.

And it took the Lover of souls to recognize the true value of ordinary-looking people like us. Thank God we’ve been redeemed by the

blood of Jesus!