Ransomed At A Price
Ransomed At A Price
“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.” – 1 Peter 1:18-19
Have you ever been held hostage?
Okay, you probably haven’t been held by bad guys for a literal ransom, but you have been held hostage.
“By what?” you ask.
Take your pick…
- Sin
- Lies
- Your past
- Fear
- The Law
I could probably add more, but you see what I mean. In 1 Peter, it’s that last one on the list that Peter is referring to. The Jews had been held hostage by the Law. It’s not that the Law is bad, certainly not. It’s that they thought the way to be right with God was by keeping the Law.
A Surveillance State
There are many people, today, who talk about concerns of a surveillance state. With all the cameras (every cell phone, computer, even many doorbells) and all the microphones (phone, Alexa, smart TVs, etc.), if they wanted to, the government could watch your every move and listen to your every word. The book, 1984, examined through a novel how terrifying this could be. Anything you said or did that was against the law or against the state was known and punished.
Sadly, this is how many of the Jews lived and how many Christians, today, still live. God is watching all the time. They think,
“He sees and hears everything. He even knows your thoughts. If you do anything against the Law or against Him, He knows and will punish you.”
They are held hostage by the Law.
Jesus frees us by paying our ransom.
The Gospel is freeing. We no longer have to constantly look over our shoulder. We know we are sinners, but also know we are forgiven, not by what we do, but by what Jesus has done.
We are free because Jesus paid our ransom with His blood. His very life in exchange for our own.
Live in the Freedom of the Gospel
As Christians we need to constantly be reminded by each other through God’s Word that we have been freed. Our sinful self is always seeking to put us back under sin or the Law. Christ has freed you from both.
And, if Christ has freed you, you are free indeed!!
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for purchasing my freedom with Your blood. Keep me from sin and self-righteousness. Help me to rest in the gracious promise of Your Gospel.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
