Fear God because Jesus' blood is precious

Today we are looking at the second of the three reasons why Peter tells us we should fear God. Here is our focus passage for today's study:

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (I Peter 1:18-19)

Peter sure packs a lot into a small space, doesn't he? (Grin)

There is a very old city in the state where I live. . . . it was founded in 1670 and has a rich history that is celebrated daily and that attracts many visitors, even from across the sea. Charleston grew wealthy by exporting rice and indigo, and became "home base" for many prosperous planters and merchants. This would not have happened so quickly had it not been for the labor force that was utilized; warring tribes in Africa would many times consign their vanquished opponents to the slave ships that plied their shores. These souls were brought to the fledgling colony and sold at what is still known as the Slave Market in the middle of historic Charleston.

There were slave markets in the first century, as well, and slaves were discussed in the pages of the Old Testament, too. A slave could be freed by working a certain number of years and then being released, by making restitution if he were a thief, or by being redeemed.

"Redeemed" here in I Peter is a word that means set free by payment of a price. The "going rate" for a slave varied from decade to decade, but it was commonplace for the exchange of silver or gold to happen, so that a slave could go free.
Before we were saved, we were (figuratively speaking) standing on the block at the slave market. We were slaves to sin, and we had no way of escape. When Jesus died on the cross, His blood paid the price to set us free. He became our Redeemer!
How often do we think on that? Would we rather call Him our Lord, our Savior, Father-God? If we use the word Redeemer, does it touch our hearts? Does it remind us of what it cost Him to save us from our sin? Oh, what a price He paid....the holy Lamb of God!

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,    and with the rich in his death,though he had done no violence,    nor was any deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:9)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)

Some who read here may not fully understand why we keep referring to Him as the Lamb....when the Hebrew families applied the blood of an unblemished lamb to their doorposts that night in Egypt, and then went in to eat their Passover meal, the angel of death came among their houses. When he saw the blood, he passed over that house.....the first born of that family was spared death. If a family's house did not have the blood on the doorposts, the first born died. In the same way, when the precious blood of Jesus is applied to our hearts by faith, God's judgment will pass over our lives, and we will not be destroyed for our sins and faults. Instead, we will be spared, and share eternal life with Jesus when we leave this world.
No amount of silver can do that. No amount of gold. They tarnish. They degrade. Christ's blood is ever-effective and covers all our sins.

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:14)

As I was working on this study, I came across another verse that I wanted to share....might make some of us uncomfortable.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)

Some translations use the word "damned."
Ouch!
Sounds kinda intolerant, doesn't it?
Sounds mean-spirited?
But ladies (and gents if you are reading here) the Bible means what it says..... if a person does not trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and accept the redemption offered by His precious blood, that is exactly what will happen. If I offend you, I must apologize, but I will not back away from what I believe the Bible tells us. For some folks, this may be a wake-up call, and I encourage those people to click on the tab on the right of this study blog and learn how to have that saving relationship with Christ.
We are all going to live somewhere forever. Amen? Heaven and hell are the only two final destinations, so it's best to be shocked now, than to be lost later!
Here is where the rubber hits the road, as they say -- if we are fully aware of how doomed we are without Jesus, then we will count His blood as truly precious. There is no one reading this that has not sinned, and that sin separates us from God. But Jesus'precious blood saves us from that fate. We may think it is troubling, or inconvenient, or uncomfortable to think about hell. But isn't it better to think about it now, and accept His salvation, than to be there for all time?

If we think about our past, and our sins, we can count on the fact that He has removed them, as "far as the east is from the west." And when we do think about our past, the love we feel for Him will grow, and we will realize afresh just how precious His blood is to us. Come full circle with me: if we realize how precious His blood is, we will fear (respect and love) Him even more!

Lastly, look back at our verses......He redeemed us from our "empty way of life." His gift to us? A full and abundant life!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

You make known to me the path of life;    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalm 16:11)

Let's end today's study with this triumphant verse:

How abundant are the good things    that you have stored up for those who fear you,that you bestow in the sight of all,    on those who take refuge in you. (Psalm 31:19)

This old hymn came to mind as I wrote.....I've been humming it ever since, and I hope it will bless you.

When I survey the wondrous cross,
On which the Prince of Glory died.
My richest gain, I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God.
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.