READ: 1 Cor. 6:15-20
Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things … but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. – 1 Pet. 1:18-19
The apostle Peter points out that in our entire life we should always keep something in mind: that we are redeemed from a futile way of life. This is a dead-end road that leads to destruction. We were like slaves under the power of sin and death. But Christ redeemed us!
He did so in a very special way: not with perishable things. Peter compares this to precious and lasting things: gold and silver. But these are nothing compared to the value of the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. His blood is imperishable: its saving power is definitive and eternal.
Christ gave His blood for us as an unblemished and spotless lamb. Just as in Egypt a Passover lamb without defects was slaughtered and its blood caused the angel of destruction to pass over and Israel was saved. With Christ, this goes even further: He delivered us from the power of Satan and the wrath of God. He paid for it with His precious blood and earned for us eternal salvation. He turned our futile way of life into a path of eternal salvation. He made us children of God the Father (Gal. 4:5) and thus heirs of eternal life.
Let us live with God in that certain knowledge and in that grateful awareness. Christ has redeemed us and given Himself up for us in His holiness and blamelessness. This gives us a firm hope of salvation, but also makes us live a holy life now. We may follow this Christ, led by His Holy Spirit, on the way to eternal salvation, which will come at His second coming.
Why did Christ have to be unblemished?
Singing: Hymn 14:3