… to redeem those under the law
Summary: Simplifying the law helps make being redeemed easier to understand.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:5a – Redeemed”1 Peter 1:18-19 — Many Moons
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, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Imagine, if you will, that the year is 1912. BC. Before Christ. It is many years after the flood, and Noah’s family has repopulated the earth. Everyone you know is a relative, but like today, not all the relatives get along.
Tribes have separated and arguments break out. Already some people have turned their backs to God. There is a shortage of manpower and it is not unheard of that one tribe will raid another. Children and women are taken and used as slaves. If the men cannot be subdued, they are killed. Life is hot, difficult, and harsh.
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:18-19 — Many Moons”1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure, Part II
Even angels long to look into these things.
In yesterday’s post, I started by saying, “Peter is telling us about salvation. Broadly speaking ‘salvation’ in this case refers to several things.” And then I went on to tell you about only one thing. Today I would like to follow up on that thought with another thing related to salvation.
As we discussed yesterday, the first thing salvation refers to is the restoration of our relationship with God. The second “thing” is that the restoration of this relationship is complicated. Human nature was irreversibly altered by the sin of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3: 5 the serpent says,
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure, Part II”