1 Peter 1:21

1 Peter 1:21

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. (V18) 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 forefathers, (V19) but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.(V20) He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.(V21) Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6) Peter echoes that statement in this verse. He tells us that it is through Jesus that we believe in God. Jesus is not only the agent of our redemption, but also the vehicle through whom we are able to believe in God.

And who is this God that we believe in? The God who raised Jesus from the dead and glorified Him. We believe that as God raised Jesus from the dead that God will raise us from death in sin to live righteous lives in relationship with Him. We believe that as God glorified Christ, that we too will be caught up in glory with Christ one day. Our faith and hope are in God because of Jesus.

Peter, perhaps more than anyone else, understood this redemptive work. Peter, the brash leader of the disciples, failed Jesus spectacularly…just hours after promising that he would follow Jesus, even to death. Peter was devastated and I imagine wracked with guilt. But Jesus sought out Peter and restored his ministry along with their relationship. Jesus came to seek and save the lost – those who don’t know Him and those who do know Him but have wandered away.

These five verses provide a neat summary of the redemption process. Verse 17 tells of our need for a savior – we will be impartially judged. Verse 18 and 19 tell us the remedy for our hopeless state, our purchase from sin by the precious blood of Jesus. Verse 20 tells us that this was God’s plan all along. Verse 21 sums it all up by telling us that it is through Jesus that we may know God, in whom all our faith and hope reside.

Christianity is often maligned as an exclusive religion because we believe Jesus Christ is the only way to relationship with God. While it is true that the bible teaches Jesus is the only way, Christianity is not exclusive because God’s free gift of salvation is available to all who believe. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21). That sounds pretty inclusive to me… Do your friends and family know that salvation is offered to them?