Set free from an empty way of life

Read 1 Peter 1:17-21

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Holiness is our proper response to God. God is our Father but his holy and just nature means that he will not show favouritism to his children. We will all be judged by him, giving an account of how we have lived in this world (2 Cor.5:10; Mt.16:27; Eph.6:8). We are his beloved children but reverent fear must characterise that relationship – we love him but are in awe of him too (“Our Father... hallowed be your name” Mt.6:9; Heb.12:28-29).

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A further reason for right conduct is that Christ has redeemed us from an empty way of life (18). Slaves could be set free by a monetary payment but the ransom paid by Jesus was far more costly – his own sacrificial death for us (19; Mt.20:28; 26:28; 1 Tim.2:5-6). This was God’s eternal plan – Jesus is the Lamb of God slain from the dawn of the world (20; Jn.1:29; Rev.13:8).

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This plan has now been fulfilled and revealed (20; Gal.4:4; Heb.9:26) and it’s our privilege to know that. Through Christ’s death and resurrection we need have no fear of judgement for our sins are forgiven. But more than that, we also now have faith and hope in God (21). It’s that faith and that hope which tell us we are strangers here (17) and which call us to holy living.