Bible Text: 1 Peter 1:17-21 | Preacher: Pastor Joe Ricchuiti | Series: 1 Peter, Motivation to Holy Living

1. Christians should be motivated to live holy lives by the sacrifice of Christ:

-Our salvation was purchased at such a great price we cannot take it lightly.

-The first picture of sacrifice is that of redemption (being set free), being purchased out of the bondage of sin. The emphasis in this picture is the payment of a price. Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin and death by paying the price of our freedom.

-the second picture of sacrifice is that of the Passover lamb. The emphasis is upon substitution, an innocent victim giving his life for the guilty, to free them from slavery and death.

2. “The high cost of salvation – the beloved Son’s precious blood – calls for believers to live in reverent fear before God. Holy-living is motivated by a God-fearing faith which does not take lightly what was purchased at so great a cost.” (Raymer)

3. Jesus’ death was no accident. He was chosen from before the creation of the world, appointed to go to the cross for our sin.

4. Because Christ is triumphant over sin and death, those who believe in Him can look forward to resurrection from the dead. Through faith in Him we are triumphant.

5. In the issue of biblical faith, the following quote is a great correction to wrong understandings about what faith is. “…misconceptions about faith abound. Some see faith as being any form of spirituality. Others understand it as a resolute belief that something good is going to happen to them. Still others think that faith is a blind leap against known facts. None of these represents biblical faith. Instead, faith involves confident action in response to what God has made known [His revelation about Jesus through His Word].” (NLT One-Year Study Bible)