1 Peter 1:17–25

If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, ²¹who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²²Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Before Easter the Scriptures pointed toward Christ’s suffering and death for our sins.  Now in the Easter Season, the readings tell us how the crucified Christ’s resurrection assures all Christian believers we will also live eternally with Him.  In our text today, Saint Peter points out that not only does what God has done in the past, redeem us; everything about the Lord’s Christ was planned before the creation of the world.  The Lord knew evil was going to come into His creation.  He knew man would listen to Satan’s tempting suggestion that man would know all things if he ate the fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden.  God knew that once man knew both good and evil, we would have difficulty resisting evil.  By the nature I inherited from my forefathers, I am sinful and condemned and left in a deadly situation; because as Saint Paul says, “the wages of sin is death” (Rm. 6:23).  

Peter writes, “If you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear” (17).  The thought of being judged for our deeds ought to bring fear!   We are fallen beings; made of flesh, born of “perishable seed”; conceived in sin and “brought forth in iniquity” (cf. Ps. 51:5).  Which leaves us with the question, are we saved by faith, or is eternal life based on our deeds?  The answer is we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone!  However, the fact remains, God judges sinful deeds.  St. Paul writes, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one of us may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Cor. 5: 10).  

So, how will God judge us?  Well, God is holy and just.   He must judge in righteousness based on His Law and just one sinful thought, word, deed, or desire condemns me.  So, if my deeds are judged on that tenet, the Lord’s standards, I have every reason for fear! However, He must be faithful to His promise to also be merciful.  Therefore, “before the foundation of the world,” before the first sin, God our Father had us in mind and resolved our redemption.  God knew He would send His Son into the flesh for you, to die for you, to redeem you, and to bring you to faith by all that He has done for you.  By God’s living Word, His “imperishable seed”, you and I have been brought to that faith.  Therefore, all Christ believers will be judged as righteous!  Not because we did some good works, but because the crucified and risen Christ covered your sinfulness with His righteousness at your Baptism.  In Holy Baptism, the name of our saving God was planted in you, your sin was washed away, you were set free from your futile ways and Jesus’ eternal life became your own.  

Whether your faith is feeble or strong—in Christ, God the Father promises you will confidently stand before your Judge without fear; freed from your inherited sinfulness.  So, praise God, give Him thanks for what He has done to redeem you from sin, death, and the devil: No, not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood and resurrection of Jesus.  And you have His promise there is still more to come when Christ Jesus “in the last times” will share His glory with all who believe in God “who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (21). 

825 North 1^st West

Cheyenne Wells, CO, 80810-0728

Sunday Service begins at 9:00 a.m.