Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV)
Imagine yourself living in ancient Israel, in the days of the sacrifices and offerings made under the old covenant. Every time you sinned, you went out to the flock or herd, and chose the best you had; a lamb or goat without spot or blemish. Imagine having to do this over and over again. How hard it must have been to have to choose one more lamb because of one more sin committed. I think of my children, and their tendency to name every animal they lay eyes on. How hard it must have been to see the broken hearts of the children as they saw another cute little lamb led to slaughter, because of sin; either yours, or theirs.
The point was this: Sin is ugly. It is detested by God; He hates it! But not only does it anger the holy God, it breaks His heart, causing Him to grieve deeply over our rebellion against Him. He wants us to see and understand this. When the children of Israel saw the blood of an innocent lamb being poured out one more time, it was meant to cause them to sorrow over their sin; to understand that their sin grieved God. It was no small matter that God could just cover over, it demanded a sacrifice, for without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin (Hebrews 9:22).
I have often heard people say that they are glad that we are no longer under the old covenant. They express the sentiment that it would sure be hard to offer those multiple sacrifices over and over again, and it is so much easier now under the new covenant, where we can just go to Jesus for grace. To be sure, none of would want to have to sacrifice a lamb every time we told a lie, thought an impure thought, coveted something, lost our tempers, or sinned in any other way. What an inconvenience that would turn out to be, how heartbreaking to watch another innocent lamb slain, its blood poured out because of something that we did.
Is it possible that we can take Christ for granted? Do we perhaps assume that it is easier for us under the new covenant? After all, we are not going to pick another innocent lamb each time we sin, we only go to Jesus right? I fear perhaps, that many of us lack that dread of sin, that resolve that we will not sin against God for what it does to Him.
Our verse today tells us that we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Should we not be grieved over the fact that Jesus had to bear our sin? He suffered and died for us. He was humiliated and mocked, beaten and crucified, on our account. Just like that spotless lamb was sacrificed under the old covenant, Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. Once again, imagine what you would feel as the priest cut the throat of a sacrificial lamb, and you watched it die, because of your sin. Now think of Jesus, the Son of God, who bore your sins. He died for you! The Son of God, of far more intrinsic worth, came down and gave Himself as an offering for you, because of your sin. That fact should sink down within each one of us and grieve our hearts that we have sinned against God. We should have that godly sorrow that brings us to repentance, and that fear of the Lord that causes us to turn from evil, lest we bring reproach upon the one who died to save us.
Yes, it is in a sense easier for us to not have to offer sacrifices as in days of old, but we must ever be mindful of the fact that Jesus gave all for us. He is of far greater worth than all sacrificial lambs; of bulls and goats. In fact it is impossible for the blood of such sacrifices to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). Only Christ was of such infinite worth, that He could offer Himself on our behalf. We should be ever careful that we not "crucify again the Son of God, and put Him to open shame" by our carelessness with sin (Hebrews 6:6).
Is it possible that we can take Christ for granted? Do we perhaps assume that it is easier for us under the new covenant? After all, we are not going to pick another innocent lamb each time we sin, we only go to Jesus right? I fear perhaps, that many of us lack that dread of sin, that resolve that we will not sin against God for what it does to Him.
Our verse today tells us that we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Should we not be grieved over the fact that Jesus had to bear our sin? He suffered and died for us. He was humiliated and mocked, beaten and crucified, on our account. Just like that spotless lamb was sacrificed under the old covenant, Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. Once again, imagine what you would feel as the priest cut the throat of a sacrificial lamb, and you watched it die, because of your sin. Now think of Jesus, the Son of God, who bore your sins. He died for you! The Son of God, of far more intrinsic worth, came down and gave Himself as an offering for you, because of your sin. That fact should sink down within each one of us and grieve our hearts that we have sinned against God. We should have that godly sorrow that brings us to repentance, and that fear of the Lord that causes us to turn from evil, lest we bring reproach upon the one who died to save us.
Yes, it is in a sense easier for us to not have to offer sacrifices as in days of old, but we must ever be mindful of the fact that Jesus gave all for us. He is of far greater worth than all sacrificial lambs; of bulls and goats. In fact it is impossible for the blood of such sacrifices to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). Only Christ was of such infinite worth, that He could offer Himself on our behalf. We should be ever careful that we not "crucify again the Son of God, and put Him to open shame" by our carelessness with sin (Hebrews 6:6).
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