1 Peter 1:19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Peter is reflecting on what gives the greatest value in life and that is the one who provides eternal life. This verse continues the thought of verse 18: We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. The key word is “redeem” (lytroo): to buy something for a price. In this case, we have been enslaved by sin, deceived by the crooked and depraved mindset and values of this world. This old life only leads to emptiness and futility of effort to find purpose and fulfillment. Nothing in this world can provide eternal life. There is nothing we can do to buy it or earn it. We cannot be good enough. It only comes through the grace and gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Peter is reflecting on the cross and Jesus’ suffering in our behalf. This theme will continue throughout the letter. In chapter 2, he will reflect on how Jesus’ suffering and death were the fulfillment of Isaiah 53. Jesus qualifies as the perfect sacrifice for sin because he is without blemish or defect. This essentially means, as Hebrews 4:15, that he was without sin. He is the sacrifice for atonement who took upon himself our sins. Peter and Paul had deep insights: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This idea lies at the core of Christian belief.
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