The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 44

Vers. 18, 19.-The scope, means, and purpose of redemption. The immediate con- nection of these words is with the solemn exhortation to habitual" fear"-a reverential awe of our Father-Judge, and a consequent dread of sin which disturbs our filial relation e.nd incurs his judicie.l displeasure. The consciousness of the purpose and price of our redemption is here urged as a motive to such fear. Love and thankfulness, joy and confidence, are its fruits. But none the less certainly will the adequate sense of that great sacrifice in its costliness and its purpose lead to our passing the time of our sojourning here in fear. The gospel of redemption is not meant to produce carelessness, or a light estimate of the holiness of God or of the heinousness of sin, but to make conscience more sensitive, and to lead to anxious scrupulousness in avGiding all conduct which would be condemned by the judgmeot of God. 'l'he apostle appeals to that consciousness as familiar and certain. He presupposes the distinct and developed teaching of the sacrificial death of Christ, and of its redemptive efficacy, as well known e.nd universally received. 'l'he tone of his reference establishes the existence of that teaching as the fundamental doctrine of the gospel in all the Churches to which his letter was addressed, And the use which he makes of that truth, as the great motive to practical holiness, is in accordance with all New Testament teaching, which ever regards Christ's se.crifice in its practical aspect as the foundation in usof all goodness. We have here three great aspects of redemption-what it is from; what it is by; what it is for. I. WHAT WE ARE REDEEMED FROM. The original idea of" redemption" is, of course, purchase from slavery. Here we have no reference to what is prominent in other places of Scripture-the delivere.nce by Christ's blood from guilt and condemnation. That aspect of redemption is involved in more than one place in this Epistle, and underlies it all. It must :first be experienced before we can be redeemed from the love and pmctice of evil. But the pmpose which the e.postle has here in view leads him to dwell on the other side of the complex idea of redemption-the deliverance rrom the bon- de.ge of sin, holding will and affections in thraldom. "Ye are redeemed," says he, "from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers." Now, that expression ls a pregnant description of the whole course of godless life. "Conversation,'' we perhaps need not observe, is equivalent to" conduct." 1. 'l'he implication that all godless life is slavery lies in the very word "redemption." If we consider how sin masters a man, fetters his will, e.nd binds him with iron chains of habit, which hold him in spite of conscience, and in mockery of resolutions and efforts, we can understand the deep truth in our Lord's paradoxical words," He that_ committcth sin is the slave of sin." Don. wrong thing, and it is your master, as yon will soon discover if you try to efface its 88 'l'IlE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PE'l'ER. [on. 1. 1-26.