You Know

Verse 18, chapter 1, for as much as you know that you 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, who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God.

Let's pray. Lord, we ask in Christ's name that you would be pleased to meet with us and to speak in power to our hearts. Cause your gospel to be preached in the power of your spirit. And Lord, may we be among that number that know that we were not redeemed with corruptible things. but with the precious blood of Christ. Lord, be our teacher. Forgive us of our sins, cleanse us, enable us to look anew to your son. Give us grace to rest and cease from our works and rest in his.

We ask that you would give us grace to love one another fervently with a pure heart. We pray for your blessing on your people wherever they meet together. We pray for our leaders in government that you would direct them. Bless us for Christ's sake, in his name we pray, amen.

You know, that's what I've tried to, I didn't try to entitle it, this is what I entitled it, you know. Peter appeals to what you know. He says in verse 18, for as much as you know. This is not up for debate. You know. This is not something you're unsure of. You know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things. Now, when is it that we know something. That's the appeal Peter makes for as much as you know. When is it that we actually know something?

Number one, when we see it's what the scripture teaches. Knowing this first, that no scripture comes from any private interpretation. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. This is the only way we know something is if it's what the scripture actually teaches. Number two, we know when God reveals to us what the scripture is teaching. Before that, it's academic knowledge. The only way I really know something to where I can say I know is when God teaches me, when he reveals himself to me. There is no true knowledge apart from God being the teacher. The scripture says, and they shall all be taught of God. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh to me.

I love what the Lord said to Peter after Peter made that great confession. Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. He said, blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, Flesh and blood hath not revealed this to thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Now that's when you know. You see, it's what the scripture teaches, not some church or denomination or confession. It's what the Bible says, and God reveals it to you. You know. Now here's the third way of understanding you know. When you know, it becomes all that makes sense to you. Now, what do I mean by that?

Well, the scripture teaches, for instance, that we're dead in sins. What can a dead man do to save himself? Nothing. Now, when you're taught that about yourself and you know it, the only thing that makes sense is sovereign grace, God saving by his grace, electing grace, redeeming grace, life-giving grace. It's the only thing that even makes sense. Now when you see something, it's from the scriptures. And God has taught you. And it is now the only thing that makes sense. You know. Do you know? For as much as you know, you are not redeemed by corruptible things such as silver and gold. Redeemed.

Ransomed. Payment of a ransom. Liberated that's what this redeem means when you're redeemed you're liberated the payment has been made you've been ransomed And who did this ransom have to be paid to and This redemption has to do with a ransom. You're ransomed out of something Who did this ransom have to be paid to the law of God? the law of God The justice of God demands the damnation of the sinner. It demands it. God's just. And that ransom has to be paid to the law of God.

He will not forgive at the expense of his justice. He says, you know, you are not redeemed by corruptible things. Look in verse 23 of this same chapter, and this gives us some idea of what this corruptible is talking about. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, not of Adam's seed. Adam's seed is corruptible seed, and everything that has anything to do with us is corruptible. Anything that has anything to do with men is corruptible.

You are not redeemed with Corruptible things such as silver and gold received. How's it say it looking for as much as you knows you are not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold. From your vain conversation received by tradition from your father's day, you were not.

Redeemed by any human payment and. The payment we think of. Silver and gold money. There's no amount of money. There's no amount that could redeem you. You're not redeemed with corruptible things. Anything that has anything to do with man, such as silver and gold, received from your vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers. You know, this thing of tradition. People believe we've always been taught this. Tradition.

I heard an interesting story about a young woman who was cooking a pot roast. And she cut the end off of the roast before she cooked it, placed it in the pot. It was really good. And her husband said, well, why do you cut the end off? And she said, well, that's what my mom did. And it tastes good. It must work. And so he said, well, I'm going to go to her mother and find out what happened. Why do you cut the end off the pot roast before you cook it? She said, well, that's what my mother did. And it's always been done. That's the way we do it. And so he said, let me go a little further. I'm going to go to the grandma and ask her. And he asked her, he said, why did you cut the end off that pot roast? She said, because my pot was too small to fix it all, and I just cut it off.

Tradition. Tradition. People believe things by tradition. You've received this vain conversation, received by tradition from your fathers. But you weren't redeemed with your corruptible things, silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.

But here's how you were redeemed. And this is what you know. You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ. You know that. I don't have to argue into that position. You know it. You were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Precious because of whose blood it is. That's the point. Whose blood is it? Feed the church of God, Paul said to the Ephesian elders, which he purchased with his own blood. And I say this, I hope with reverence, This is the blood of God. This is the blood of the God man, the eternal son, Jesus Christ, the Lord. You were redeemed with the precious blood of Christ.

Turn with me to Hebrews chapter nine. Just a few pages back in the book of Hebrews chapter nine, verse 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, how many millions of goats and calves were sacrificed over the centuries? Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Don't miss that word eternal. This is eternal. He's the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And he obtained eternal redemption for us. This is something he did. Look in Hebrews chapter 10. Verse 10, by the witch will, by God's will, we are sanctified. declared to be holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Look in verse 14, for by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. His blood literally redeemed.

The price has been paid. The price has been accepted. It is finished. The payment has already been made. You were redeemed, not by corruptible things like silver and gold, something you contribute, but by the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Now that's going back to the Passover lamb. You remember it was to be examined for two weeks.

Two sevens. Seven is the number of perfection. This lamb is perfect deity, absolute God. The other seven, perfect humanity, perfect manhood, the God man. You were redeemed by those. perfect Lamb of God, without blemish, without spot. He never sinned. That's the righteousness that's given to you, his perfect righteousness that he worked out.

I love when Paul said, who is he that condemneth? What's his answer? It's Christ that died. That's the only answer needed. It's Christ that died. I need no other argument. I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. Now listen to me.

I cannot express sufficiently my contempt for that teaching that says Jesus Christ died for your sins and you might have to pay for him anyway if you don't do your part. That is a complete denial of the redeeming work of Christ. Christ died for the elect, those the Father gave him, and he redeemed them. And any message that doesn't clearly point that out is a false message teaching salvation dependent upon what you do.

Now, don't miss that. Don't miss that. This is of utmost importance. Christ's redemption redeemed. You know this. Every believer knows this. Peter says, I'm appealing to your knowledge. You know you weren't redeemed by corruptible things. You know that, don't you? But by the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. And look what he says next. Verse 20.

Who verily, who truly, was foreordained before the foundation of the world." Now, we don't hear much preaching that talks about that, do we? If you listen to the average preacher, does he ever talk about Christ being the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, or he was foreordained before the foundation of the world? You just don't hear that much, but the Bible makes a big issue of it. How did Peter begin his sermon on Pentecost, that great message where 3,000 people were converted?

We'll turn back to Acts chapter 2. This is the starting point. Verse 22, ye men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know, him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." That's where Peter begins this message. He was delivered. This is God's purpose. And it was purpose before the foundation of the world. This has always been God's purpose. The cross is not plan B after Adam fell. This is the eternal purpose of God. It's always been his purpose. Back to our text.

You know, this tells how much of salvation is by grace. If it was accomplished before the foundation of the world, it must be all of grace. Hebrews chapter four, verse three says, all the works were finished, were completed before the foundation of the world.

Second Timothy one nine, he saved us and he called us. The saving came before the calling. He saved us and He called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Eternal grace. That and that only is saving grace And that and that only tells us how much of salvation is by grace. It was accomplished before we were even born. For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to election, might stand not of works, but of him that calleth.

This is God's eternal purpose. I love this. It glorifies God. And it gives me hope because if God has to look for something in me to do in time, I'm in trouble and you are too. But thank God this is an accomplished salvation before time began. Now once again, I see this is what the scripture teaches. God the Holy Spirit has taught me this. If I believe something in the Bible, it's because he taught me and really it's the only thing that makes sense. Although I can't really grasp eternity, This still is the only thing that makes sense, whatever that means. But let's go on reading.

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest, was revealed, was made known in these last times to you. Beloved, if you and I believe the gospel, It's because God manifest revealed the gospel to us. Me as an individual God, the God of glory, the creator personally revealed himself to me in the gospel.

Why me? That's my only response. Why me? Why did he do this for me? But if I know the Lord, if the gospel's revealed to me, it's because God revealed. God made himself known to me. Turn with me for a moment to 1 Corinthians 2. Verse 12, now we have received, and if you receive this, it's because God gave it to you. That's the only reason you received it. Somebody says, at least I received. That makes me different. Don't even think like that. If you receive something, it's because God gave it to you. That's why you received it.

Now we've received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God, which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but what the Holy Ghost teacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for their foolishness unto him.

Neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual I think it's interesting how this is almost a, I'm a spiritual person. Well, if you're born again, you are, but if you're not born again, you're not spiritual. Don't call it that. He which is spiritual discerns all things, yet he himself is discerned, judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord? They may instruct him, but we have the mind of Christ. That's how we know, spiritually discerned.

Back to first Peter. For as much as you know that you 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 who verily was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest, was revealed, was uncovered in these last times for you. Now, ever since the Lord ascended back to heaven some 2,000 years ago, it's called the last days, the last times. We're living in the last days. Now, does that mean Christ is gonna come back in a few days? I hope so. You see, when he returns, I'm going to see him as he is. I'm going to be made just like him. There will be no more sin. There will be no more sorrow. When is he going to come back? Nobody knows. I hope it's soon, but I know we're still in the last days, maybe the last of the last days.

But who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who do believe in God that someone says who by him do believe in God. Now if you have faith you know that he is the author of your faith and the finisher of your faith. You know that scripture says that looking unto Jesus who for the Looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. If you have faith, you know it's the gift of God. You know the only reason you believe is because he gave you that faith.

You know that. By grace, or you say, through faith. And that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. You know that. who by Him do believe in God. You know, if I have faith, it's by Him. He's the author of it. He's the completer of it. He's the one who will cause it to continue.

Who by Him do believe in God that raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory that your faith and hope might be in God. The God we believe is the God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus Christ really did die. And in his death, he redeemed. And God raised him from the dead because God was satisfied with his sin payment. That's why he raised him from the dead.

The debt is paid. And God gave him glory. In our faith, we know that God gave Him glory and we love it that way. That means that He did everything, not 99% of the glory, all the glory. And the fact that God gave Him glory lets me know that my salvation is completed by what He did. He gets all the glory and I find such safety and security in that by Him. who by him do believe in God that raised him up from the dead and gave him glory, that your faith and your hope, you believe.

Nobody believes for you. God, the Holy Spirit enables you to, but you're the one who believes that your faith and your hope, you have a hope. You have a hope that you're going to stand before God without guilt, sinless, perfect. And that faith and that hope is in God. God that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. And you know. Amen.

You Know

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Music

Recent Comments

About

Legal

Subscribe

Account

Articles

Featured Authors

Podcast

Recent Comments

Sermons

Featured Preachers

Books

Browse by Format

Collections

Music

About

Legal

Subscribe

You Know

Sermon Transcript

About Todd Nibert

Comments

More from Todd Nibert

Related Sermons

Same Scripture

Articles by Todd Nibert

Where this book stands in the tradition

Plato

Augustine

The Western Christian Tradition

This Book