We Know God, Through Christ 1 Peter 1:18-21

Peter’s View of Christ in 1 Peter 1:18-21 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 1 Pet. 1:18-21

Paganism (and America’s) View of God The pagan world was always haunted by the unknowability of God; at best men could but grope after His mystery. "It is hard," said Plato, "to investigate and to find the framer and the father of the universe; and, if one did find him, it would be impossible to express him in terms which all could understand." Even for the philosopher, to find God is difficult; and for the ordinary man, to understand Him is impossible. Aristotle spoke of God as the supreme cause, by all men dreamed of and by no man known. The ancient world did not doubt that there was a God or gods but it believed that such gods as there were were quite unknowable and totally uninterested in men and the universe. In a world without Christ God was mystery and power but never love; there was no one to whom men could raise their hands for help or their eyes for hope. William Barclay

Peter’s View of Christ in 1 Peter 1:18-21 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, He is our priceless Redeemer He frees us from the aimless conduct of our fathers’ traditions 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He is the Lamb of God, without blemish or spot 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you He was foreordained before the foundation of the world He was manifested in these last times for us 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. He is the One through whom we believe in God He was raised from the dead He was given glory from God He gives us faith and hope in God 1 Pet. 1:18-21

The Path to Faith and Hope Added to His church, His body, His kingdom Believe John 3:16 Repent Acts 17:30 Confess Faith Rom. 10:10 Be Baptized Into Him Gal. 3:27 Added to His church, His body, His kingdom Be Faithful until death Rev. 2:10