Have you ever caught yourself sizing someone up? Maybe you see someone driving a nice car, or wearing expensive jewelry, and you wonder how much they’re worth. We all do it—it’s human nature. We calculate net worth, judge by professions, evaluate by appearances. But here’s the question that matters: How much does God think you are worth?
That’s exactly what Pastor Josh White tackles in this sermon from January 9th, 2022. Looking at 1 Peter 1:18-21, he shows us that our redemption came at an incredible price—and understanding that price transforms how we see ourselves.
The Price of Our Redemption
Peter writes that we were “ransomed from the futile ways inherited from our forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”
“There is nothing in the universe more precious than the life and body and blood of Jesus Christ, the sinless, spotless Son of God. And God gave up the most precious thing in the world to redeem and ransom you and me.”
— 1 Peter 1:18-21
The word “ransomed” means to buy something back out of slavery. A price had to be paid to release us from bondage. And the more valuable something is, the greater the ransom needs to be paid.
Peter points back to Exodus as the ultimate picture of redemption. When God sentenced all the firstborn in Egypt to death, the Israelites needed to pay a price to save them. They sacrificed a perfect lamb and put blood on their doorposts. When God saw the blood, he passed over that house. The lamb died so the firstborn could live.
This was a foreshadowing of what God would do through Jesus Christ. He would sacrifice the perfect substitute so that we could be redeemed from the sentence of death that our sins deserve.
Three Things We’ve Been Redeemed From
But here’s what’s amazing: our redemption isn’t just about the future. It’s happening right now. Pastor Josh unpacks three practical ways redemption touches our daily lives:
1. Our Fleshly Passions
Peter writes in 1 Peter 1:14: “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.” We used to be slaves to our sinful desires—our lusts, our longings, our fleshly cravings that always want instant gratification.
“Our flesh craves satisfaction. It latches on to a sinful daydream or thought. We think about it, create scenarios to satisfy it. Those thoughts create powerful emotions. Then our emotions give birth to our will, and our will acts on it.”
— 1 Peter 1:14
But now? We’ve been redeemed from being slaves to this process. We can now dwell on and think about how to please God instead of our flesh. That’s present-tense redemption.
2. Our Ignorance
Before we knew Christ, we were ignorant. We didn’t know the truth about good and evil, about who Jesus is, or about the future hope we have now. We were “darkened in our understanding, alienated from the life of God.”
But now we’ve been redeemed from that ignorance. Now we know. Now we can live according to what we know. That’s an incredible gift.
3. Our Futile, Pointless Lives
This one hits home. Pastor Josh challenges us: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” We spend so much energy trying to build our net worth, our careers, our reputations—things we can’t take with us when we die.
“All the energy and effort that we put into things in this life—they’re completely worthless and pointless. Everything we purchase is purchased with something that loses value.”
— Matthew 16:26
But here’s the good news: we’ve been redeemed from living a futile life. Our lives now have eternal significance. What we do for Christ actually matters forever.
So What?
Here’s the application: if you’re thinking about your net worth, remember that you have infinite worth to God. He sacrificed the most precious thing in the universe—the life of his Son—to redeem you. Not with perishable gold and silver, but with blood. Real blood. His blood.
That means your worth isn’t determined by your career, your bank account, or what car you drive. Your worth is determined by what God paid for you.
So the question isn’t “How much am I worth?” The question is “Am I living like someone who has been redeemed?” Are you taking advantage of that redemption in your thought life? Are you living for something that matters eternally?
Our redemption isn’t just something to look forward to. It’s happening right now. And that changes everything about how we live.
Scripture References
- 1 Peter 1:14 — Called to be holy, redeemed from fleshly passions
- 1 Peter 1:18-21 — Ransomed by the precious blood of Christ
- Exodus 12 — The first Passover, picture of redemption
- Genesis 6:5 — The corruption of humanity’s thoughts and desires
- James 1:14-15 — The progression from desire to sin to death
- 1 Chronicles 29:17-18 — David’s prayer for pure hearts
- Ephesians 4:17-19 — Living in futility vs. walking in truth
- Matthew 16:26 — What does it profit a man to gain the world?
- Titus 3:3-6 — Saved by mercy, not works