Have you ever known anyone living an empty way of life? They are unclear as to the purpose and meaning of life. Life to them is boring. There is an emptiness inside that nothing seems to fill. And they have tried to fill that emptiness with all sorts of things, some of which have been detrimental to themselves and others.
Peter, part of the inner circle of Jesus’ twelve disciples, wrote about this empty way of life in his first letter to the Christians scattered through-out Asia.
“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things as silver of gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” I Peter 1:17-20
In his letter, Peter was reminding them of their way of life before Christ, in case any of them were tempted to return to such a life as they lived in various pagan cultures. In 1:14, he exhorted them to not conform to the evil desires they had when they lived in ignorance. On first reading, it may seem that Peter was being a bit mean by calling them ignorant.
What does the word ignorant mean?
In one episode of The Andy Griffith Show, Ernest T. Bass wanted to get an education. He thought his lack of education was preventing him from attracting girls. Andy convinces local teacher Helen Crump to give him a few lessons. In the midst of all that went on to get Ernest T an “education,” he became frustrated. Andy tried to encourage him and said he was ignorant, meaning lack of knowledge.
Peter uses ignorant in a similar way to this audience. Before Christ, they lacked the knowledge of God’s Word and his ways. Paul in his letters often referred to the time before a person comes to Christ as “darkness.”
In 1:18, Peter refers to the lives of these Jews and Gentiles who had to come to Christ in faith from “an empty way of life.” The word that most translations translate as “way of life” refers to conduct, behavior, manner of life. The word translated as empty by most means vain, futile, empty as in life without God. The Hebrew equivalent means vanity. This word was used many times in the book of Ecclesiastes referring to the life that life without God is vanity or empty.
In what sense did the recipients of his letter have an empty way of life before they had the “new birth” as Peter mentioned in 1:3. Was Peter referring to Jewish Christians of the Gentile Christians. Some commentators vigorously argue for one of the other. I believe he was referring to both.
What was the empty way of life for the Jews had before they came to Christ?
While the Jews had the Law given by the Lord, there were thousands of man-made regulations that were added. Some of these were totally ridiculous. While Jesus taught that the Law was to be observed, he had no use for the rules that man had added. On more than one occasion Jesus incurred the wrath of the Scribes and Pharisees for not keeping these man-made traditions. The Jews insisted on every Jew keeping these regulations, while they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
What was the empty way of life the Gentles had before they came to Christ?
Just about every Gentile home had some type of idol that represented the particular religion they followed. Some kept them in their homes just for a good luck charm, hoping to ward off evil spirits. Others prayed to these idols, believing they could hear and answer their prayers.
How were both the Jews and Gentiles delivered from their empty way of life? Peter used the word “redeemed” in 1:18. Strong’s concordance defines redeem this way: to release or set free by paying a ransom. Interestingly enough, the word for redeem in original language of the New Testament is only used here and in Luke 24:21 and Titus 2:14. In the Luke passage, it refers to Jesus as the one to redeem Israel. In the Titus passage, it refers to Jesus redeeming us from all iniquity.
What was the cost to redeem them?
Silver and gold were commonly used to by people out of captivity in that day. Peter refers to both as these as perishable. No, the price of their redemption was the precious blood of Christ. (1:19) Notice Peter refers to Christ as being “a lamb without blemish of defect.” No doubt that imagery would bring to the Jews the Passover when the lamb whose blood was applied to the top and sides of the doorposts had to be without blemish or defect.
What was the source of this empty way of life?
Peter said it was handed down to them from their forefathers. When a child is raised in a home when one or both parents are living an empty way of life, he is going to going to be greatly influenced, but the blood of Jesus can redeem and deliver from anyting.
Have you been redeemed from an empty way of life? Are you searching for meaning and purpose in life? Is there an emptiness in your life that nothing seems to fill or satisfy? You have tried various religions or philosophies or even Mother Nature. You are so bored with life that you have turned to various substances just to numb the boredom.