"Obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls" (1 Pet. 1:9).
Your present deliverance sets you free from the penalty and power of sin.
In
1 Corinthians 1:18
18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.
Paul says that "the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (emphasis added). That emphasizes the marvelous reality of the believer's present deliverance from sin. Peter stressed the same truth in
1 Peter 1:8
8 whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
, where he says that believers obtain as the outcome of their faith the salvation of their souls.
The Greek word translated "obtaining" in
1 Peter 1:18
18 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;
literally means "presently receiving for yourselves." It speaks of obtaining something that is due you as a result of your faith in Christ. "Outcome of your faith" refers to the logical result or end of faith. "Souls" speaks of the whole person. The entire verse could be translated, "You rejoice because you have and continue to hold onto the logical result of your proven faith—your ongoing deliverance from sin."
You need ongoing deliverance because sin is an ongoing problem. You have new life in Christ, are a new creature in Him, and are no longer a slave to the penalty and power of sin, but you're not yet fully glorified. Consequently you're still subject to sin's influence. Paul personalized that struggle in
Romans 7
Chapter 7 1 Or are ye ignorant, brethren (for I speak to men who know the law), that the law hath dominion over a man for so long time as he liveth? 2 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man. 4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, `even' to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Howbeit, I had not known sin, except through the law: for I had not known coveting, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet: 8 but sin, finding occasion, wrought in me through the commandment all manner of coveting: for apart from the law sin `is' dead. 9 And I was alive apart from the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died; 10 and the commandment, which `was' unto life, this I found `to be' unto death: 11 for sin, finding occasion, through the commandment beguiled me, and through it slew me. 12 So that the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and righteous, and good. 13 Did then that which is good become death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, by working death to me through that which is good; --that through the commandment sin might become exceeding sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I know not: for not what I would, that do I practise; but what I hate, that I do. 16 But if what I would not, that I do, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me, but to do that which is good `is' not. 19 For the good which I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I practise. 20 But if what I would not, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwelleth in me. 21 I find then the law, that, to me who would do good, evil is present. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me out of the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then I of myself with the mind, indeed, serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
, where he says, "The good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. . . . I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good. . . . Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (vv. 19, 21, 24). The victory comes in verse 25, which says, "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"
Jesus is the Great Deliverer, through whom you have victory over sin, death, and hell. That's the last spiritual privilege in Peter's brief list, but it's by no means the least. As you love and trust Him, you'll know the joy of present deliverance.
Suggestions for Prayer
Praise the Lord for your deliverance from sin's bondage.
For Further Study
Review all the spiritual privileges and sources of Christian joy we've discussed this month. Keep them fresh in your mind as you face the challenges of each new day.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Additional Resources
