What did Jesus really redeem us from?

If a member of an evangelical church was asked, “What are we redeemed from?”, I hope most would answer something like “sin”, “death”, “judgement” or “hell”. All good answers!

But Peter has another answer: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The exodus and passover imagery is clear.

Here is the picture Peter is trying to paint: our society and culture, the way of life that we find normal because it has been handed down across generations, is an Egypt from which we need to be redeemed. It is empty, vain, and futile.