18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(A) from the empty way of life(B) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(C) of Christ, a lamb(D) without blemish or defect.(E)

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18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.

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