Greatest example

(1st Peter to 21 through 23)

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:   Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

 Peter thought of the suffering of Christ when He brought about the suffering of believers Christ suffered and so it is not strange that his people would suffer too but the Savior handled the suffering successfully she offers great hope and comfort to separate Saints

Leaving us an example –

Peter does not say that this was the only object for which Christ suffered, but that it was an object, and an important one.

The word rendered “example” occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.

It means properly “a writing copy,” such as is set for children; or an outline or sketch for a painter to fill up; and then, in general, an example, a pattern for imitation.

That ye should follow his steps – That we should follow him, as if we trod exactly along behind him, and should place our feet precisely where his were. The meaning is, that there should be the closest imitation or resemblance. The things in which we are to imitate him are specified in the following verse

1st Peter 3:18?

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

 

What do we know about Christ by calling him just?

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins -

The design of the apostle in the reference to the sufferings of Christ,

Is evidently to remind them that he suffered not for any wrong-doing, and to encourage and comfort them in their sufferings by his example.

Romans 5:8

 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The reference to his sufferings leads him

1 Peter 3:18-22

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

 A statement of the various ways in which Christ suffered, and of his ultimate triumph.

By his example in his sufferings, and by his final triumph,

Peter would encourage those whom he addressed to bear with patience the sorrows to which their religion exposed them.

expression, “hath once suffered,” in the New Testament, means once for all; once, in the sense that it is not to occur again.

Suffered; it is that he had in fact suffered, and that in doing it he had left an example for them to follow.

Christ the pure innocent one, was charged with the guilt of the guilty

He became the sinners substitute

Christ sacrifice to set apart for all the Old Testament sacrifices for his sacrifice did not have to be repeated

His one death served as the adequate payment for all sins, therefore

God accepting his son sacrifice can be both just (demanding that sin be punished)

 And at the same time grant forgiveness to sinners.

 Christ suffering made it possible for him to extend one hand to sinners and another hand to the Holy Father and bring the two together at the cross

The barrier between God and man was removed because the full penalty for God's broken law was paid

Now sinners who received the Son may come into the Holy of Holies into God's very presence

Questions

      How do you think the persecuted believers responded when they were reminded of the suffering Jesus endured on their behalf?

      How this great redemptive work was made possible?

1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1 Peter 2:21   for even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

________________________________________________________________________________ A few Points we must look at     ________________________________________

Christ is proposed as an argument for patience under sufferings, the strength of which will be discerned if we consider the several points contained in the words;

1. Jesus Christ himself was not exempted from sufferings in this life, though he had no guilt of his own and could have declined all suffering if he had pleased.

2. The reason or meritorious cause of Christ's suffering was the sins of men: Christ suffered for sins. The sufferings of Christ were a true and proper punishment; this punishment was suffered to expiate and to make an atonement for sin; and it extends to all sin.

3. In the case of our Lord's suffering, it was the just that suffered for the unjust; he substituted himself in our room and stead, and bore our iniquities. He that knew no sin suffered instead of those that knew no righteousness.

 4. The merit and perfection of Christ's sacrifice were such that for him to suffer once was enough the legal sacrifices were repeated from day to day, and from year to year; but the sacrifice of Christ, once offered, purged away sin,

5. The blessed end or design of our Lord's sufferings was to bring us to God, to reconcile us to God, to give us access to the Father, to render us and our services acceptable, and to bring us to eternal glory,

6. The issue and event of Christ's suffering, as to himself, were these, he was put to death in his human nature, but he was quickened and raised again by the Spirit.

Hebrews 9:22

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

 Peter testified to the reality of Christ's physical death

 being put to death in the flesh but quicken by the Spirit is essential to fulfill all the Old Testament sacrifices and Lambs, Bullocks, goats and turtle doves

without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin Christ's sacrifice was necessary to fulfill God`s The solemn transactions between God and man, called a covenant,

Here a testament, which is a willing deed of a person, bestowing legacies on such persons as are described, and it only takes effect upon his death.

Thus Christ died, not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for us, but to give power to the disposal of them. All, by sin, were become guilty before God, had forfeited everything that is good;

But God, willing to show the greatness of his mercy, proclaimed a covenant of grace.

Nothing could be clean to a sinner, not even his religious duties; except as his guilt was done away by the death of a sacrifice, of value sufficient for that end, and unless he continually depended upon it.

but death was not the end of the story for Christ to remain dead would have indicated that sends penalty was not fully paid quick and by the spirit could also read Quicken made alive in the spirit speaking not of the Holy Spirit of Jesus human spirit it is true that the Holy Spirit raised up Christ's body after 3 days

 Romans 8 11

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Peter

 

may have been explained that Jesus human spirit which he had commanded to his father on the cross continued to live while his hole in his body was in the tomb and then raised in his