Please enable Javascript to play audio
1 Peter 2:21-25
Text: 1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
You were called
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto [“For to this,” Nkj] were ye [“the elect pilgrims,” 1:1] called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
1 Peter 2:19 “…endure [present active indicative] grief, suffering wrongfully [present active participle].
1 Peter 2:20 “…when ye do well [present active participle], and suffer for it [present active participle], ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.”
1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF OUR CALLING
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
AGE-LASTING GLORY AFTER SUFFERING
1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal age-lasting glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily [“live a life worthy,” Niv; “lead a life worthy,”Rsv] of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, calling on them to continue in the faith and that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God (Mkjv).
CHRIST SUFFERED FOR US – TO SHOW US AN
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called (to “endure grief suffering wrongfully,” v.19 and to “do well and suffer for it,” v.20): because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
HIS STEPS LEAD US TO HUMILIATION AND THEN TO EXALTATION
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus [present active] the author [the leader – one who goes first on the path – a pioneer] and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
CHRIST DID NOT SUFFER FOR HIS SIN
1 Peter 2:22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
John 7:45-46 The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?”46 The officers answered, “Never did a man speak the way this man speaks.”
He did not revile in return
1 Peter 2:23 Who [Jesus], when he was reviled, reviled not again [“did not revile in return,” Nkj]; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
Jesus was REVILED
Luke 22:65 And they spoke many other words against him, reviling him.
Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.
John 8:41 "You do the deeds of your father." Then they said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father -- God."
John 7:20 The multitude answered, "You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?"
John 10:20 And many of them said, "He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?
Mark 3:21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, "He is out of His mind."
Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
Matthew 27:63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
John 7:12 And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.
He opened not his mouth – to defend himself
Mark 14:57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him
Mark 14:61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing.
Mark 15:5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marveled [present active – astonished, amazed at, to look on with wonder].
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
He made not threats to his persecutors
Proverbs 24:29 Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."
He asked God to forgive them
Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."
Jesus committed Himself to His father
Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.
He trusted God
Psalm 31:4-6 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength. 5 Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. 6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
Jesus our example suffered for the sinS of others
1 Peter 2:24 Who (did no sin) his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree (he suffered unjustly), that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Baptism was our break off from a life of sin
Romans 6:1-3 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
We were baptized to fulfill all righteousness
Matthew 3:14-15 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
HEALING IS NOT ALWAYS PHYSICAL IN NATURE
John 12:39-41 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. 41 These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.
Elect gentiles were once as sheep going astray
1Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray [deceived]; but are now returned turned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Other sheep – they will hear my voice
John 10:16 "And other sheep (elect Gentiles) I have which are not of this fold (Israel); them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
Acts 26:17-18 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Berean Bible Church, New Delhi, India