1 Pet 2:24,25
INTRO: Do you realize that every verse of scripture is a veritable well of information? Very often each word prompts a new direction of study and possibility. And that is certainly true in the two verses we have read. In the context the apostle Peter has referred to the undeserved sufferings of Jesus as an example for all Christians to follow as they, too, are called to suffer reproaches for the faith. Such a mention of Jesus sufferings immediately brings to Peters mind-and pen- the redemptive work of Christ...His vicarious death. In short brush strokes of thought Peter brings three pictures of redemption to view. It is these I want us to consider:
I. THE JUDICIAL PICTURE (2:24a)
A. Firstly, think of the manner of Jesus death- 1 Cor 1:23
1. He was killed by Roman crucifixion
2. now, this was one of the most painful, prolonged tortures man has ever devisedan art among Romans
3. a death reserved for lowlife sorts
4. among the Jews? Deut 21:22,23 (Gal 3:13)
5. thus, a physical and mental torture for Jesus
B. Now, consider the reason for Jesus death
1. it was not because of his guilt (2:22)
2. yet, was very much involved in a judicial process
3. in Gods scheme of things there is law...and penalty for violationRom 3:23 makes our future dismal from a justice viewpoint
4. but God made provision-satisfying justice-for justifying the guilty! Rom 3:25
5. so, Jesus paid the penalty we owed! He took our placenot just dying in our behalf, but also in our stead-Rom 5:11 and 2 Cor 5:21
C. The reminder, then, of our obligation
1. live unto righteousness!
2. being dead is of a tense which indicates: (a) a definite point or act at which this occurs (in baptism-Rom 6:4) and (b) a total separation from sin!
3. and righteousness? Ps 119:172a life which is obedient to Gods commandments
II. THE MEDICAL PICTURE (2:24b)
A. Peter here refers to healing
1. used in this way & context, we see sin as disease
2. Jer 14:19,20 & 1 Cor 11:30 reinforce the idea
3. din is the fatal sickness of the soul
4. Jas 1:15 when it is finished, bringeth forth death
B. Peters use of this figure is consistent with Jesus
1. Mt 9:11,12 the great Physician
2. Mal 4:2 with healing in his wings
3. true, Jesus ministry involved healings of physical diseases...but He makes it plain that dealing with sinsickness was the real emphasis.
4. by whose stripes...the healing is associated with His sufferings and deaththe doctor dies so that the patient can live!
III. THE PASTORAL PICTURE (2:25)
A. The straying sheep
1. the flock scatters into all sorts of places, dangers
2. without a shepherd, sheep are in a critical, fatal circumstance
3. Mt 9:36 a condition worthy of compassion
B. Again, the picture is consistent with Jesus words
1. Jno 10:11-14 Jesus had the work of a shepherd in mind
2. gathering them, providing for them, protecting them
3. now, how does this fit with Jesus death? look at Jno 10:7,12the shepherd actually was the door (explain) and was in the way of any attack on the sheepcould actually die to secure the flock! this Jesus did (Jno 10:17,18)
C. An important bit of information is the last of this verse
1. returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop...
2. use of these two words tells us that the Father: (a) now provides for the sheep, and (b) is the superintendent and overseer of them
3. how? one thing we will note: by the church in our lives
CLOSE: In two verses Peter says so much to us: of what God has done in Christ; of what is therefore expected of us; of what the Father continues to do for the righteous.
Cecil A. Hutson
16 September 2001
You Must Hear the Gospel
Romans 10:17
You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)
You Must Believe
Hebrews 11:6
You must believe and have faith in God because “without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)
You Must Repent
Acts 3:19
You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called “Sinner’s Prayer” that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)
You Must Confess
Romans 10:9
You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus “Lord of your life.” Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just “accept Jesus as your personal savior.” We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)
You Must Be Baptized
Acts 2:38
Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
You Must Be Faithful Unto Death
Revelation 2:10
Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God’s grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God’s grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)