This morning's message will come
out of 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 14 through 18. Let me read these
verses to you. But, and if you suffer for righteousness'
sake, happy are ye, and be not afraid of their terror, neither
be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness
and fear. Having a good conscience that
whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
For it is better if the will of God be so that you suffer
for well-doing than for evil-doing. 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. Peter speaks here of the believer
suffering for righteousness sake, suffering for well-doing, And
when this happens, he says to take it patiently, for this is
well-pleasing to God. It is well-pleasing to God because
it is the will of God. Now, we cannot go through this
life as a believer and not suffer some trouble over the gospel.
Our Lord said, in this world, you shall have tribulation. It
is written, Philippians 1, it is not only given to you to believe,
but also to suffer for Christ's sake. The servant is not above
his master. We see in the scriptures that
Christ is our example in patience in suffering. Listen to this
scripture here in 1 Peter 2. In verse 21, listen. For even
here unto were you called, because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example that you should follow his steps. Who
did no sin, neither was guile found at his mouth. Who, when
he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously. When Christ was taken to the
judgment hall, it is written, he opened not his mouth, in Isaiah
53. Christ took suffering from the
will of his Father, and he was glad to do so. And we must learn
to do the same when we are called upon to suffer for righteousness'
sake, to suffer for whatever form it comes to us. Now, I say
Christ is our example in suffering, but he's more than our example.
It was an exhibition of redeeming power and love that he displayed.
Here's what I want to look at this morning. Who suffered? What did he suffer for? Why did
he suffer? For whom did he suffer? And where
is he now? First of all, who suffered? The
whole of salvation hangs on this, who suffered? It says Christ
suffered. Christ is his office as Savior. The anointed and the appointed
Savior, the Christ, suffered. Secondly, a man suffered. The
God-man, yet no less a man. The human nature of Jesus Christ
is very real. Jesus Christ is a very real man.
As a man, he suffered. He suffered the things his people
suffer. He suffered hunger, he suffered
thirst, he wept, he suffered weariness. The scripture says
he was tempted, he was tried at all points as we are, yet
without sin. The son of man, the son of God,
suffered. Now what did he suffer for? Well
it says Christ hath once suffered for sins. Here is the only man
who knew no sin, suffering for sins. Christ never had, listen
now, this is important. Jesus Christ never had a sinful
thought. He never spoke a sinful word.
He never committed a sinful deed. He is the God man. He is perfect
in every way, yet he suffered for sins. Christ never had a
sinful thought, word, or deed, yet he suffered for every sinful
thought, word, and deed when he was made to be sin for us.
Now remember, Peter's writing here to believers. He's not writing
to a bunch of unbelievers. He's writing to the church, and
he's speaking to believers. Now this tells us where there
is sin, there must be suffering for sin. Sin brings suffering. You know all the suffering in
this world is caused by sin? All the suffering is caused by
sin. As I said, sin brings suffering, especially at the hands of God. God is holy. God is just. God must punish sin. God cannot
wink at sin. He must deal with it. God who
is unlike us, God who is holy and just, cannot just let sin
go, not even a sinful thought. Christ suffered being in this
world. Christ suffered being made sin. He knew the awful effect
of sin. He bore our sins and carried
our sorrows. Isaiah 53, he was a man of sorrows
and acquainted with grief. Christ suffered the wrath of
God for sin. The suffering of Christ on Calvary
says that God will punish sin. The soul that sinneth shall surely
die, is what the scripture says. The cross of Christ says God
is going to kill everyone that has sinned. Now, he will do it
either in that person's substitute or that person themselves will
have to suffer for their sins. Now, for whom did he suffer?
The unjust, it says, the unjust, the ungodly, sinners. You say,
well, that means everyone. You can't find a sinner unless
God makes him one. Everyone has an excuse. Jesus
Christ did not die for good people. There are not any. Jesus Christ
did not die for every human being. If Jesus Christ died for the
sins of all men, and if one perishes, then Jesus Christ is a failure.
And God would be unholy. The law will not punish a man
for the same sins twice. That would be unrighteous. Jesus
Christ died for a multitude of sinners chosen in him before
the foundation of the world. who were unjust, who were lawbreakers,
who were ungodly, he died for them. Now why did he suffer for
them? That he might bring us to God. Now remember I said Peter's writing
to the church. He's writing to those who do
believe. And he's saying here that he suffered that he might
bring us to God. We cannot go before God as we
are. God is a consuming fire. We must have a high priest. We
must have a sin offering. We must have the blood of atonement. We must have a mediator. We must
have a surety. We must have wisdom, righteousness,
sanctification, and redemption. That's what we must have. And
Jesus Christ is all this to his people. Jesus Christ is going
to present his church spotless before the presence of his glory
with exceeding joy. He did this that he might bring
us to God. What a thought, bring us to God. Adam took us away
from God. Our sins have separated us from
God. But Jesus Christ brings us to God, right into the Holy
of Holies. This speaks of reconciliation.
He has reconciled us to God. There is peace now between God
and the sinner. What a wonderful thought, Christ
bringing us home to God. The lost sheep has been found
and Christ is carrying it home. Oh, what a glorious Savior is
Jesus Christ. The last question, where is he
now? Well, he says in verse 22, who is gone into heaven. Jesus Christ has taken possession
of heaven for his people for a multitude of sinners given
to him by the Father. He's taken possession of heaven
for them. There is a man seated at God's
right hand interceding for sinners. He finished his work given to
him by his Father and he's seated at God's right hand. That's where
Jesus Christ is now. Angels Authorities and powers
are subject to him. This means he got the job done.
And this means he will never suffer again. Now we might suffer
a little while, the believer, his sheep, they will suffer a
little while in this world. And then it'll be over. And they
too will be taken home. Does this not make you want to
set your heart on things above? Does this not make you want to
seek the Lord and let these things go? What a glorious salvation
we have in Jesus Christ, who is going to bring us to God. May the Lord bless His word.