In His Steps (2)

1 Peter 2:18–25 NKJV

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Context

Before we begin breaking down this text, I want to give some context, so that we know what’s going on in the text.

At the beginning of his letter, Peter states that he is writing to those who have been scattered abroad; those of the dispersion. This was a large number of people, who because of their faith in Christ, have been forced out of their homes. They have had to find shelter elsewhere because of the heavy persecution that has fallen on them.

Peter is writing this letter to offer encouragement to them. He knows that some of them might be questioning whether or not it is worth it. He knows that some of their hearts might very well be filling with doubt because of the decision they have to made to follow Christ.

Thankfully, Peter gives them (and us) the greatest example that he could give, to show them they not only made the right decision, but that it was worth it. He gives them the example of Christ!

The context of this passage is one of suffering. Not just any suffering, but specifically the suffering that one endures because of their faith in Christ.

This is a tough message to preach, because we really don’t suffer because of our faith. We may be laughed at, scorned, and talked about, but we really don’t lose much because of our faith.

Though that is true, I fear that we are not far away from that reality. I fear that we are entering into a generation that will allow the persecution of Christians, and a government that will support it.

With that being said, the title of the message today is: In His Steps

What exactly does it mean to walk in His steps? The answer to that question has many answers from many angles, but we are going to zero in on just one of them today.

What does it mean to walk in his steps while being persecuted for our faith? The aim of the text today is to answer that question.

Content

Following Jesus is an issue of:

Spirit - Do we really believe in the spiritual realm? Do we really believe in God, life after death, eternity, heaven, hell or the Bible?

Conscience toward God - v. 19

Commendable before God - v. 20

1 John 5:13 NKJV

13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

Matthew 16:15–16 NKJV

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Do you think Jesus believed in Jesus? Have you ever wondered that? Probably not, and it seems to be a silly question, but do you think Jesus ever doubted the prophecies concerning Him, the truths of the Word concerning Him, or of eternal places called heaven and hell?

Of course not! He was the Word, He spoke the truth, and He came from eternity.

Jesus believed it to the point of death. Jesus believed it so much that he was willing to become less, so that we could become more.

Submission - Voluntarily placing yourself under the leadership of another.

Be submissive - v. 18

It is a complete submission.

Jesus completely submitted Himself to God

He committed Himself to Him who judges righteously - v. 23

Atonement - ‘At’ - ‘One’ - ‘Ment’

The price of reconciliation.

He paid a price He did not owe, because we owed a price we could not pay.

He bore our sins in His own body on the tree - v. 24

Succession - Are we truly willing and ready to follow “In His Steps”?

Leaving us an example - v. 21

That you should follow His steps - v. 21

“I am not Christ. How can I do what He did?”

He died, bearing our sin, so that we might live, bearing His righteousness.

If we don’t believe that we are to follow in His steps, then we never will!

If we don’t believe that we can make a difference, we never will!

If we don’t believe that we can lead people unto eternal salvation, we never will!

If we don’t believe that we can help the broken, we never will!

Someone rightfully said, “Those who believe they can and those who believe they can’t, are both right!”

We are successors to Christ. He has left His righteousness with us so that we might make a difference in the lives of others, just as He did!

This is our calling! This is our duty! This is the gift that we have been given!

We are ambassadors of heaven on Earth!

2 Corinthians 5:19–20 NKJV

19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

Commitment

As we serve Him, we will be persecuted. There will be those who challenge our beliefs, question our sanity, and even attack us in every way possible.

In these situations, we must not revile in return; we must not threaten them in the midst of our suffering. This is the example of Christ (v. 23)

We must remember that it is an issue of:

Spirit over Flesh.

Submission over Pride

Eternal Life over Temporary Satisfaction