2023 September Communion

`1 Peter 2:21-25

“Leaving You an Example”

We are called by God to imitate Him. We are called by Christ to imitate Him. As Christians, we have an example, a model, a foundation, a cornerstone, a powerhouse for living.

But what does this look like? It looks like a life of a servant. It looks like a life of submission and self-control. It looks like a life of humility.

It we are following, or claiming to follow Jesus today… this is the life that He lived. This is the life we are called to live.

If we cannot submit to Him and obey Him… we are not following Him. If/since He is Lord, He is Master. Since the Master served and submitted His life… We have our example before us.

Disciples of Jesus have always struggled with pride and have been consumed with the mentality of this world. We want to be the greatest. We desire to have the highest status. We want to be the greatest in God’s eyes...

This is it: If you want to be the greatest in the Kingdom… you must become the greatest servant. You must lay down your lives for others. You must serve Christ by serving one another.

Are you following Christ in this way today?

Within the context, we see a relationship between boss and employer… or slave and slave master. Even within the context of being mistreated by the boss or the slave owner… they are instructed to bear the pain as a Christian.

Matthew 5:10 - Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:12 - All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Jesus says, “Pick up your Cross and follow Me.”

To be identified with Christ will lead us to pain. Being a Christian in the workplace will lead us to pain. Being a Christian in the home will lead us to pain.

Sometimes pain will come and it has nothing to do with our beliefs… it just comes to us. How do we respond then? Verse 20 - “But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.”

We are to suffer as Christians. Go through all suffering as Christians. Go through laughing, ridicule and abuse as Christians.

In my own strength? In my flesh? No, no, no! That is impossible. It is only by the Spirit of God, by the Grace and mercies of God that we can lay down our lives as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. It is only by looking to Christ that we will make any progress at all.

Verse 21-25 - Peter says: “We have this Shepherd and Overseer of our souls leading us in His Way. Look to Jesus, the Man of Sorrows. Look to the One who has bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Look at the One Who created everything, enduring all things for our sake and for His Father’s Glory.”

23 - Insults were thrown at Him, but He did not retaliate. When He suffered, He made no threats. He could have melted them with a word, called down angels or fire from heaven...

He deserved nothing but worship and love… But He received rejection, hatred, slander, gossip, lies, physical, mental, emotional abuse… and He did not retaliate. He did not threaten. He did not cuss them out...

And He did not stop serving… sinners...

What did He do? He entrusted Himself to His Father, Who judges justly.

Do we entrust all things to God? Are we entrusting all things to God like Christ? Do you believe that God is the just Judge of the Universe? Do you believe that He is going to do what is right always? Do we believe that in the end there will be a perfect judgement?

God is going to do the right thing. “Vengeance is Mine,” God says. Every wrong deed is known, and it will either be forgiven by the blood… or will be paid for by yours.

God is in control. He sees me. He sees them. He knows me. He knows them. Christ knew all of them, made all of them… and instead of calling down fire from heaven… He looked to heaven and said, “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

Verse 24 - On the Cross, Christ bore our sins… in His body… There is so much going on here, spiritually.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

He bore our sins in His self/life. He took them on Himself. He took them all… and was punished for them all… He took your place; He took your death, and hell, and gave you life.

So that… so that… now… we might die to sins and live for righteousness.

If you are Christian… Since you are in Christ… The wages of sin is death… Christ has paid for your sins with His death… He died in our place… Now, die to sin and live for God.

There is power now. There is Holy Spirit now in your life. Your debt is gone. Fear is gone. Die to sin. Sin has no power over you. Satan is not your Master. Jesus is your Master.

You have forgiveness, freedom, and power over sin.

Listen to verse 24 , quoting O.T. Isaiah 53:5 - “By His stripes/wounds, you were healed.” In context, you were healed from the disease of sin… from the end result of sin.

Spiritual death is no more… You have been raised to walk in the newness of life...

Now, choose Christ. Now, follow Christ. Now, look to Christ. Now, serve Christ… Now live for Christ...

He is your Shepherd… Look to Him. Walk where He walks. Do what He does. Imitate His words, His actions, His life...

We have the perfect example. We have a specific calling. Follow Him...

As a humble servant of God.

*Communion