Why Jesus Died 1 Peter 3:18
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· 1 viewTo demonstrate Jesus is our ultimate example of triumphing over suffering unjustly.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Please meet me in your copy of gods word in first Peter 3:18 This is the word of the Lord, let’s read it.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
The theme of the book of 1 Peter is how believers continue to live for God in the presence of suffering.
v.18-22 fit into the broader context of first Peter 3:13-4:6 about suffering and doing right. There is no greater example of suffering for believers to follow then our Lord Jesus. Christ suffered unjustly at the hands of evil man and yet triumphs over that suffering. Which is the overall theme of the passage.
But for tonight, I want to just narrow our focus to the micro level in order to see what Christ did when he died and what his death does for sinful mankind. Peter here so clearly explains the gospel in verse 18 in just three short phrases.
Notice with me tonight that the death of Christ happened for three very clear reasons:
He died because we were sinners.
In death He became our substitute.
His death brought us salvation.
1.) He died because we were sinners. (v.18a)
1.) He died because we were sinners. (v.18a)
Man kind is sinful and because of that we stand condemned before a holy God.
We are guilty of:
Disbelieving.
Disobeying
Blaspheming and cursing
Rebelling
And ultimately rejecting him.
That is the very definition of sin. We are sinful beings who have transgressed the law of God and his law demands a penalty. We must be judged and bear the weight of that penalty. Death and eternal separation is the only punishment that is acceptable to appease the wrath of holy God. God is perfection and only those who are found sinlessly perfect are worthy to dwell in his presence forever. This is why we stand condemned.
The glorious message of the gospel is that Jesus took our sin and guilt upon himself and bore our sin and judgment for us.
Sins- is the same word used in the Old Testament for “sin offering.”
Which really helps drive the point home!
Jesus offered himself for our sins. He became our sin offering and in doing so makes us acceptable to God. If we place our faith in Christ death for us then his blood covers us and removes our sin and guilt so we can stand before God and be accepted.
Notice also it says Christ died “once for sins.” His death never has to be repeated it satisfies God’s justice and covers the sins of man eternally.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
2.) In death He became our substitute. (v.18b)
2.) In death He became our substitute. (v.18b)
21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Christ, in His love for mankind, willingly became our substitute, bore our sin, judgment, condemnation and punishment so that we don’t have to.
Friend when we come to Christ in repentance and faith he covers us as our substitutionary sacrifice.
He was the perfect sacrifice that was able to satisfy God’s justice and righteousness all at the same time.
3. His death brought us salvation. (v.18c)
3. His death brought us salvation. (v.18c)
The purpose for Christ death was to open the way to God.
Our sin separates and alienates us from God but when Jesus died he took that sin upon himself and when we come to him for salvation he removes that sin from us and gives us his righteousness. So we can now stand before a holy God clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
He paid our penalty so we no longer have to be separated from God.
Our acceptance by God is only found in Christ alone.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
In order for one to be saved we must cast ourselves; all that we are, have, our mind, body, soul, our past, present, and future; upon Christ and when we do this God excepts us in Christ covering us in Jesus righteousness and death.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The sad reality is that the Christ death opened the way of salvation to God but not everyone is in Christ.
Not everyone will place their faith in Christ.
The fact of the matter is most people curse and reject Christ either in word or action.
Friend Christ either has all of you or he has none of you.
Do you trust him today?
Christ died because of your sin, as your substitute, in order to bring you to salvation.