Christ died to give us life

1 Peter 2:21-25

1. INTRODUCTION

Christ died to secure the sanctification (holiness) of believers, not just their justification (forgiveness), by enabling them to die to sin and live for righteousness.

2. BODY

a. Christ died for our justification (2:21-24)

i. Verse 21 starts with Peter telling us that we have been called for this purpose. What is this purpose? If we read along, that we would follow along in His steps. What are His steps? That Christ has suffered for us. Going back to the context of Chapter 2, in 2:1, He calls us to grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

ii. Peter’s call here is that we would grow in our sanctification if we have tasted in the kindness of the Lord. Then in verses 4-12, that we would proclaim the excellencies of Him (2:9), who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Again, the work of salvation calls for a response. The response? To proclaim Christ. Verse 10 confirms that we were a people, but now we are a people of God. Therefore, keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, that the unbelievers would worship God and glorify Him through our excellent behavior.

iii. So what is this excellent behavior? Verse 13-20, outlines how Christians should act towards government, how Christians should treat other people, and how even as slaves, Christians should behave toward their masters. Then in verse 19, Peter writes that when we submit to these people, it finds favor with God, that a person who suffers unjustly doesn’t respond by cursing others, but responds with grace.

iv. Hence in verse 20, it says that if you sin and are harshly treated, it doesn’t mean anything that you endure with patience because it was your fault to begin with. But if you suffer unjustly, if you do what is right and suffer for it, then this finds favor with God. Again, it’s calling Christian to godly living.

v. Therefore, in verse 21, Peter states that we were called for this purpose. What purpose again? The purpose that we would follow Christ, that we would seek to live godly in this evil present age. That we would not sin or would be found with deceit in our mouths, verse 23, that when we are reviled, when we are treated unjustly, we would not return unjust behavior with wrath. But rather, He kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.

vi. This is the prime example of Christian behavior. What is this? That Christ does not retaliate but rather trusts God that He will defend Him. This is the same quote as Romans 12:19, and Hebrews 10:30, where God says that vengeance is mine. It is not our job to pay people back for their mistakes, but rather, to forgive and let God deal with the consequences. Simply, our job is not to enact justice on others, but God will see fit on how to deal with them.

vii. And just as He entrusted Himself to those who mistreated Him, He entrusted Himself to God to the point of death on a cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. Here’s the key. Jesus didn’t live a unrighteous life but, He lived a perfectly righteous life so that we who are dead in our sins, would be forgiven of our sins. Jesus did what no man could do. He lived perfectly without sin so that we who are sinful could cast our sins upon Him, and He would be able to cleanse us of our sins.

b. Christ died for our sanctification (2:25)

i. Verse 25, for we were all continually straying like sheep, we were all dead prior to Christ’s saving power in our lives. But now, we have returned, meaning, we were given the path so that we could return. We were given life, using the language of verse 24, that we might live to righteousness, He made a path that we might have life so that we could return to the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls.

ii. Even when we suffer unjustly, Christ has given us comfort by growing us through these difficulties. The death of Christ stands as a constant reminder of God’s care for us. It doesn’t just tell us that He comforted us by dying for our salvation, but that He continually is with us and comforts us.

3. CONCLUSION