That He Might Bring Us To God

Introduction:

As you consider the “gospel”, the death of Christ for our sins, the burial, and the resurrection, are you not caused to ask the question, “Why?” Why would God do this? One might answer, “He did this because of love”, and you would be right to a certain degree; but could His love have considered something other than a cross? “Love” is why he gave His Son; but what is the ultimate end that God had in mind when giving His Son?

“Love” causes us to sacrifice, but that does not necessarily reveal the ultimate end or goal why the sacrifice is given.

For example: Some parents sacrifice for their children’s education. If you asked the parent why, they may say that it is because they love their children; but that does not necessarily reveal the goal. They may say that they want their kids to be smart or have a good job…etc The sacrifice is a means to a particular goal.

“that he might bring us to God” is such a captivating phrase. It is a phrase that seems to reveal to us ultimate purpose. It is not the only phrase like this, relating to the coming of Christ. Bible says that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. The Bible says that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. But this phrase, in particular, confirms for us that the death of Jesus Christ (his sacrifice) was a means to a particular end.

“that he might bring us to God” is such a captivating phrase.

Let’s approach this from another angle. Why are you so thankful that Jesus Christ suffered for sins?

Of all the answers that we could say, all of them are benefits but they are not the ultimate end or goal for why Jesus suffered for sins. Here, the passage makes this clear for us.

What is more is that the context of this passage would add an interesting nuance to consider. As Peter is writing to persecuted Christians who are scattered abroad throughout Central Asia Minor, he reminds them of the gospel - in particular the sufferings of Jesus Christ.

This would seem like a cold or heartless move. If we don’t understand what Peter is saying, we might think that he is just saying, “See, Jesus did it, so you should be able to endure too!”

Illustration:

But, what this verse is doing is drawing attention to the ultimate reason “why” Jesus did what he did. Jesus did this to “bring us to God.” It forces us to look at the sufferings of Christ and say, “Is God really worth all that Christ went through?”

Illustration: Jessie Combs, age 36, recently died while attempting to break the worlds fastest woman on earth record. She had recently posted, “It may seem a little crazy to walk directly into the line of fire... those who are willing, are those who achieve great things...People say I’m crazy. I say thank you ;)”

After reading a story like this, you are left asking, “Is that really worth the sacrifice?” When you read this passage, you are left asking the question, “Is getting to God really that big of a deal?” If we say that God is worth the suffering of Jesus, then how inestimably worth is God?

Illustration: How much do you value your loved ones?

If we, mortal humans, esteem the value of our children as inestimable, how valuable is God?

Proposition: My desire this evening is that you will desire God for God’s sake and not for merely the benefits He gives.

As we look at this passage, why might one overlook the worth of God?

The cost to bring us to God is illogical (v. 18)

(v. 17) It seems that if you suffer for doing something wrong, then you’ve suffered justly. () What is staggering here is:

suffered for sins

God is a treasure worth the suffering of Christ

God is a treasure that requires suffering for sins

just for the unjust

This is the fundamental aspect of the gospel - the substitutionary atonement

put to death

God is worth Jesus losing what He’d enjoyed in all eternity past, perfect union with God. Now Jesus would endure separation.

This seems highly illogical that the wage of sin would fall on the sinless One.

in the flesh

Still hard to imagine, that God is worth Jesus taking on human flesh.

God is worth Jesus enduring the process of maturation, the pain of losing loved ones, the sorrows of human life.

quickened by the Spirit

To think that God is worth Jesus dying with faith that He would be raised.

What makes this so illogical is the overall context. As Peter is writing to Christians, he is encouraging them to suffer righteously and to trust God in so doing. It is a kind of suffering that is unjust. That phrase “that he might bring us to God” is a statement that presumes that the sufferings of Jesus Christ are worth getting God. Consider:

,

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 17:3 KJV 1900

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Application:

The culmination of Christ’s finished work is God (v. 18)

Is God worthy of this kind of unjust suffering? The answer seems to be kind of obvious.

The worth of God and living

As you consider the application of this principle in our lives, we admit that some don’t suffer righteously because the Lord is not supreme in their hearts (). Consequently, your life does not reflect an offense to the world that is anti-God.

You maintain the same pursuits as the world, gossip, socio-economic goals, status pursuits, vengefulness…etc () & ()

To you, I say that if you have been born again by the Spirit of God, then know and believe that God is the One that Jesus died to bring you to, so live a life that is worthy of Him.

The worth of God and suffering

As you consider the application of this principle, know that suffering has a way of tempting you to quit or to wonder if anything is really worth enduring.

To you, I say, God is worth the suffering of Christ for sins.

Secondly, the way you as a Christian handle suffering is a means that God can use to bring people to Him (). Is God worth our temporary suffering?

The worth of God and motives

As you consider the application of this principle in our lives, I would encourage you to put your motives in check.

Have you allowed the benefits that God gives to become motives rather than God Himself? This is characteristic of lost humanity ().

What makes Heaven to be Heaven for you? Would you be ok to be in Heaven, if God were not there?

The worth of God and joy ()

As you consider the application of this principle in our lives, God is the fountain of everlasting joy.

It was Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross.

Are you delighting in the LORD now? It is certain that Jesus Christ, understanding the worth of God, endured for the joy that came through the exaltation.

Conclusion:

When we esteem someone to be worthy, just because of who they are and not for what we get; our hearts will gladly sacrifice and esteem suffering to be worthy of the person.

Illustration:

When I look across the room at my wife, and I don’t want to think that if I provide her money, food, a house…etc then she will be kind to me. My love for her should be for who she is.

Secondly, by virtue of my covenant to her I deem her worthy of behaviors that will be exclusive to her and may seem somewhat offensive to others who are not worthy of those behaviors.

To even a greater degree, God is the One Who is worthy of the sufferings of Christ, and it is God who is worthy of suffering for and living for. In a world that is pluralistic with many gods, living with different values and exclusivistic worship is going to reap persecution; but we must come back to this question, “Is God worth it?” If God’s worthiness was worth the sacrifice of the innocent Jesus Christ for our sins, then we deem God worthy.