31 March 2024 AM – Text: 1 Peter 3:18 – Topic: Resurrection
Introduction: Right now, as we gather without fear to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, many are suffering for their faith in Christ. They may be deprived, tortured, and may face execution for Christ’s sake. Historians record that during the Dark Ages (A.D. 400-1600) about 50 million Christians died for their faith in Christ.
Keep this in mind as we read 1 Peter 3:15-18. The Apostle Peter used the sufferings of Christ to encourage suffering believers. As he did, he summarised the true meaning of Easter and answered the question, “What can bring me to God?”
Transition: I encourage you to follow along in your Bible as we examine the Gospel message here in 1 Peter 3:18, phrase by phrase.
1. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
a. The sins for which He suffered were not His.
1) Jesus Christ is eternal (there was never a time that he did not exist, Joh 1:1). Though divine, he took on human flesh, yet He never sinned, not even once. (2 Corinthians 5:21) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (1 John 3:5) “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” (Cf. Heb. 4:15; 1Pe. 2:22)
2) Therefore, the sins for which he died were not His.
b. The sins for which He suffered were our sins.
1) My sins and yours are so evil and offensive to God that they demand eternal damnation (2Thes. 1:8-9).
2) Christ came to this earth to die for you and me. (Romans 5:6, 8) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. … But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Hebrews 9:26) “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Cf. 1Pe.2:24; Gal. 1:4). We deserve to die on that cross, not Christ. Until this fact convicts our hearts, God cannot save us.
3) “A missionary was speaking to a remote tribe of people who had never heard about the life and ministry of Jesus. Seated in the front row, listening intently to all the missionary had to say, was the chief of the tribe. || As the story of Jesus came to its climax and the chief heard how Christ was cruelly crucified, he could restrain himself no longer. He jumped up and cried, ‘Stop! Take Him down from the cross! I belong there, not Him!’ He had grasped the meaning of the gospel; he understood that he was a sinner, and that Christ was the sinless One.” ODB, 2 April 1999
c. Christ’s one-time death on the cross paid for all sin.
1) O.T. sacrifices were offered daily, weekly, monthly, and on holidays. Those sacrifices were never sufficient. (Hebrews 10:4) “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.“
2) Christ died once to fully pay for every sin. (Hebrews 9:26) “For then must he [Christ] often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Cf. Hebrews 9:28).
2. … the just for the unjust,
a. Christ is just.
1) The word “just” means righteous. Christ, being God, is the only eternally sinless being, yet He loves humans immensely. (2 Peter 3:9) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.“
2) Jesus’ sinless sacrifice completely paid for my sin and yours. He totally fulfilled God’s holy demands in the law. (Romans 10:4) “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Cf. Mat. 5:17).
b. We are unjust.
1) We are far from just or righteous. We cannot keep God’s law. We are guilty sinners through and through. (Ecclesiastes 7:20) “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Mark 7:21-22) “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:” (Cf. Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10; 2Tim. 3:2-4)
2) Being unjust, we deserve eternal damnation in hell. (James 1:14-15) “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (Revelation 21:8) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Cf. John 3:16; Romans 6:23).
3. … that he might bring us to God,
a. We cannot get to God by ourselves.
1) We do not just need a boost after we do all that we can do. In ourselves, you and I are helplessly doomed.
2) Truthfully, nothing we do will make us worthy. (Ephesians 2:8-9) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Titus 3:5) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Salvation is by grace alone.
3) We cannot help God save our sinful souls.
b. Only Christ can bring us to God.
1) The word “bring” means to open the access.
2) God’s law demands perfection. Christ, being both eternal and perfect, was able to satisfy the wrath of God and offer sinners eternal life. (Hebrews 9:14) “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (1 John 2:2) “And he is the propitiation (i.e., satisfactory payment in full) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (Colossians 1:21-22) “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:“
4. … being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
a. Christ was put to death.
1) Christ came to earth for one purpose – to die for humans. (Philippians 2:8) “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.“
2) His excruciating death on the cross was intensified by the tremendous payment required for man’s sin. In some incomprehensible way, He took our eternal hell for us.
b. Christ was made alive.
1) “Quickened” simply means made alive. He was raised to life by the Spirit (cf. Rom. 8:11; Gal 1:1; Joh. 10:17-18).
2) Jesus lives that He might resurrect those who place their faith in Him alone and give them eternal life.
Conclusion: In this verse, Peter answered the question, What can bring us to God? He said it is the suffering of Christ for our sins: the death and resurrection of the just for the unjust. There is no other way to avoid hell and to enter God’s presence. He will do this for you if you stop trusting your good deeds, see yourself as a doomed sinner, sincerely repent of your sins, and place your trust in His death and resurrection alone to save your soul.
Jesus wants to bring you to God, but He can only do it if you will humbly stop trying and start trusting.
