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Introduction:
When the pressures of life begin to overwhelm you there is a
good place to go for comfort and encouragement. When the going gets
tuff, I challenge you to go back to the cross. Verse 21 teaches us that
Jesus is our example and we are to follow His example. One of the
examples He has left us is the way of suffering. Following in the
footsteps of Jesus will sometime lead to suffering. When you start
whining and complaining, you ought to go back to the cross. When you
start questioning God, you ought to go back to the cross. When your
gumption is without
unction and you find it hard
the function, you ought to go
back to the cross. Peter shares three views of the cross here in the
closing verses of chapter one
I.
THE BRUTALITY
OF THE CROSS (VV.21-23)
A.
Is Magnified By His
Innocence (v.22)
·
“Who
did no sin” (Illus: Expound the innocence of Jesus). When I
see a sinless Savior dying on that cross it seems to magnify the
brutality of crucifixion.
·
“Guile”
= deceit or trickery. The
people of the day examined Jesus Christ and could find no guile!
B.
Is Magnified By His
Restraint (v.23)
·
“Reviled”
= to hurl a biting insult.
Jesus did not recompense evil for evil.
·
“Threatened
not” He could have called 10,000 Angles.
·
“Committed
Himself” to a God who always judges right. On this cross it’s
not my will, but God’s will that counts! (Illus: the greatest time of
spiritual growth and maturity come in the fire. Maybe, instead of asking
God to remove you from the fire, you should just ask God to do right
(you can rest assured He will) and say, “I put my life in your hands…the
righteous judge!”)
II.
THE BIRTHMARKS
OF THE CROSS (V.24)
Jesus’
suffering immortalized the cross. How do you know you have
been touched by this cross?
A.
A
Repentant Heart (v.24a)
·
“Dead
to sins” If you’re saved, when Jesus died you died. That
means the power of sin in your life is dead! The only way sin can rule
and reign in your life is if you allow sin to rule and reign in your
life. You need to take your position as a believer at the cross and
remind the devil that you are crucified with Jesus Christ…dead to
sin…not controlled by the “old Man” anymore…you have a living Savior
living in and through you.
·
A repentant heart means you have a
sensitivity to sin. To break strongholds in your life go back to the
cross and see what sin cost God!
B.
A
Righteous Life (v.24b)
·
“Live
unto righteousness” Holiness is not something you do…it is
something God puts inside of you when you’re saved. That means that
there are divine acts of goodness that spring from that Jesus nature
within us…that manifest themselves through us…to touch those around us.
·
If you’ve been to
Calvary
you’re going to have a repentant
heart and a righteous life.
III.
THE BLESSINGS
OF THE CROSS (VV.24-25)
There are 3 blessings here that Jesus bestows on us
because of the cross.
A.
Blessing Of
Substitution (v.24c)
·
The person that was healed did not
receive the strips. I’m healed because He received the strips!
·
(Illus: He took my punishment
(expound)…Jesus wrapped His arms around me and stood between me and the
whip and by His strips I am healed!) SUBSTITUTION…what a blessing!
B.
Blessing Of
Restoration (v.25a)
·
“Sheep
going astray” When a sheep is lost from the fold it will lay
down and die. It has no sense of how to find its way back (unable to
take care of itself). That’s what it means to be lost…separated from the
Savior!
·
“But
now” Jesus the Great Shepard left the sheep fold of heaven
and just in the nick of time rescued me! Calvary holds the blessing of restoration!
C.
Blessing Of
Protection (v.25b)
·
Does the Bible teach that Jesus came
save you but He cannot seal you? No!
·
“Bishop”
= Protector, guardian or overseer of your soul. Since I’ve been to
Calvary
and washed in that blood I have the Shepard that never lets me out of
His sight (Psa. 23).
Conclusion:
(Illus: “wounded for me.”) It’s good to go back to the cross
and remember that Jesus was wounded for you!
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