GOD’S WORD FOR MARCH 18 ~ ~ 1 Peter 2:19-21 ~ ~ “This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly … for to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps.”
Hebrews 12:3-4
“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”
Philippians 2:5-8
“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Continuing in John Piper’s book, “The Passion of Jesus Christ”.
Christ Suffered and Died………….
TO CALL US TO FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE OF LOWLINESS AND COSTLY LOVE
Imitation is not salvation. But salvation brings imitation. Christ is not given to us first as model, but as Savior. In the experience of the believer, first comes the pardon of Christ, then the pattern of Christ. In the experience of Christ Himself, they happen together: the same suffering that pardons our sins provides our pattern of love.
In fact, only when we experience the pardon of Christ can He become a pattern for us. This sounds wrong because His sufferings are unique. They cannot be imitated. No one but the Son of God can suffer “for us” the way Christ did. He bore our sins in a way that no one else could. He was a substitute sufferer. We can never duplicate this. It was once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous. Divine, vicarious suffering for sinners is inimitable.
However, this unique suffering, after pardoning and justifying sinners, transforms them into people who act like Jesus –
Not like Him in pardoning, but like Him in loving.
Like Him in suffering to do good to others.
Like Him in not returning evil for evil.
Like Him in lowliness and meekness.
Like Him in patient endurance.
Like Him in servanthood.
Jesus suffered for us uniquely, that we might suffer with Him in the cause of love.
Christ’s apostle, Paul, said that his ambition was first to share in Christ’s righteousness by faith, and then to share in His sufferings in ministry. “(May I) be found in (Christ), not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ …that I may…share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” (Philippians 3:9-10). Justification precedes and makes possible imitation. Christ’s suffering for justification makes possible our suffering for proclamation. Our suffering for others does not remove the wrath of God. It shows the value of having the wrath of God removed by the suffering of Christ. It points people to Him.
When the Bible calls us to “endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:10), it means that our imitation of Christ points people to Him who alone can save. Our suffering is crucial, but Christ’s alone saves. Therefore, let us imitate His love, but not take His place.