1 Peter 2:21-25

 

1 Pet 2:21 (KJB)

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

 

Here is one of the most important pieces of information for every Christian to know. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered in the flesh for every one of His Elect and that suffering was not just for Him but it was an example to us that we need to realize that we will also suffer for the sake of Christ. This passage even states that we were called to suffer. Imagine that, a calling of suffering in the footsteps of the Lord. As long as we name the name of Christ in this hostile world, we can expect to run into both mild and harsh opposition. This world hates God and hates Christ even more. Many world religions will name God but will never exalt the Lord Jesus Christ to His rightful position. Some world religions who name God as their head will have no problem in murdering a Christian for their belief. We see this in our day on a consistent basis. The numbers of martyrs in the early church and in the medieval church do not amount to the amount of martyrs in the 20^th and now 21^st centuries. We must realize we live in a very hostile world and persecution can happen at any time, even in a so-called, “civilized society.”

 

1 Pet 2:22 (KJB)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 

Guile - Deceit or deception

 

(2 Cor 5:21 KJV) 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. The Lord Jesus Christ was completely sinless in fact He was so pure that not even a bit of deceit was found on His tongue. (James 3:2 KJV) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Peter confirms the statement made by James that if a person does not offend in word, then he is a perfect man. Now Jesus did offend but not by any wrong words spoken, He offended by bringing the true Gospel. The offense was in the hearing of the words and not the speaking of the words. (Gal 5:11 KJV) And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. Paul penned the fact that the cross was an offence and the cross is at the heart of the true gospel. (1 Pet 2:8 KJV) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. A few verses back Peter speaks of the Lord Jesus as being a rock of offence. The bottom line is that the Lord Jesus Christ and the true gospel are an offence to the entire unsaved world.

 

1 Pet 2:23 (KJB)

Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

 

Reviled - Verbally abused or insulted

Threatened - Bully or warn sternly

Committed - Hand over or deliver up

 

We read here that the Lord Jesus was verbally abused but when that happened to Him, He understood that He must go through this humiliation for the sake of the Elect. (Heb 12:2 KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 speaks of the Lord Jesus enduring the cross and then we are given the reason why. We are told that He endured it for the joy which would come after this. Millions would be saved and would have an eternal home in Heaven because of the cross. It was a few hours of horrendous suffering versus unending bliss in Heaven. This is why Christ endured the cross and while He suffered He did not threaten those who were carrying out the plan of God, instead, the Lord committed the entire situation to God who would judge righteously when the time comes to judge the entire world. This is why when we face persecution, we must commit the situation unto God because He knows full well what we are going through and is able to intervene on our behalf but is working out His plan in our lives, just like He worked out His plan in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1 Pet 2:24 (KJB)

(A) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: (B) by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

Bare - Carry, take, or offer up

 

(A) Since there was no way for anyone to becomes saved by means of keeping the law or doing good works, the only way we are able to become saved is if the Lord Jesus Christ became our substitutionary atonement. This verse teaches us that the Lord Jesus Christ took all of our sins on the cross and as a result we are dead to sins. (Gal 6:14 KJV) But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. The best way to understand this is going to back to Paul’s verse in Galatians. The believer is dead to sin because the world system is crucified unto us, that is, the evil ways of the world are dead to us by means of crucifixion. Then on the other hand Paul states that he is dead to the ways of the world because of crucifixion. When we were in the world, the ways of the world seemed good but now that we are saved, the ways of the world are dead to us. What looked good then looks like death now because it was the ways of the world that sent Christ to the cross. Now instead of living the evil ways of the world, we live in imputed righteousness given us by means of the cross.

 

(B) The second half of this verse makes a statement concerning healing which has been taken grossly out of context. The charismatic movement has taken this verse and tried to make it state that physical healing is in the atonement. If this is true then why do millions of unbelievers become healed? Unbelievers are not under the atonement, meaning they are not saved. If healing was in the atonement and unbelievers are not, then we should see unbelievers die from everything from a cold to cancer without any chance of healing. However, the real situation is that believers as well as unbelievers die everyday from disease. If these churches who teach healing as part of the atonement were really believing that, then none of them would have cemeteries. We can best see this illustrated from Isaiah 53:5:

 

(Isa 53:5 KJV) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

 

Wounded - Pierced

Bruised - Crushed as in a social sense or made contrite, humbled

Chastisement - Discipline, instruction or warning

 

In this verse we have three descriptions as to what happened (will happen) at Calvary. First, the Lord Jesus was pierced for our transgressions and this word is used in the context of death. Secondly, He was bruised or extremely humbled for our iniquities, then thirdly, He was disciplined for our peace which is the peace of the eternal gospel. Now let us look at the three words: transgressions, iniquities, and peace. If you will notice there is absolutely no reference to physical healing in this verse. The healing that the believer experiences is not physical because talk to most Christians and you will find that they have some type of physical ailment. Even the big charismatic preachers wear glasses. Why? Because their eyes are becoming weak with age. So then why do they not heal themselves? Simple, because they cannot. Physical healing falls under the aegis of the will of God. If someone becomes physically sick, we pray for their healing according to the will of God and if God wills that person to become healed, then they will but if not they will die from that disease. Christ is the great physician and as a result He cleanses the believer from all sin and that is the healing of the soul for all eternity. If physical healing was part of the atonement, then that would have to be an eternal aspect which means that no Christian could ever physically die and that of course is daft.

 

1 Pet 2:25 (KJB)

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

 

Astray - Seduced, deluded, or deceived

Returned - Turn back

Bishop - Overseer or superintendent

 

Peter continues the thought from verse 24. Here is the reason we were healed because we were going astray and that word carries with it the meaning of “seduced and deluded.” We followed the ways of the world and those ways only deceived us and would have sent us to hell unless the Lord Jesus intervened by means of healing us with His stripes. In other words, He saved us by means of Calvary. No longer are we going astray but He has caused us to turn back to Him. (Rev 3:12 KJV) Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Never again will the believer roam because now we have been made pillars in the temple of God forever. We have returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. The Lord Jesus Christ is considered the Great Shepherd. (John 10:11 KJV) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Back in 1611 when the King James was translated, the translators created a stir by using the word Bishop. This is because the power of the Roman Catholic Institution was waning but the inquisition was still a living memory for many and the word Bishop brought back thoughts of the Roman Catholic Bishops who oversaw the murder of millions of true Christians. The contrast is that the Roman Catholic Bishops were despotic and did not care about the welfare of the true believers but the Lord Jesus Christ being the true Bishop of our souls has eternal care and concern for His sheep. This is what the Bible is conveying to us by using the word Bishop.

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