“Our Suffering Savior”
“For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”
-1 Peter 3:18
Jesus suffered for our sins. The one who wasn’t guilty took our punishment for our sins. He is righteous. We are unrighteous. Why would he suffer for us? What does that mean for us? 1 Peter 3:18 answers these questions in five words – “to bring you to God”. We were not near to God as sin separated us. He brought us near in the only way possible. God sent his sinless Son to be “put to death in the body”. Jesus died for our sins on the cross. But, Good News, the cross was not the end. Jesus defeated death and was “made alive in the Spirit”. Because of his death, burial, and resurrection, we can be made righteous and brought near to a holy God.
Lent, the forty days that lead us to Easter, provides us time to remember Christ’s suffering, which brought us salvation. Jesus brought us to God, but from what? First Peter 1:17-19 tells us, “Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
Jesus brought us out of thinking this world is our home. We now view ourselves as foreigners here. Praise the Lord! This present world is not all there is! He redeemed us from “the empty way of life…from our ancestors”. Our purpose is not found in what everybody else lives for: self, fame, possessions, achievements, etc. This world is not our home. This world’s customs are not ours any longer. We are now to live holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16).
Jesus was “made alive in the Spirit” – he resurrected from the dead. That means we can now share his resurrection power. We are made alive by His Spirit when we are saved. We have a new heart and a new spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
Lent also gives us the opportunity to allow the Spirit of God that saved us and lives in us to lead us to repentance. The Holy Spirit will lead us to holiness through the Spirit. We are raised to walk in a new life (Romans 6:4). As we approach the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, may we allow the Spirit to help us live holy lives unto the Lord in a perspective of worship and adoration.
Questions:
How does Christ’s suffering bring us peace?
Have you been brought to God in salvation?
Have you allowed the Spirit to lead you to holiness in every area of life?
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for suffering for our sins and bringing us to God in salvation. You are righteous and holy. Thank you for the gift of salvation and your Spirit, who leads us to holiness. Help us walk in this new life to please you. Thank you for redeeming us from an empty way of life. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Read:
1 Peter 3:17-18
Action Step:
Confess any sins you need to put to death. Now, write down how Christ wants you to live a resurrected life.
stephen R Harrison 
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