Sunday, August 31, 2003
The power of bearing
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd & overseer of your souls.” – I Peter 2:24-25
This comes right after the verse on how Christ did not retaliate when he was beaten and falsely accused, but yet turned over his anger to God and continued to the cross. He bore our sins so that we could die to them and live for righteousness. It is by Christ’s action on the cross that we are able to become as one that is dead to our sin.
As Christians, it is easy to allow ourselves to be controlled by our sinful desires. Personally, this is by far and away my biggest frustration with myself. Just this morning, as I was waking up (8/10/03), I let myself be controlled by a wave of sinful & lustful thoughts. What is so awful about such things is the ease by which the sinful though turns into two, then three, then four, eight, sixteen, and before long it’s a rolling wheel that seems to run uncontrolled. What Peter is reminding us in verse 24 is that it need not be something that controls us. No matter what the sin; lust, envy, pride, boasting, greed, selfishness, etc., Christ has given us the power to become dead to it and to stop the wheel from rolling before it even begins. Without the cross, many of us would be both unaware of our sin and unable to stop it.
What is more, because Christ actually bore our sins, we are no longer responsible for them. Look at the definition of bear (from dictionary.com):
… Put up with something or somebody unpleasant; move while holding up or supporting; bring forth; take on as one’s own expense or debts of another person; contain or hold; have within; bring in, as of investments; have one one’s person; behave in a certain manner; have rightfully; of rights titles, and offices.
I believe this means that Christ took on our sins AS HIS OWN. He has taken the full right and title ownership to our sins and dealt with them on the cross. We therefore are able to be righteous because we do not have the penalties or debts of sin in our own portfolio.
Finally, why can we claim all of this? Why can we KNOW that our sin is repaid? Because, although we had gone astray, we came back to our shepherd – because we returned to Christ. Christ’s forgiveness, his righteousness, is available to all men, but only received by those who know their wrong, acknowledge it, and return themselves to the shepherd’s care and to his guidance and observation. Action is required on our part to receive the blessings and protection of God. But that action is simple – come to him, come home to him. Let him be our shepherd and not try to do it on our own.
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the shepherd & overseer of your souls.” – I Peter 2:24-25
This comes right after the verse on how Christ did not retaliate when he was beaten and falsely accused, but yet turned over his anger to God and continued to the cross. He bore our sins so that we could die to them and live for righteousness. It is by Christ’s action on the cross that we are able to become as one that is dead to our sin.
As Christians, it is easy to allow ourselves to be controlled by our sinful desires. Personally, this is by far and away my biggest frustration with myself. Just this morning, as I was waking up (8/10/03), I let myself be controlled by a wave of sinful & lustful thoughts. What is so awful about such things is the ease by which the sinful though turns into two, then three, then four, eight, sixteen, and before long it’s a rolling wheel that seems to run uncontrolled. What Peter is reminding us in verse 24 is that it need not be something that controls us. No matter what the sin; lust, envy, pride, boasting, greed, selfishness, etc., Christ has given us the power to become dead to it and to stop the wheel from rolling before it even begins. Without the cross, many of us would be both unaware of our sin and unable to stop it.
What is more, because Christ actually bore our sins, we are no longer responsible for them. Look at the definition of bear (from dictionary.com):
… Put up with something or somebody unpleasant; move while holding up or supporting; bring forth; take on as one’s own expense or debts of another person; contain or hold; have within; bring in, as of investments; have one one’s person; behave in a certain manner; have rightfully; of rights titles, and offices.
I believe this means that Christ took on our sins AS HIS OWN. He has taken the full right and title ownership to our sins and dealt with them on the cross. We therefore are able to be righteous because we do not have the penalties or debts of sin in our own portfolio.
Finally, why can we claim all of this? Why can we KNOW that our sin is repaid? Because, although we had gone astray, we came back to our shepherd – because we returned to Christ. Christ’s forgiveness, his righteousness, is available to all men, but only received by those who know their wrong, acknowledge it, and return themselves to the shepherd’s care and to his guidance and observation. Action is required on our part to receive the blessings and protection of God. But that action is simple – come to him, come home to him. Let him be our shepherd and not try to do it on our own.
It’s been a long time since I’ve posted to this blog, so I have to catch up.
Hold up under persecution
“Slaves submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those that are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God… If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” – I Peter 2:18-21
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” – I Peter 2:23
Regarding slavery in the Bible, it’s always important to remember that in Biblical times, people were put into slavery all of the time – usually for a period of years to work off a debt of some kind. Slaves were also taken in the victories of war and conquest. In the case of the former, a slave was not necessarily the same kind of slave as was brought to America in the days of world exploration, and the black slave trade.
It is also important to remember that while the Bible does not speak out against such things as slavery, it does not speak in favor of it, save for us committing ourselves as slaves to God. In fact, Paul speaks of slaves gaining their freedom in I Corinthians 7.
All that said, here we have the continued call to respect those in positions of authority. The fact that Peter includes a section of his letter specifically directed to slaves is as though he were saying, “Look, even slaves should do this – this is important!”
And then Peter moves onto the fact that Christ should be our example. Even when HE was treated unjustly, he turned over judgment and wrath to God, to let him deal with those who mistreated him.
In this world, it is not our place to exact judgment on anyone, even on those who persecute us. We must leave that to God who will enact judgment in his time. (Obviously if someone is breaking laws, we also leave the enforcement of those laws to those in authority.) Instead we must pray for everyone – even our enemies, that they may come to know God and receive the mercy and grace that gives us the hope & ability to stand up under trial.
Hold up under persecution
“Slaves submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those that are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God… If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” – I Peter 2:18-21
“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” – I Peter 2:23
Regarding slavery in the Bible, it’s always important to remember that in Biblical times, people were put into slavery all of the time – usually for a period of years to work off a debt of some kind. Slaves were also taken in the victories of war and conquest. In the case of the former, a slave was not necessarily the same kind of slave as was brought to America in the days of world exploration, and the black slave trade.
It is also important to remember that while the Bible does not speak out against such things as slavery, it does not speak in favor of it, save for us committing ourselves as slaves to God. In fact, Paul speaks of slaves gaining their freedom in I Corinthians 7.
All that said, here we have the continued call to respect those in positions of authority. The fact that Peter includes a section of his letter specifically directed to slaves is as though he were saying, “Look, even slaves should do this – this is important!”
And then Peter moves onto the fact that Christ should be our example. Even when HE was treated unjustly, he turned over judgment and wrath to God, to let him deal with those who mistreated him.
In this world, it is not our place to exact judgment on anyone, even on those who persecute us. We must leave that to God who will enact judgment in his time. (Obviously if someone is breaking laws, we also leave the enforcement of those laws to those in authority.) Instead we must pray for everyone – even our enemies, that they may come to know God and receive the mercy and grace that gives us the hope & ability to stand up under trial.
