1 Peter 2:21-25, finishing chapter 2 today.

For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about how in the world are we to live in this world as the distinct people of God, in the world but not of the world, in order to declare to the world the glory of God.

Primary way (so far): submission.

So far we’ve looked at:

  1. Submission to government.
  2. Submission to masters/employers.

There’s been some tough stuff in the middle, but he bookends it on both sides with a reminder of who we’re doing it for, and what he’s done for us.

That itself is a good reminder and example for us.
Gospel → Response → Gospel → Response → Gospel

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:21–25

This is the word of the Lord.

Peter’s been saying some tough things for these suffering believers to hear. Submit to the corrupt Roman government. Submit to your masters, the good and the bad…

If you’re anything like me, these past couple of weeks you’ve been going, my goodness, we’re supposed to just sit back and take all this?

We read his answer there in verse 21: “For you were called to this…”

One of the best commentaries I’ve found on 1 Peter is from Edmund Clowney, he said it like this:

A life of suffering is our calling, not our fate.

That’s a mindset change, when something’s a calling. I’ve heard pastors my whole life talk about the difficulties of ministry, and they’ll say things like, “Calling will keep you when nothing else will.”

Knowing that suffering is a part of the calling of believers will keep you steady when nothing else will.

You remember the Frank Sinatra song, 1966:

“That’s Life!”
That’s what all the people say,
You’re riding high in April,
Shot down in May…
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race

Frank Sinatra, That’s Life

The problem with that is that if you live long enough, you’ll find yourself in such pain and suffering that you have no ability and no desire to pick yourself up and get back in the race.

Don’t fall for it. It’s a good song, doesn’t work in real life.

Here’s what does work: child of God, yes, some people around you may “get their kicks stompin’ on your dream…” and you’re still called to honor them, treat them well, submit if they’re in authority over you.

The call of Christ, “Come follow me”, is in every single way. Become like me, including both his suffering and response to it.

At the end of this chapter, Peter points us back to the One we’re doing this for, and gives us two fundamental reasons why we should live in this way.

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

1. Jesus sets the precedent.

So, how is submission in suffering our calling? Because we’re following Jesus—that’s what it means to be a disciple.

A disciple is someone who is increasingly worshipping Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and obeying Jesus in all of life.

Jeff Vanderstelt

“who Jesus would be if He had your life.”

Dallas Willard

Remember being a kid, light table that you could put something under and trace? Pretty soon you can do it yourself!

That’s literally the connotation in the Greek of the word translated “example.” They would have kids trace the pattern so they could learn their letters. Montessori, even back then!

Let’s trace the pattern of our Savior in these verses.

But before that, just want to point out that the author, Peter, was there to see this! He was with Jesus morning, noon, and night for three years. Here’s his estimation of Jesus life, verse 22:

A. He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.

And we’re to follow his example!

Think about it in the context of submission to human authorities we’ve been talking about… people love to talk smack about their leaders, don’t they? From the manager, to the CEO, to the mayor, governor, congressman, president.

Jesus, on the other hand, was not like that. Remember when the Pharisees tried to trap him by asking him whether they should pay taxes? If he said no and ripped into the evils of the Roman occupiers, they’d get the Romans to kill him. If he said, “Yes, absolutely you should.”, then the Jewish people would quit following him.”

Jesus didn’t take the bait—he never did.

“Who’s picture is on the coin?”

“Umm, Ceasar’s?”

“Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus didn’t have deceit in his mouth, and neither should those who follow Him.

B. when he was insulted, he did not insult in return

And we’re to follow his example, right? That just got real, didn’t it?!

This goes against everything in us in the moment, doesn’t it? Ever gotten into one of these insult matches with someone?

Come on, now—we just talked about having “no deceit in your mouth”! Time to go over the last point again!

You walk away going, “What in the world just happened?”

I’m going to go out on a limb here, that Jesus was about the quickest witted person that has ever lived. Someone who knows all about everything about you? That person could throw an insult that sticks. That person never did.

And neither should we, if we’re following in his steps. He set the precedent for us, on how to act when we’re insulted.

Anyone picking up on how reminiscent this is of the Sermon on the Mount? One of the most incredible portions in the New Testament, one of these days we’ll do a series on it, because it’s so shocking and flips everything upside down from the way the world does things.

For instance:

“You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, don’t resist an evildoer. On the contrary, if anyone slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. As for the one who wants to sue you and take away your shirt, let him have your coat as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:38–45

Did Jesus really mean everything he said? Oh yeah, he meant it, he said it, and then he backed it up with his very life.

Think about his relationship with Peter, the night of the crucifixion. Is there any worse insult than your closest friends disowning you? And yet, he didn’t say, “See, Peter, I told you you would deny me, you fickle, loud-mouthed hick? How could you? Go ahead and go back to fishing where you belong.”

The example almost sounds blasphemous, doesn’t it? Because it’s so opposite of what we know Jesus to be. And that’s right, he’s not like that.

But I know a lot of Christians like that. I’ve been a Christian like that. God forgive me, help me to follow the precedent set by the Savior, who did not trade insult for insult, but traded evil for good.

So what, we’re just supposed to let people get away with everything they might say or do to us?

Nope, that’s not what’s happening at all. Nobody’s getting away with anything. Let’s keep tracing that pattern so we see the whole picture.

When he suffered, he did not threaten, but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

Do you see the shift in thinking? It’s not “letting them get away with it.” It’s letting God have his way with them.

Don’t you think he can do a better job than you?

I think this phrase is part of what it means to “submit as free people” back in verse 16. There’s a ridiculous amount of freedom in letting God be the judge rather than trying to be the judge, jury, and executioner yourself all the time.

If there was anyone who could have ever threatened, it was Jesus. When he’s on the cross, people laughing, jeering, spitting at him while he’s struggling for each breath. “He said he would save others, but he can’t even save himself. If you’re really who you say you are, come down off the cross.”

And he has 12 legions of angels, on the edge of their seats, ready to go at a moments notice. A legion in the Roman army was at least 6,000 men, so 6×12 = 72,000 angels, minimum.

But he didn’t threaten. He said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” He entrusted himself to the one who judges justly, even to the point of his last words being, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

And we are called to follow the same pattern, when we’re suffering, when we’re insulted, when we’re freely submitting ourselves to those who are good and crooked the same because of the Lord, just quietly trusting the one who judges justly, that no one is ultimately getting away with anything.

The people of God, this holy nation, royal priesthood, people for his own possession, we are playing the long game. It’s not only about the here and now for us. It’s about the here and the hereafter.

We know God is good. We know he’s coming to judge the living and the dead. We know he’s going to make all things new. And so we trust him.

Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.

Romans 12:19

We want revenge, and we want it right now. Why are crime shows so popular!

But the reality is, vengeance belongs to the Lord, and it’s not ours to take. However angry and indignant you are about the insults hurled you way, how you’ve been mistreated, the Righteous Judge, who is also your Father, feels it even more.

The God who created the heavens and the earth with a single word, he says, about those who rebel against him and abuse his children, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay.”

That should be enough for his children to go, “Okay.” and entrust the whole situation to the one who judges justly.

So, how is this submission to authority a basic calling of the Christian life? Because we’re following the example of what Isaiah calls the Suffering Servant. His life, his attitude toward suffering, lays out the pattern for us to trace ours off of.

  1. Jesus sets the precedent.

2. Jesus paid the price.

You can see it at the beginning in verse 21, where we started…

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

Why is submission in suffering a calling? (a) because he suffered for you, and (b) he left an example for you.

Peter lays out the pattern of Jesus’ life that we’re to trace with our own, and then he comes back to the power of Jesus’ death that made our lives possible in verse 24:

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree;

1 Peter 2:24a

What a glorious truth. You and I are completely hopeless if that’s not true.

It is not enough for Jesus to be your example, he needs to be your expiation (a theological word that doesn’t get used as much as it should), the one who takes away your guilt.

Anyone ever struggle with guilt when you look back on past sins, I mean really struggle, especially about things you’ve done that hurt people you loved?

You need to study the theology of expiation. Jesus takes away your guilt. That sin that the enemy wants to bring up at the most random times? “He himself bore that sin in his body on the tree.” He took the guilt himself, so you don’t have to carry it around the rest of your life. You do not have to go to bed with guilt at night, or wake up with guilt in the morning.

When we wallow in the self-hatred of guilt over sin we’ve repented of long ago, we’re denying this unique aspect of his work on the cross. And please, if that’s you, please do not go, “Great, another thing to feel guilty about.” No! Don’t do that!

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me

There are plenty of good examples for us to follow—none as good as Jesus—but a good example is not enough. We need a Savior. And praise God, we have one.

Dead To Sin, Alive For Righteousness

For what purpose did Jesus bear our sins? What’s His goal?

so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness.

1 Peter 2:24a

There is so much to learn from just that phrase. This concept is all over the New Testament, especially in Romans 6.

When you come to Christ, everything changes. He secured not only the removal of our guilt, but also release from our captivity.

This holy nation, God’s people, are set free from slavery to sin. That way of life is dead to us now. Now we live for righteousness, living in a way that shows those around us what following Jesus’ footsteps looks like—imperfectly, sure, but trying, failing, repenting, and living in grace.

Last verse in chapter 2…

By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:24–25

Do you know why sheep need a shepherd? Because they’re largely defenseless against predators, naturally nervous, easily frightened, and will do what the herd is doing, no matter what.

For instance, this story from 2005:

Hundreds of sheep followed their leader off a cliff, plunging to their deaths this week while shepherds looked on in dismay. Four hundred sheep fell 15 meters to their deaths in a ravine, but broke the fall of another 1,100 animals who survived. [You can survive a cliff dive if you’re landing on a pile of wool!] The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas in eastern Turkey, [same area where the believers this book was written to!] tops $100,000.

Fox News, 2015

That story sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t it? No wonder the Scriptures refer to us as sheep all the time. That was us. Going astray. Following the herd off the cliff, on the wide road that leads to destruction.

But now, now we have been healed. Healed of our rebelliousness by a Shepherd, a Great Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep. Why wouldn’t we return to such a shepherd? Why wouldn’t we follow such a leader?

Why do the people of God lead lives of free submission, even while suffering at the hands of others as exiles?

Because our King, Jesus, set the precedent for how to live, and paid the price so we could live.