Sunday: Suffering, Jesus and Salvation
Read the following passages, and note what each reveals about salvation:
1 Pet. 1:2 “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.”
1 Pet. 1:8-9 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”
1 Pet. 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
1 Pet. 2:22-25 “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
1 Pet. 3:18 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
When Peter mentions salvation, it is usually in the context of Jesus’ suffering as a Substitute for sinners. For example, in 1 Peter 2:22-24, when Peter writes about the suffering of Jesus, he is using language that reflects Isaiah 53:5-6, Isa. 53:9. “[Jesus] bore our sins in His own body” on the cross and “by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24, NKJV), reveal the ideas of substitution and sacrifice.
In many of the sacrifices described in the Hebrew Bible, sinners brought their offerings to the temple and laid their hands on them. This act symbolically transferred the sin from the sinner to the animal, which then died in the sinner’s place (Lev. 4:29-30, Lev. 4:33-34; Lev. 14:10-13). The uncleanness of sin that accumulated on the altar was cleansed and removed on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:16-19).
The blood of the sacrifice played an important role in atoning for sin. Christians have been ransomed by the precious blood of Jesus (1 Pet. 1:18-19). Paul, too, expressed the same idea of substitution: Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21). As 1 Peter 3:18 states, Christ suffered for sins, the righteous (Jesus) for the unrighteous (us).
Like Paul (Rom. 3:21-22), Peter emphasizes the need for faith. As he says to his readers: “Although you have not seen him, you love him . . . for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Pet. 1:8-9, NRSV). Salvation is not earned by godly behavior, but it is granted when we believe in what Jesus has done for us and accept Him as our personal Savior. Our assurance is found in Him, not in ourselves. If it were in ourselves, what real assurance would we have?
Why is Jesus, as your Substitute, the Great Hope of salvation? What comfort can you draw from this wonderful truth? |
As my creator I know he loves me greater than my earthly parent and I know how much they loved me. When he saw me from the beginning of time fall into the pit of sin lost and helpless. He made prevision to save me from my sins and to restore me back unto Himself. What manner of Love he has shown unto me. I feel comforted to know that the King of the universe loved me so much that He could not pass me by no matter how small I am in all of creation. My Jesus is the way the truth and the life through Him I am somebody special and so are we all. Amen.
God has been so good to me! Although I do not deserve, I feel He loves me and cares for me and my family! He has given us one more day as a present! As a gift of His constant love. One more chance to recognize our dependance of His grace!
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord to take upon Himself our deserved punishment and gives us life,salvation, forgiveness, mercy,grace and love, deserves our adoration, praise honor and total commitment to Him.
It was and is God Himself in Jesus for me, as my priest and my king and as my sacrifice, that died for my sin 2,000 plus or minus years ago at Calvary that also gives me the eternal life that only he can give to me and all by faith now and forever. Amen.
"For He will never leave or forsake me" As long as I believe, have faith and know that as my heavenly father, He will grow me as a mustard seed into what He has ordained.
what a love! Redeemed by the precious blood of the lamb. He gave everything for me to be saved. God strengthen me so that I will be part of your saving grace.Amen.
Can someone explain Leviticus 16 verse 18 that says Aaron takes the blood of the bull and the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar.
Not all can be said as to the day of atonement and its implication for the plan of salvation as a whole. So we have to briefly try a preliminary answer. On the day of atonement, once a year, there is a general all inclusive cleansing going on. Not only has the High Priest to offer a sin offering for himself and for his house (Leviticus 16:3.6.11), also the people have to have their sins cleansed by a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:5.15)
During the daily sacrificial ritual, taking place before the day of atonemant, sin was first transfered from the sinner to the unblemished animal. (Leviticus 4:4) During the following ritual blood was either sprinkled at the veil of the sanctuary (Leviticus 4:6), or upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 3:2) Thereby sin was transfered to the sanctuary resulting in its defilement. As the Holy God dwelled in the midst of the congregation, within the sanctuary, nothing and no one remained clean: all and everything needed cleansing. (Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 16:16; Isaiah 6:5-7)
The day of atonement was instituted in order to have all and everything to be cleansed and purified: sanctuary and God`s people. The multiple object of cleansing is clearly stated: The holy sanctuary, the tabernacle of the congregation, the altar,the priests and the people of the congregation (Leviticus 16:33).
After the atonement by the blood ritual was completed and ended, (Leviticus 16:20) the scapegoat ritual eliminated all atoned for sins and all uncleanliness from the camp. (Leviticus 16:20-22) The scapegoat ritual had nothing to do with the blood atonement itselt. The scapegoat did not shed his blood at all. Driving him away into the wilderness, after the already atoned for sins were laid on his head, symbolizes the total elimination of sin from the camp.
Returning to the spistle of Peter: God did not spare the angels that sinned, but cast them into the deep, delivering them into chains of darkness -- against the background of Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:9 -- in order to be reserved for judgement and final elimination of all evil. (Matthew 8:29)
Christ has delivered us from sin (1 Peter 1:18-19), but the world is still unredeemed. (Hebrews 2:8) Looking out of the window or into the latest news on TV, every one will notice that the world is still not redeemed. Not until Jesus has come and this earth is dissolved by fire and the new earth been recreated, will redemption be end-completed or consummated. (2 Peter 3:13) We do have this hope.
Winfried Stolpmann
On the day of atonement