1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV
“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
We, as followers of Jesus Christ, are all called to suffer unjustly for the sake of righteousness, for the sake of the name of Jesus, and for the sake of the gospel of our salvation. For when we are doing good in the eyes of the Lord, according to his word, and yet we suffer for it, and we endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God (see vv. 18-20). And this is because Jesus Christ first suffered and died on that cross for our freedom from sin.
Now, not only did Jesus Christ suffer and die for us on that cross for our freedom from slavery to sin and so we might now be empowered of God to live holy and godly lives, pleasing to him, but he set an example before us in how we are to respond to unjust suffering in this life. And we are now to follow in his steps. And the first step for us is to be crucified with Christ in death to sin and to walk now as slaves of God and of his righteousness.
And this is the example he set before us. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. Now, this is not to say we might not ever sin, for we might (1 John 2:1-2), but sin must not be our practice. We must not be living in deliberate and habitual sin against God and against other humans. We must no longer be living as slaves to sin, but now we are to be walking according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh (Romans 6-8).
Now when Jesus was reviled, he did not revile in return. And to revile is to “criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner” (Oxford Languages). Or, it can mean to spue bitter (tasteless) statements, using mean-spirited, insulting words to demoralize (humiliate) (biblehub.com interlinear).
But some people might debate that statement based on Jesus’ words to the Jews and to the Pharisees when he told them that they were of their father, the devil, and that they did his works (see John 8:31-59). And when he told them that they were hypocrites, and that they made their followers twice as much children of hell as themselves; and when he called them blind guides and blind fools who neglect justice and mercy and faithfulness and who look clean on the outside but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence; and when he said that outwardly they appear beautiful but within they are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness (see Matthew 23:1-39).
And why am I pointing this out? Not to debate what the Scriptures teach at all, but to say that “revile” may be a matter of debate and interpretation based upon the examples of some of the things that Jesus said to the Jews, including to the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, the Scribes, the priests, the Sadducees, etc. And it is to point out that speaking the truth in love to some people may require some less than the gentlest of words, at times.
I really believe a lot of this has more to do with our motivation in what we say and in how we say it, and why we say it, and the context of the situation presented to us, and who we are speaking to. Is our intention to just give a jab to the other person because he or she jabbed us? Or is our intention coming from godly motives to help correct what is wrong, to rebuke lies, and to proclaim truth for the spiritual benefit of the listener?
Now moving on, the purpose for which Jesus Christ gave himself up for us on that cross is that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, which is a summary of the message of the gospel of Christ. For he didn’t die just to forgive us our sins, and just to promise us heaven when we die, but he died to free us from our slavery to sin so we would now become slaves of God and of his righteousness.
For we were straying like sheep, but now by God-given and God-persuaded faith in Jesus Christ, we have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. And this means that Jesus Christ is now on the throne of our lives, and not self, and that we are following him in obedience to his ways, and we are not walking in sin. So, we are now his possession, created in Christ Jesus for good works which he prepared for us to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
No Less
An Original Work / March 19, 2012
I can do no less than praise You,
Lord, for all You’ve done for me.
You died for my sins to save me,
So I would be set free.
I adore You! Lord, I praise You!
Jesus, Savior, King of kings!
You provided my redemption.
Your grace has pardoned me.
I can do no less than serve You.
Lord, Your witness I would be,
Telling others of Your love,
And why You died on that tree.
Tell of how You gave of Your life,
So from sin we’d be set free,
So we could worship You forever,
And live eternally.
I can do no less than love You,
Lord, for You have first loved me.
You gave of Your life so willing,
Because You cared for me.
Turn from my sin! Obey freely!
Live for You each passing day.
Read Your word, and follow Your lead,
Lord, as I humbly pray.
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