[Incomplete sermon outline below. So it is rough in places or misses words spoken in the audio sermon]

Recap…

1 Peter 2:21–25 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you [ya’ll], leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. [22] He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. [23] 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. [24] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds [stripes] you have been healed. [25] For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.(ESV)

Before going on to 24-25 let us review 21-23 For to this you have been called.

What must we understand about what we are called to?

Simon Kistemaker reminds us in his commentary that Peter “wants the Christian who suffers unjustly to look to Jesus from whom the believer receives new strength for body and soul. Looking to Jesus, the Christian experiences a renewal of attitude and disposition.”

The language says to trace the footsteps of Jesus. Copy your handwriting to match his.

What must you believe for this to be a comfort for you? Believe we were called to suffer after Christ’s example. Believe We are called to take up our cross and follow Christ. So we follow the Savior who loved his enemies, who suffered for righteousness sake, and so as believers we follow the cross to receive the crown. We do not take the crown to avoid the cross.

So what must you know about your savior? Believe He really suffered as an innocent humble man….but not just any man. The God-Man. GOD become man, entered the pit voluntarily So Jesus models suffering not because he was out of control, but because he intentionally submitted himself to death in order to rescue us.

John 10:11–18 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [12] He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. [13] He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. [17] For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. [18] No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (ESV)

So you are suffering? Christ, your Shepherd, came to save you. The example is not…oh be like Christ sinless…No it is that once we are rescued. Made alive, now you can reflect on your suffering in two ways

You have been freely given life. So what is our grateful response? That like Christ, you will strive to by the Help of the Holy Spirit to suffer not for sin but as a sanctified sufferer who does not revile and back bite but who suffers, in this sinful world, as redeemed exiles who though not perfect suffer innocently like Christ did.

Peter then says, he is talking about the Christian life, how to live, how to grow in wise, sanctification, being made different from how you were before. As a student traces the letter outline so the Christian traces and follows in the outline of the footsteps of Christ. And as Peter usually does he weaves together a call to belief or action by reminding us of the great redemption of Christ that declares us innocent and righteous in God’s sight. Justified. Everything that follows is only true if we cast ourselves on Christ, hoping only in him for rescue.

Four Truths of our salvation Today (If you are looking to Christ)

#1 The Wages of Sin are Death

#2 In My Place Condemned He Stood

#3 Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ: My Savior Makes me whole.

#4 Returning the Shepherd of your Soul.

#1 (vv. 24a) The wages of sin are death: two things “he bore OUR SINS on his body on the tree. / (vv. 25a) OUR SINS meant - We were straying like sheep (Nature note merely nurture:nthough nurture can be a magnifying glass to our sin nature).

(24a) he bore OUR SINS: Our sins…the sins of those who “Sin because we are sinners.”

What are OUR sins? What is Sin?

Sin is Lawlessness, sin is anything that violates the character and good design of God for how we, his special creation, made in his image in knowledge righteousness, and holiness were made to live.

Sin is any failure to love and obey God and to love and live rightly with others, and to honor our own bodies and soul. Sin Is Lawlessness

The biblical IMAGE: Fall Short / twisting the design / attacking, corrupting, devaluing it in others. Sin is us trying to be god and failing at it miserably. And then being mad at God and others when our failure to make a very good god blows up in our face.

In Gen. 3 – Adam Attempts to wear the crown, Adam represented us, and so we have a inherited guilt, and inherited fallen nature. (Rom. 5:12-21 In Adam all sinned in Christ the many accounted righteous

Gen. 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. The Result? We are enslaved to sin Eph. 2:1

Therefore we have a Radical Corruption: “root” “entire, whole” / pervasively sinful. Not maximally evil. But not Utter, did not destroy but mar the image. Inability.

ILL: Our Sin: Poison in a refreshing cup of water vs. a Cup of Poison.

That is sin. And our radical corruption.

Good news: he bore our sins. Not a general but specific target. (E.g. Targeted insect bait vs. a general bait.) One is effective. One usually alleviates. Our sins – particular redemption, with the sheep and shepherd language….The good shepherd lays down his life for the Sheep…I know my own and my own know me…and I lay down my life for the sheep. The sheep hear his voice…And are called back from their STRAYING. Wanderings (transition to b.). (John 10:14).

25a describes us as Straying Sheep which is a quote of : “Isa. 53:6 “We all like sheep have gone astray.”

The wages of sin is death…the result of a sheep that wanders is similarly death (5:23). Sins destroys, relationship with God, fellowship with God and Others, and leaves us alone and susceptible to harm. Or Creates a Fellowship of darkness not light. Christ restores the fellowship with God, How? By removing the cause of our enmity and our barrier to a Holy God. Removing our Guilt. Our Sin….And bring stratying sheep back by dealing with the root. (Bringing us into the light).

#2 vv. 24a cont…In my place condemned he stood: CHRIST BORE our sins IN HIS BODY on the tree. (24a. cont…)

He suffered (for; Hyper) US: Substitute / in the place / in our stead. This means he wasn’t just an example, this means he didn’t just open up a shop for sin relief that is vaguely available. No our sin debt. Our File with our name that God as judge would pull on judgement day was taken and placed in Jesus’ court record. And every one of his sheep had their sinful court cases replaced with Jesus court case. He was FOR. IN OUR place.

But this was costly. He Bore our Sins (Once for all action: It is finished). But where did he bare it?; In His Body. Sin was foreign – Jesus had no sin nature – He had not guilt, shame – but the guilt and shame of sin was placed on him

2 Cor. 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (ESV)

“Bore” is the image of WEIGHT on his Head. [Discuss] Sacrificial Animal laying the hand. It is particular. By name. / DO you feel the weight? The burden look to the cross let that burden roll into the tomb (Pilgrim’s progress: Burden and Tomb).

The Incarnation: made Jesus able to take on human sin “that which is assumed is atoned for” – True Humanity…unlike animal sacrifices.

The blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin (because unlike Adam they are not a fitting substitute. They were only a symbol pointing forward to the one who could have his own LIFE take the penalty for our forfeited life. (Real Butter vs. Margarine not a true substitute) Need a genuine human correspondence.

WHY? Because 1) His humanity made him a true Second Adam, our representative. Because 2) His deity meant he could make an infinitely valuable sacrifice, so he can represent a new humanity in himself because he wasn’t under Adam (Fallen Humanity). He is before all things and above all things (Renewed, Redeemed Church in Christ).

Jesus further, suffered the curse of sin in our place…He bore our sins in his body ON THE TREE (A Euphemism for the cross but an intentional ECHO, “he who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse (Gal. 3:13 citing Deut. 21:22-23). (Shameful – Anti-blessed)

#3 vv. 24b Because of Jesus’ work on the Cross we are Dead to Sin and Alive in Christ, we can say, My Savior Makes Me Whole

Look in v. 24b again, SO That we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his stripes you have been healed

Dead to sin, death is dead, the penalty paid, (Like paying off a car payment. You get the car title restored in your name.).

The guilt declared removed, innocent (Duplex Gratia)

Alive again to righteousness

Enlightened eyes, soul, mind, truth and goodness possess of you again. (Regenerate. Born Again.).

The sting, the wound, the shame of death in his stripes and the manner of the criminal cross undone.

Us: Shame of a slap? (reverberates). The Shame of wounds? JESUS INNOCENT SHAME PLACED BY SINNERS

Shame of Betrayal – shepherd struck, sheep scattered

Shame of TRIAL – Blasphemer

Shame of Mock, Scourging, stripes of the 9 tails

Spit. Purple cloth. Carrying a criminal cross….[Cross-is an honorable symbol we put in our building, but for Jesus its an ankle-bracelet, orange jumpsuit chained to other prisoners in a court house….we don’t do the shame of sin quite the same way as in older cultures…

Jesus removes our Shame.. Makes us Alive to Righteousness…Upright. Tall.

Sin curved us in on ourselves. Jesus uncurls us to stand tall again as we were designed to be.

To look in the Eye of Man and God right with each other.

Transition…Keep thinking about this Righteous…Alive…Whole…Healed from the effects of Sin. Everything wrong is being undone…

The Image of God restored: The power of sin destroyed

Free to obey God and not Sin. When previously sin was our master and we a slave to sin

Pastor Peter Davids says, “Salvation in Christ is not just a freedom from future judgment or from guilt, but a freedom from the life of sin and a freedom to live as God intends.”

This intended life is no mystery it is revealed by the light of the word, a Christian ethic clearly shown in scripture. This “endeavor after new obedience in Christ, the obedience of faith is not lived IN order to free us from sin. But SINCE we are freed, justified, alive, we shall live HOLY lives putting sin to death and walking wise with the mind of Christ towards sin…We are debtors to sin no more…we are debtors to the grace and mercy of God and submit as living sons and daughters.

Previously We sinned because we are sinners. Now we live like Christ because we are IN Christ.

Sin was a tyrant to our souls. Christ will become the shepherd of our souls.

We are Healed and Alive to Righteousness: Healed but w/ Scars: The wounds and stripes of sin are through this life healed and diminished, because we are forgiven. (Scar Cream, Eliza Jane) ( Forgiveness is the healing of the guilt, penalty, power, and shame of sin. Bringing us into the light where we have fellowship, community, honor, integrity, and the fruit of the healing is a heart overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. As the Holy Spirit takes and fills in the wounds of sin, restoring what sin has destroyed.

Living to righteousness is living in wisdom, light, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. With God and his ways now ours…But we are not only becoming holy in our sanctification. But We are viewed as already Righteous/Holy by God…

This means two things that are a little different from what Christians sometimes think…

We are saved by grace not to figure out happiness on our own in the sense that right living is a mystery where we follow our hearts: e.g. God wants me to be happy his grace means I will do what remaining sin in my heart enjoys, e.g. the classic, God wants me to be happy so I will leave my spouse…

No we see that Grace transforms us to look to the objective word of God.

So First, restoring what sin destroyed, and restoring freedom from the guilt, penalty, and power of sin means we listen to the wisdom of Scripture as it tells us the Law of God. Happiness is found living as a lawful son and daughter who continues to put sin to death.

Knowing Second, that as we stumble and struggle with remaining sin (and we will fall short).. We are not just becoming holy (subjectively).

We are Objectively viewed as Holy.

We have the Righteousness of Christ

ILL> Romans – Righteous rob exchange. Once again, the Judge pulls the file of our Just trial and what he finds is Christ’s Record.

Only in Heaven when we are glorified will the Holiness of Christ God sees and our Holiness Align, humanly speaking.

Until then there will always be a gap between Christ’s righteousness (ours by grace) and our own earthly lived righteounsness (ours by the work of the Holy Spirit and our own wisely applying the law of God to every decision and area of our life with disciplined grace).

But Lord willing we make progress in holiness. Progressive sanctification as the gap between objective holiness and lived holiness diminishes.

Know Sin is Dead. You are Alive and Holy. If you are trusting in Christ and not yourself.

Now be killing sin and be putting on holiness.

Justification produces sanctification. > You have been Justified. You are BEING sancticied. You will be Glorified….

But will we make it all the way home? It doesn’t always feel that way….

34 Look in verse 25b: For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer [Bishop] of your souls. (ESV)

Life from a Shepherd who watches over your soul: First it is Returned and Second it is Watched over.

First your life is returned, RETURNED – Creation/Fall Exile & Restoration, Garden, East of Eden, enmity, restored, friendship and care, your soul which will last forever now has a secure him. Think of Psalm 23 images.

Second it is Watched Over,

As a Father watches over his children, Christ oversees our very life.

ILL: [4th of July Pool party, Samuel 3 times in the pool] “No my die” – I am not the infallible bishop of Souls. Christ is. Two reasons

There is no paperwork error that will happen where you will be lost and Satan reclaims you if Jesus is your shepherd.

You are truly and mystically united to Christ’s life and nurture by the Holy Spirit (Visibly displayed in the supper.

You are not a stranger in a crowd to god passing him by. You are a son and a daughter overseen with watchful eyes.

IMAGE: Rainy streets…umbrella…Just an image but picture a black and white drab seen, each person wanders in death, cold, dark, sin, hearts hardened,

but in the midst of the Crowd Christ watches over you suddenly blazing with the light of the HOLY spirit.

You are set apart cleansed, alive, his, and you are bright and glorious children of the day.

This is the objective reality for the believer…even as in this life we are chosen exiles. We will be shepherded all the way home.

One way in which we are watched over biblically is by the Church, the family of God watches over us specifically “bishops, overseers” “undershepherds”

Jesus is the chief shepherd (John 5:4, 10:11,14) and he appoints undershepherds

1 Peter 5:1-4 (We will return here).

Acts 20:28-33 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

For now the Church caring for each others souls is God’s plan and place for sheep to be fed by not light shows and entertainment. But the word of his grace. The Whole counsel of God. At home, in the car, alone, together, the Word of God meditated on and given you by faithful shepherds.

Why? We are suffering, following in Christ’s footsteps, imitating him. We are not lone wolves.

We are unlearning the flesh. Unlearning slavery

Illustrations – Learning to be free again (stroke? Prison (walking through doors)?

Which is harder, a stroke, prison, or being spiritually dead and learning to be alive and a son and daughter of the light after death…and bondage to Satan.

This is why we desperately pray “Lord our covenant Children may the never know a day when they did not know and love you.

May the grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and not wander and stray.

The Good Times. And the Bad times are both Best done with others.

Best done with others who can remind you of the gospel.

Best done with other who can help the word dwell in us richly and we sing these reminders to each other.

More on what Shepherds in particular do in chapter 5. For now remember they Feed, Care, Protect…

But Here they Watch over. They Gaze intently.

The word overseer is “Bishop” which Paul uses interchangeably with Elder. So a bishop is an elder and an elder is a bishop.

But we get the word “microsope” and “telescope” from the word bishop.

I think its like a Sheep dog and a new baby is born into the family…and they just watch over it. Tracking all the time.

So we need Shepherds to guide us and WATCH over us.

But while humans are feeble and frail praise be to God Christ and His Word is neither feeble nor frail. He bore our sin. Made us upright. Placed us in the flock.

Prayer: Ultimately Jesus is risen and reigning in heaven

You have the Holy Spirit in your heart guiding and watching over you

Christ seated in heaven watching over and guiding you through his word

And a church family of older brothers and sisters, and overseers to watch over you who Christ has poured out on the church as a gift.

May that be our experience of Christ and his Church.

As those whose sins are forgiven, born by christ, clothed in his righteousness, made alive, made whole, and brought through suffering all the way home.

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