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"Christ also suffered once for sins"

Text: 1 Peter 3:18

THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST JESUS

Once again, the Apostle Peter cited the example of the Lord Jesus Christ in suffering. He drew much fresh encouragement from dwelling on the
Lord Jesus.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins,
the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.”
1 Peter 3:18

1. “For Christ also suffered once for sins”

a) The greatest example of suffering is truly the Lord Jesus Christ.

b) “Suffered once”

i) The suffering of Christ had a very special significance.

ii) He needed to suffer for our sins just once.

iii) The word “once” has a strong intensified idea (Greek text).

iv) His suffering was accepted as the atonement for our sins.

2. “The just for the unjust”

a) The word “just” means “righteous”.

i) Jesus was never a sinner.

ii) He may indeed be called “just” or “righteous”.

b) “The unjust”

i) The unrighteous

ii) The sinful

c) Christ suffered for the unjust.

i) He bore the punishment of God for us.

ii) He suffered much that we might be made just (righteous).

3. “Being put to death in the flesh”

a) To what extent did Christ suffer?

He was put to death in the flesh!

b) This is the greatest example of suffering ever!

c) Dwelling on how Jesus suffered would enable us to cope with our suffering.

4. “But made alive by the Spirit”

a) Suffering may lead to death.

b) But our faith enables us to believe that we can be made alive.

c) The Spirit of God will cause us to be “made alive”.

i) There is the hope of the resurrection in Christ.

ii) This was what Jesus taught Martha.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.
Do you believe this?'”
John 11:25-26