Suffering For Christ

Remembering Christ

When You Are Suffering for

His Cause

1 Peter Chapter 3:17-18 1 Peter Chapter 3:17-18

““It is better, if it is God’s will, to It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for suffer for doing good than for doing evildoing evil ”.”.

Two mentioned sufferings: Two mentioned sufferings:

1. Suffering for doing good. Suffering for doing 1. Suffering for doing good. Suffering for doing good means you suffer for God’s cause, as a good means you suffer for God’s cause, as a committed follower of Christ. You are urged committed follower of Christ. You are urged to suffer for righteousness sake. You are to suffer for righteousness sake. You are urged to share and live his command even to urged to share and live his command even to the point of rejection and persecution. the point of rejection and persecution.

2. Suffering for doing evil. We suffer because of 2. Suffering for doing evil. We suffer because of our disobedience to God, we suffer because of our disobedience to God, we suffer because of our sins, we suffer because we are living in our sins, we suffer because we are living in

this fallen world.this fallen world. ”.”.

Making the Right Choices in Life?Making the Right Choices in Life?

…………...Does it glorify God? (1 Cor 10:31)...Does it glorify God? (1 Cor 10:31).……..Does it help my witness for Christ? (1 Cor 9: .……..Does it help my witness for Christ? (1 Cor 9: 19:22)19:22)………………Is it against a specific command in the Scripture Is it against a specific command in the Scripture and would cause me to sin? (1 Cor 10:12)and would cause me to sin? (1 Cor 10:12).……..Am I motivated by a desire to help others to .……..Am I motivated by a desire to help others to know Christ? (1 Cor 9:23; 1 Cor 10:33)know Christ? (1 Cor 9:23; 1 Cor 10:33)………………Am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care Am I thinking only of myself, or do I truly care about the other person? (1 Cor 10:24)about the other person? (1 Cor 10:24)………………Am I acting lovingly or selfishly? (1 Cor 10:28-Am I acting lovingly or selfishly? (1 Cor 10:28-31)31)………………Will it cause someone else to sin? (1 Cor 10:32)Will it cause someone else to sin? (1 Cor 10:32)………………Does it help me do my best? (1 Cor 9:25)Does it help me do my best? (1 Cor 9:25)………………Is it the best and most beneficial course of Is it the best and most beneficial course of action (1 Cor 10:23; 33)action (1 Cor 10:23; 33)

Romans 5:3Romans 5:3 “ “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our Not only so, but we also rejoice in our

sufferings, because we know that sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character perseverance, character, and character hope.”hope.”James 1:4James 1:4

“ “Perseverance must finish its work so that Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”lacking anything.”

Why does God Allow Us to Suffer for Doing Good

Hebrews 5:8-9Hebrews 5:8-9

““Although he was a son, he Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”salvation for all who obey him.”

Romans 8:17 Romans 8:17

““Now if we are children, then we Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory”.we may also share in his glory”.

1 Peter Chapter 3:181 Peter Chapter 3:18 ““For Christ died for sins once for all, For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the in the body but made alive by the Spirit”.Spirit”.

How Should We Respond?

1. Christ’s suffering is propitiatory1. Christ’s suffering is propitiatory

1 Peter 3:18 1 Peter 3:18

““For Christ died for sins once….. For Christ died for sins once…..

Significance of Christ Suffering on the Cross

Hebrews 9:22 and 26-28Hebrews 9:22 and 26-28 ““In fact, the law requires that nearly everything In fact, the law requires that nearly everything

be cleansed with blood, and without the be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

verses 26-28 “Then Christ would have had to verses 26-28 “Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to sacrifice of himself. Just as man is destined to die once after that to face judgment, so Christ die once after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time many people; and he will appear a second time not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.”who are waiting for Him.”

2. Christ’s suffering is substitutionary2. Christ’s suffering is substitutionary


““For Christ died for sins once For Christ died for sins once FOR ALL..FOR ALL..


2 Corinthians 5:212 Corinthians 5:21

“ “God made him who had no sin to be sin God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God”the righteousness of God”

Romans 5:8Romans 5:8

“ “But God demonstrates his own love for But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Christ died for us.

3. Christ’s suffering is complete3. Christ’s suffering is complete


““For Christ died for sins once for all, For Christ died for sins once for all, THE THE RIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUSRIGHTEOUS FOR THE UNRIGHTEOUS….” ….”


Hebrews 10:10Hebrews 10:10

“ “By this will we have been sanctified By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ Christ once for allonce for all. . .”.”

4. Christ’s suffering is reconciliatory4. Christ’s suffering is reconciliatory


““It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, the unrighteous, TO BRING YOU TO GOD.TO BRING YOU TO GOD.


2 Corinthians 5:18-192 Corinthians 5:18-19

“ “All this is from God, who reconciled us All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”of reconciliation.”

5. Christ’s suffering is victorious.5. Christ’s suffering is victorious.

1 Peter Chapter 3 verse 18: 1 Peter Chapter 3 verse 18:

““It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. bring you to God. HE WAS PUT TO DEATH IN HE WAS PUT TO DEATH IN THE BODY BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT”.THE BODY BUT MADE ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT”.


1.1. Christ’s suffering is propiatoryChrist’s suffering is propiatory

2.2. Christ’s suffering is substitutionaryChrist’s suffering is substitutionary

3.3. Christ’s suffering is completeChrist’s suffering is complete

4.4. Christ’s suffering is reconciliatoryChrist’s suffering is reconciliatory

5.5. Christ’s suffering is victoriousChrist’s suffering is victorious


Romans 3:24…………We are justified (declaredRomans 3:24…………We are justified (declared “ “not guilty” of sin).not guilty” of sin).

Romans 8:1 ………….No condemnation awaits usRomans 8:1 ………….No condemnation awaits us1 Cor 1:2 ……………..We are set free from the law of sin1 Cor 1:2 ……………..We are set free from the law of sin

and deathand death1 Cor 1:30…………….We are righteous and holy in1 Cor 1:30…………….We are righteous and holy in

ChristChrist1 Cor 15:22………….. We will be made alive at the1 Cor 15:22………….. We will be made alive at the

resurrectionresurrection2 Cor 5:17…………… We are new creation2 Cor 5:17…………… We are new creationGalatians 3:28……… We are one in Christ with allGalatians 3:28……… We are one in Christ with all

other believersother believersEphesians 1:3……… We are blessed with everyEphesians 1:3……… We are blessed with every

spiritual blessing in Christspiritual blessing in Christ

Our Identity in Christ

Ephesians 1:4………… We are holy, blameless and Ephesians 1:4………… We are holy, blameless and covered with God’s lovecovered with God’s love

Ephesians 1:5-6………. We are adopted as God’sEphesians 1:5-6………. We are adopted as God’s childrenchildren

Ephesians 1:7…………..Our sins are taken away and weEphesians 1:7…………..Our sins are taken away and we are forgivenare forgiven

Ephesians 1:13………….We are marked as belonging toEphesians 1:13………….We are marked as belonging to God by the Holy SpiritGod by the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 2:6…………..We have been raised up to sitEphesians 2:6…………..We have been raised up to sit with Christ in glorywith Christ in glory

Ephesians 2:10…………We are God’s work of artEphesians 2:10…………We are God’s work of artEphesians 3:6…………..We share in the promise in Ephesians 3:6…………..We share in the promise in

ChristChristEphesians 3:12…………We can come with freedom andEphesians 3:12…………We can come with freedom and

confidence into God’s confidence into God’s PresencePresence


Ephesians 5:29-30……. We are members Ephesians 5:29-30……. We are members

of Christ’s body, in churchof Christ’s body, in church

Colossians 2;10………. We have beenColossians 2;10………. We have been

given fullness in Christgiven fullness in Christ

Colossians 2:11………..We are set freeColossians 2:11………..We are set free

from our sinful naturefrom our sinful nature

2 Timothy 2;10………..We will have2 Timothy 2;10………..We will have

eternal gloryeternal glory


Matthew 20:28Matthew 20:28

“ “Your attitude must be like my own, for I Your attitude must be like my own, for I the Messiah, did not come to be served, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life.”but to serve and to give my life.”

1. God will bless you because you 1. God will bless you because you suffer for His name.suffer for His name.

2. God uses the suffering to bring 2. God uses the suffering to bring blessing to others.blessing to others.

Result

Suffering For Christ

Spiritual

complete christs suffering

propiatory christs suffering

committed follower of

heirsheirs of god

righteousness of god

peter chapter

sins oncefor

law of sin