1 Peter 3:18
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,
Truth to Learn
Jesus Christ suffered! He suffered quietly, for your sake.
Behind the Words
The word translated “once” is hapax, meaning “one time.” This declares that Christ suffered only one time for all sins.
“Being put to death” is translated from thanatoō, which means “to kill.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense, implying past completed action with a continuous ongoing effect, but the emphasis is on the ongoing effect (for you and me).
Meaning Explained
Peter has told us in a number of different ways that it’s a good thing for us to suffer unjustly. He has also said that not only is it pleasing to God but sometimes it is what God has determined. He now tells us that our Father, who has adopted us, is not asking us to do anything which his own Eternal Son has not already done. According to this verse, Christ suffered for sins. Did He commit any sins? No! So whose sins did He suffer for? Obviously, He suffered for yours and mine and for those of all mankind from the beginning of time until the great judgment day. Is that fair? No, but it is what God determined.
But why would God determine that to happen? Peter answers this in the following part of this verse, “that He might bring us to God …” God determined that this was the way that He could make himself approachable by sinful mankind. Christ Himself can now bring us to the Holy Father. In theological terms this is known as “substitutionary” death. That is, the one who did not deserve to die did so as a substitute for us. And, since He didn’t need the death applied to his account to pay for His sins (since He didn’t have any), his death was applied to our accounts as payment for our sins.
Now, for just a moment, let’s look at this from Christ’s perspective. He didn’t have to die. He didn’t have to go through the agony and suffering that He did, nor was He personally desirous of doing so. Here’s what He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before being taken by the crowd to be tried, tortured, and crucified (Matt 26:36-39),
Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane. And He said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray there.”
And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Wait here and watch with Me.”
And He went a little further and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Christ knew what was coming and He didn’t want to go through with it, but He willingly did so because He knew that God the Father wanted Him to do it. He was obedient, even unto death.
Application
Now compare the suffering that you may currently be going through, or that you may go through in the future, with His suffering. He was willing to do so for the Father … and for you. Are you willing to do so for Him? Even though it isn’t fair?
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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