Monday Devo
Scripture:
1 Peter 3
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
18 Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
Commentary:
3:18 A key statement on the substitutionary atonement of Christ. He suffered and died as the righteous one in place of the unrighteous, in order to bring us to God. One interpretation of being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit is that “in the flesh” means in the visible, physical realm in which Jesus was crucified and “in the spirit” (as in 4:6) means in the invisible, spiritual realm where Christ now lives. Another view is that Jesus died physically but was raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2410.
Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2410.
Questions:
- Christ suffered and His suffering and pain had a purpose. In fact, the entire Bible is about why and how an innocent man suffered and what His suffering accomplished. When we are in the midst of our own suffering and pain, it can be difficult to see past it. But if there was a plan and purpose in the most innocent person ever going through unimaginable suffering, don't you think there might be a plan and purpose in yours as well? How often are you looking for the purpose in your pain?
- Peter is saying here that Jesus suffered for OUR sins. It was a sacrifice that satisfied God's wrath against sin. But not only that, He suffered ONCE and for ALL TIME. One sacrifice broke the power of sin once and for all who trust in Him. All this to bring you "safely home to God." How freeing is it to know that your sins have been forgiven... past, present and future? How much gratitude fills your heart to be reminded that your debt is paid and your future is secure?
Pray:
- That God would show you the purpose in your pain, but that you would trust Him either way.
- That your heart would be filled with gratitude and humility today for all God has done for you.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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