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,” (I Peter 3:18 NKJV). This verse begins with the word “For” so we need to look back to establish the context this verse is related to. We find it is about suffering for righteousness’ sake and how we should respond. The theme of the book of 1 Peter is “Hope in the midst of suffering.” That hope is found in Christ suffering on the cross for our sin. With this context in mind we are ready to look at our verse.

Just as these believers were suffering for their righteous living, Jesus Christ also did by suffering on the cross for our sins. Jesus had done nothing wrong, but because of his love for us and the joy set before him, he was willing to accept our sin and thus the wrath of God because he knew that he could continue to love us for an eternity as the heavenly family of God. By dying in our place for our sin, justice was served and God was then able to show us mercy and through grace offer the gift of salvation thus bringing us to God. Jesus was put to death in the flesh, but in three days he was raised from the dead and ascended to the right hand of his Father in heaven.

Prayer

Father, thank you for giving your Son and for his willingness to die in our place for our sin, providing our salvation. I pray that we will express our love and gratitude through our obedience to do the work you prepared for us to do. I pray that we will love others with the same sacrificial love in which you loved us.