The Coolidge examiner., 1939-03-23

4
once suffered for sins. the just for the
unjust. that he might bring us to Cod
being put to death in the flesh, but quick
ened by the SPIRIT Peter BIB.
A witness is one who knows by
personal experience about that con-
corning which he testifies. Certain
ly no one could speak with more pro-
priety or assurance concerning the
sufferings and death Of Christ than
Peter. AS one of the inner circle,
he, with James and John, was with
Jesus on almost every important
occasion. He was on the Mount of
TRANSPORTATION, and with the Lord
in the garden of Gethsemane. He
witnessed His trial and in all prob
ability His crucifxion. He was first
at the empty tomb. Furthermore,
he could speak as one who had IN
a moment of weakness denied the
Lord and who had come by way of
doubt and despair back to his faith
in the Saviour. It is not only APP
propriate that we should study Pc
ters words on this subject but it is
also the greatest possible theme
with which to close our three-mCnth
study of the life and work of Peter.
For all that he was and all that he
did, can be explained only by his
faith in a redeeming Christ.
l. Christine Saviour q Pet. 1:17-
23).
1t is highly important that we
meet the flood of smoothly phrased
recognition of our Christ as the Mas
ter which at the same time denies
Him as dying Redeemer. Hence
we stress
l. A redemption by blood wv. IT.
20). This is a subject that all those
who know God and call on him as
Father" ". I'D approach in that
reverential attitude which we call
the fear of God" which is not
cringing fear but loving reverence.
In that spirit we should proclaim
that apart from the shedding of
Christ's blood there can be no re-
mission of sin. Money and other
material things can only purchase
other material and corruptible
things. Our redemption could be
bought only by the precious blood
of the sinless. divine. and eternal
Son of God, Jesus Christ wv. 10,
20).
2. A life of faith wv. 2l-23). The
faith and hope of the Christian are
Tin God" We do not trust in the
arm of flesh. Our assurance is not
in man or his devices. The gather
ing of riches, the increase of arma-
ments, the acquisition of new terri
tory by fair means or foul-let fool
ish men who know not God rejoice
in such assurances of safety. but our
faith is in God.
This life of faith is not an inactive
thing, a settling back into COM
Portable but effortless appreciation
of Gods great gift. 1t leads to ODE
dience to the truth; fervent, I'M
feigned love of the brethren; purity
of life ". 22). Being born again
means living in newness of life in
Christ
ii. Christine Example q Pet.
2:20-25).
Christ is not our example in the
sense that we are to attain to eter-
nal life and JOY by an imitation of
His life. That would be manifestly
impossible, for we would have to be-
gin where He began-He was with
out sin. But we 'all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God"
We need a Saviour, not an example,
as far as redemption is concerned.
Having been saved by faith in His
blood. we are ready to look upon
Him as our example.
L. Our suffering wv 20, 2D. One
of the serious problems of life is suf-
feripg, and as we suggested last
week, being a Christian does not
grant US any immunity. If we suf-
fer because of our own sin, we
must expect to bear the result pa
tiently; but even above that, when
we find ourselves suffering for we'll
doing, we are to glorify God by
bearing it patiently for Christ's
sake Nothing is d stronger testi-
mony for Christ than true Chris
tian spirit in time of trial and sor-
row.
2 The suffering of Christ (vv. 81
25). Our minds turn to Isaiah SO and
Psalm %, as well as to the Gospel
narratives. as we think of our Lords
suffering. AS we read the words,
Christ suffered for you" we
join the sanity expositor of the
Word who fell upon his face sob
bling. For me, for me, He bore it
all for me-" How can anyone re-
ject Him? How can you, msaved
reader of these lines, any longer
turn this loving Saviour away?
These are trying days for the
souls of men. In many parts of the
world Christians are tasting the bit
ter cup of persecution. The day
may come when we must meet the
same fate, and even now we know
what it means to bear the scorn of
unbelievers Shall we become fear
full or embittered in our hearts? No,
consider him that endured such
contradiction of sinners against him