I Peter 2:21-25

“When Wronged”

Introduction

1. When we are wronged and tempted to retaliate and ask, “Why?”…what are we to do?

2. I Peter 2:21-25 we are give two necessities:

Have you been wronged or ‘wrong’ has come? “Why?”

I. OUR PATTERN 2:21-23

A. Realize Our Destiny 21a

For hereunto you were called.

1.Hereunto mistreated…maligned…misunderstood. Pain and suffering is the new

norm. Endure grief (v. 19) Suffered wrongly.

2.You have been called for this purpose. (NASV)

A.) Called has been used at different times in I Peter: Who called you out of darkness (v. 9) I love that call! He who has called you is holy (1:15) Again, He called us to salvation! This call I would rather not answer. It is the call to suffer!

B.) For this purpose…this assignment is ordained by God, and orchestrated by God! It is a necessary part of God’s plan for my life! This is God’s way of allowing me to look a bit more like Jesus. All will suffer in one way or another! Life was not a series of unrelated events…God has a plan!

B. Realize Our Design 21b

Why does God call us to experience suffering? Christ has suffered for us leaving us

an example.

1.Jesus was in the center of God’s will, controlled by the Holy Spirit and yet He

prayed: “If it be possible…” “Not my will, but Thine be done.” They lied about Jesus. He was misunderstood…forsaken, and He physically suffered cruelly, unjustly.

2.He yielded! We follow in His steps. Perhaps not to the degree of His anguish (some will). How did He respond? How did He react? Leaving us an example.

3.Example is a Greek word that comes from the world of education. We see it in the early grades as a child copies: Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, etc. He wants us to do what He would do. “I am the vine you are the branches” Abide in Me and you will bring forth fruit, more fruit and much fruit. Christlikeness comes when we stop trying to imitate Jesus and allow the fruit of the Spirit to live in us and through us.

C. Realize Our Direction 21c

That you should follow in His steps…As a father makes footprints in the snow and his

young son steps in those prints. When we are broken, weak, weary…what would

Jesus do?

Follow In His Steps:

1. Continue To Do Right (22; 2:15) Who did no sin…He was God in the flesh.

He was sinless. “It’s not fair.’ “Why me?” In Him no guile, no deceit…What you

saw was real and genuine!

2. Keep Silent (Quit defending yourself) 23 He kept entrusting Himself to

Him. How quick we are to defend ourselves and fight back! He could have called

10,000 angels. He had the resources. When He suffered He opened not His mouth.

He threatened not. If you fight, then God cannot fight for you.

3.Commit All Things Into His Hands (Yourself first)

He kept entrusting (continuous action) Himself to Him. He kept on handing over Himself to Him. With each new circumstance…hand it over. With each pain…hand it over. Hand whatever is causing you pain over to Him. The Father must take care of me…I can’t.

4.Keep your eye on the goal. He bore our sins…by His stripes we are healed! It’s not about you. There is something bigger going on. You may not see the purpose immediately!

Have you been wronged or ‘wrong’ has come? “Why?”

II. OUR POTENTIAL 2:24-25

How or Why can we have this life? 3 reasons are given:

A. Our Substitute 24a

1. What were the results of this injustice?? What were God’s plans? Jesus died!

2. It was a seemingly senseless death. He carried our sins in His body. The sinless

One became our substitute.

3. In suffering the results may not immediately be apparent.

B. Our Standing 24b

1. What is the purpose of Christ’s sacrificial death? It was not just to take us to

heaven. So that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (NASV)

2. At one time we could do nothing but sin. Now, I don’t have to yield to the

temptation of sin!

3.(Rom. 6:1, 2…6, 7…11-13) Know (when Christ died I died) Reckon (count it as

so) Yield (to whom I yield my members I become a slave to that one) Obey (I chose righteousness or unrighteousness) I now have a choice!

4.By His stripes we are healed the context is not physical healing, but spiritual.

Physically…God will heal me every time but the last time.

C. Our Supervisor 25

1. Our Past You were sheep going astray…

*We were ignorant, lost wandering sheep. What a picture of those without Christ!

Sheep are in danger. He is unable to defend himself. He doesn’t know it!

*This at one time was the condition of all of us. “But Now” Something

happened!

2. Our Protection God can…will and does care for us!

*He is our Shepherd. He is our Guardian (Bishop).

*It is up to us to yield and follow. We need to completely surrender and depend on

Him.

*He is the Guardian of our soul. “I don’t know if I’ll make it.” It’s not up to

you! He is the Guardian of your soul. Can I trust Him? We don’t have very

many options. It’s either trust Him or yourself!

Have you been wronged or ‘wrong’ has come? “Why?”

His desire is to have me look more like Jesus!

Continue to do right.

Keep Silent.

Commit yourself to the Father.

Keep your eye on the goal.

Surrender to Him…Can I trust Him? He died for you. The One who died for you is now the Shepherd and Guardian of your soul.