Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 3 · Verse 18
Vers. 18. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
ANother Reason to perswade to couragious suffering for righteousness sake, from the example of Christ, Christ suffered, therefore need not we shrink or think much: He that was just, yea, that just one, therefore much more may we that be sinners, and by infinite degrees deserve more grievous things then we suffer: He for the unjust, for us wretches, and to take away our sins, and reconcile us to God, therefore ought we to bear somewhat for his cause, that is most just, and hath done so much for us. Speak we first of the words briefly, as they are the reason of the point in hand, and then more particularly and largely of the matter contained therein, namely, The Sufferings, Death and Resurrection of Christ.
Christ suffered] Suffered every way,Christs sufferings an encouragement for Christians to suffer. in Body, Minde, Name, at the hands of men, wretched and base persons misused him, railed at him, slandered him, spit on him, smote him, scourged him, crucified him between two Thieves,Iohn 13. 16. &c. Now, The servant is not greater then the master; If they misused Christ so, what may we look for? In thy sufferings, help thy self with this meditation, Christ Jesus suffered, and what am I to him?
The just] He is the just one,Acts 3. 14. as God,How Christ was just, how we. holiness it self, as man filled therewith, above Men and Angels. Just, not as Job, Zachary and Elizabeth; They were Righteous by his Righteousness imputed to them, as Abraham also, but he by his own; they by Sanctification imperfectly Holy and Righteous, he most perfectly; nor as Adam, who though perfectly Holy and Righteous by his own Righteousness, yet was mutable therein and lost it; not so in Christ, but immutably so: There was no guile found in him, none could accuse him of sin; nay, he was the light and glory of the world, yet suffered he gross things: We then, though never so just and innocent, must not think much if we suffer altogether without cause: Its the better, its but as Christ did.
But alas,Use. we are very faulty before God, and deserve far greater things then we meet with, yea, cannot be innocent towards men, how much less towards God? The meditation of this point, will much help us in our sufferings.
For the unjust,] Another help in our sufferings.That is, for us wretched and miserable sinners, and his enemies, who could do nothing for him to deserve such kindeness: How much rather ought we to suffer for him that just one, and for his sake, especially considering our sufferings are nothing to his; The meditation of this also, will much help us in suffering.
For sins, Christ suffered for our good.that he might bring us unto God,] Christs sufferings were altogether for our good, and if it had not been for them, we had been utterly lost: But for ours, they be nothing to him, he is never the better for them, neither be they for his benefit, but for our own, even the purging of our souls, the tryal and proof of our faith and patience, and the preparing of us to the greater glory in Heaven.
Let's think of this also,Use. and it will make us suffer the more willingly and patiently: Lastly, as he after his sufferings and death rose again, and entred into glory,The godly sow in tears but shall reap in joy. and sits at the right hand of God; So if we shall sow in tears, we shall reap in joy, having fought the good fight, we shall receive an incorruptible crown of glory.
1. This reproveth our notable tender daintiness,1 Tim. 4. 8. that can endure nothing for Christ,Use 1. but as if we were too good to suffer▪ though in company we should hear never so much spoken against Gods Servants, and sincerity of Religion, we can be silent and pass by the same; and there are many that would be forwarder, but for fear of being counted Puritans: O cowardly fearfulness! No wonder if such be never called to that honor to suffer for Christ, What if to please the world we be luke-warm, and God vomit us out of his mouth? What if for our zeal the world hate us, and God approves of us? what do we lose?Iames 4. 4. Shall we make friendship with the world? Know we not that its enmity with God?2 Cor. 10. 18. He is praised that is allowed of God.
2. Let us take heed of all preposterous zeal,Use 2. and rash unwarrantable causes, whereinto some run…under colour of zeal, and be zealous for God; we cannot hate sin too much, nor love goodness too much, nor the Word too much, nor keep the Sabbath too carefully, nor govern our families too religiously: Let us go on in a zealous godly life, and if this offend any, let them pardon us, we would do no other then God requires, and for this we must pray our Landlord or whosoever to give us leave, we have served the Devil a great while, tell them, Its time now to begin to serve God, and to look about us for our souls good; thus in suffering for well…doing, we may be comforted, and by these reasons kept from being discouraged. Now of Christ sufferings, death and resurrection, particularly.
Christ hath once suffered for sins, Particulars here laid down about Christs sufferings.the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,] In handling the sufferings of Christ, observe, 1. The circumstance of time, or how often he suffered, once, 2. Who he was, or the quality of the person suffering, Christ the just. 3. For whom he suffered, for the unjust. 4. Why he suffered, even for sins; and 5. To what end, that he might bring us to God; and hereinto our Apostle is again willing to fall, as we should be to hear and often meditate thereof, as hath been already shewed in the end of the last Chapter; namely, from verse 21. to verse 24. Much profit follows on it.
For 1. It sets out a notable mixture of justice and mercy.Profit arising from the meditation hereof 2. It shews what a mighty Savior we have, in whom we may trust, and to whom we may have recourse. 3. It may wound our hearts for sins past, and make us hate sin for the time to come. 4. It sets out Gods infinite love,2 Tim. 1. 12. and accordingly of all that have assurance of their part therein, requireth unspeakable love. 5. Its a comfort to all that mourn in Sion. 6. It shews that all that miss of Christ must bear their own burthen.Iohn 3. 16. 7. It provokes us to labor to know whether Christ hath dyed for us or not,Eph. 2. 4. and for our assurance thereof,1 Pet. 1. 3. to finde that we are truly humbled, hunger after Christ, and are ready to take up his yoke.
O that all ignorant persons which do not in any measure know the grounds of Religion,Use. that all civil persons which trust to their own righteousness, that all worldlings, whose hearts are altogether glewed to the things which are here below, and do not so much as minde those things which are above, the same being out of their element, that all prophane persons which go on in open notorious lewd courses, and that all Hypocrites (not to speak of Turks, Jews, and Papists) which content themselves with shews and common gifts, would but duly meditate on Christs sufferings, that so they might have part in Christ! Assuredly, all they that believe not, shall be condemned, but of all others, they that have lived under the Gospel, shall have greatest judgement; and to make up all, it will increase their torment, to think that they had offer made of Christ, and yet had not the grace to apprehend it; that they were so near, and yet missed, and that some that sate with them were converted and are now in Heaven, and they careless or wilful, are now in irrecoverable damnation: This will make them gnash their teeth, gnaw their tongues, & curse themselves and the day wherein they were born: Let such see, feel, confess, and fly to Christ, there being no other way of Salvation besides him. I come to the particulars propounded.
The first concerneth the time,All Christs sufferings make up one perfect suffering. how often he suffered, Once: Its true, Christ suffered throughout his whole life, and that diversly, but all make up one perfect suffering; and he suffered so, as at once he finished al, never to suffer again, wherein his suffering is opposed to the sacrifices of the Law, which were continually renewed, because of their imperfection;Heb. 9. 26. whereas he suffered once for all, for being God as well as man, he both endured the infinite wrath of God, and besides, his person was of such infinite worth, as gave such value to his sufferings, as fully satisfied the justice of God.
1. This confutes the Papists,Use 1. who make Christs sufferings imperfect two ways, namely, by teaching that we our selves must suffer the punishment of our sins (hence are all their masses, penances, pilgrimages, almsdeeds, and charitable Works, to take away the punishment of their sins after Baptism) and by their renewing of Christs Sacrifice in the Mass, which is (as they say) a Propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of the quick and dead: Their distinction of bloody and unbloody is but a shift.
2. This is a wonderful comfort to all Gods children,Use 2. that our debt is so fully dischaarged, that there's nothing remaining for us to suffer. Thus of the first.
The second concerneth the quality of the person which suffered:The quality of the person that suffered. He was that just one, the Lamb of God, which was undefiled and without spot,Heb. 7. 26. conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin; had he not been such a one, he could not have been our Savior: Though he was innocent, yet were our sins imputed to him; and though we have not suffered, neither of our selves have Righteousness, yet as verily as he had pain and sorrow, we shall have mercy and Salvation through him: what can be more comfortable? Thus of the second.
The third concerneth the persons for whom he suffered,For whom Christ suffered The unjust, not the Devil nor Reprobates, but for the Elect, which yet are by nature unjust and wretched, servants of sin, and children of wrath, as well as others: He hath suffered for them that be never so unjust, provided they feel their misery, and have course unto him for help.
1. Then,Use 1. for them that be in great distress for their sins, and think they be so many and so great, that they cannot or shall not be forgiven, let them be comforted, Christ came to dye for the unjust, to call sinners to repentance, to seek and save that which was lost: If being weary you will come unto him,Matth. 11. 29. as he invite you, you shall be refreshed:Isa. 1. 17. Though their sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wooll: Paul was a great sinner, yet forgiven.
2. Let such,Use 2. as bad as they be, yet come to Christ, and be truly humbled; He came to save such as thou art, as Mary Magdalene, Zacheus, the Jaylor, and such others: His mercy on them, may put thee in hope, and provoke thee to seek unto him. Thus of the third.
The fourth,Why our Savisuffered. Why he suffered for sins, for our sins, to take them away, for they onelyonly are our wo; our sins caused all Christs sorrow, and his sorrow is our happiness. Thus of the fourth.
The fifth,To what end he suffered. To what end he suffered, that he might bring us to God: Ever since Adams fall we are gone from God, and born strangers, nay enemies to God, and therefore further and and further off from God, and are gone to the Devil indeed: Now Christ by his death reconciles us to God, and him to us, and makes a blessed peace, so as we may look up to him as to our Father, and come into his presence with comfort: He also gives us grace by his holy Spirit to be renewed, sanctified, and so to do works pleasing unto God, and when we dye, brings our souls to God, as afterwards possesseth both body and soul of Heaven.
1. Then how infinitely are we bound to God?Use 1. how welcome should Christ Jesus be to us all? One would think all should flock unto him, for as none are with God, but such as came by him, so neither shall there be: All that mourn for their sins, come to him, believe in him, and obey him, he will bring them to God; such as continue in their enmity against God, shall for ever be separated from him: Many hope to go to God, that were never reconciled to him through Christ, nor sought after it, but its as possible for a dog, for the Devil to enter into Heaven, as for us, without being reconciled to God by faith in Christ: Is it not lamentable that Christ should have so few that enquire and search after him, nay, that reject him, being offered again and again!
2. How welcome faithful Ministers should be to the world;Use 2. The worst hurt we wish you, is but to bring you to God, we are appointed Christs instruments herein, we must Preach him, and perswade you to embrace and believe in him, by whom you may be brought unto God; we have a worthy task and work, and so must not either be idle, or by false teaching, and wicked living, drive you from Christ, but be faithful, that your Salvation may be our Crown; yet of all persons and kindes of people, the world thinks we may be best spared, and are unto most,Isa. 2. 2. of all others most unwelcome:Iohn 1. 40, 45. But not alone Ministers, but even every private man, must help men to God as much as he can: They that by vile counsel, bad example, or otherwise, drive men from him, are not Christs, but the Devils instruments and Factors. Thus of Christs sufferings.
Being put to death in the flesh,] This clause concerneth his death, as the following his resurrection: He was put to death concerning his Humane nature; for as for his Godhead it could not dye, and he was quickned and raised again by his Divinity and Godhead:Iohn 1. 14. By flesh is meant his whole Humane Nature,1 Tim. 3. 16. as in the following; By Spirit, his Divine Nature.
Our Savior suffered not onelyonly in body and soul things intollerable,That Christ must have dyed, and so did. but he also dyed, gave up the ghost, as all the Evangelists set down, and other Scriptures testifie, as they also that speak of Christs blood, of his offering himself a Sacrifice for our sins, of his bearing our sins on his Body on the Tree,Isa. 53. 9. and the like:Dan. 9. 26. This was prefigured of all the Sacrifices of the Old Law; The Prophets also foretold that he should be slain: Neither could it have been otherwise, or otherwise he been a Savior for us, for our sins deserved death, and God had pronounced that death should be the reward thereof: This his death was voluntary,Rom. 4. 25. accursed (as we had deserved it) for our sins, and for a common good.
Which meets with that wicked opinion of the Jews, that neither think it voluntary, nor that it is a propitiatory Sacrifice for sin, as it is indeed, and wherein our happiness lyeth, and without which we must all have perished for ever.
The benefits ensuing to us hereby are divers:The benefits ensuing by Christs death. 1. We are delivered hereby from all kindes of evil, from the first and second death, and all forerunners of both,1 Iohn 1. 7. and from our sins the cause of all; Its the blood of Christ that cleanseth all our sins:Rev. 1. 5. So from all Spiritual enemies; See Luke 1. 71, 74. Col. 2. 15. Heb. 2. 14. 1 John 3. 8. So from the second death, Rom. 8. 1. Gal. 3. 13. as from the first, so far forth as its a punishment and piece of the curse, and the nature of it is changed to believers, for whom Christ hath dyed; its become a Serpent without a sting, yea a blessing, as being hereby freed from sin, and not before: Hereby the soul is let out of the prison of this body, into the liberty of Gods Servants, and put into the possession of life: Hereby also the body is freed from all toils, labors, infirmities, and pains, waiting in the Grave for an happy and glorious resurrection: In which respect death is termed a sleep, an advantage to the Saints, and is better in the day wherein they were born: So from all forerunners hereof, which are curses, plagues and punishments, in body, minde, goods, and name, all which Christ hath born; what crosses we meet withal, they are to further our Sanctification and Salvation, but not punishments for sin, or parts of Gods judgement, as they be to the wicked. 2. We are hereby made partakers of all good, God is reconciled to us (which is more then to have our sins and punishments quite removed) yea, and sheweth us the light of his countenance; not as David, who though he staid his wrath from Absolom at his return home to Jerusalem, yet was not fully reconciled to him of two years:See Rom. 3. 25. The Creatures also are at peace with us;Col. 1. 21. The Angels become Servants and ministring Spirits for our good,1 Iohn 4. 10. in life, to direct us,Hosea 2. 18. protect us, comfort us, &c. and at death, to carry our souls to Heaven;Psal. 91. 13. so all other Creatures: the very Devils and wicked men shall do us no hurt, we have also right and title to this life, we lost it in Adam, but have it restored in Christ.1 Iohn 3. 3. Hereby he conveyeth power into the hearts of all that believe in him, to enable them to dye unto sin, and to mortifie their lusts more and more.
This is a singular comfort to all that believe in Christ,Use. who onelyonly partake of the benefits of his death; we need not fear Hell, condemnation, nor any enemy of our Salvation, nor any curse or punishment in this life, all shall be for our good; we need not fear the first death, but rather have cause to desire it: O the happiness of such! God is at peace with them, all Creatures in Heaven and Earth are their friends, they have right to whatsoever they have, little or much, therefore may they rejoyce: O happy that ever we were born, what pains soever we have taken to come to the knowledge of Christ Jesus, by whom we obtain such unspeakable things! whatsoever the world esteemeth of believers, they are the onelyonly happy persons in the world, yea, we shall have power to mortifie our strongest corruptions and lusts, fear it not, beg it, and use the means, if all these be put together, O how happy is a Christian! who can value his riches? On the contrary, they that have not their part in Christs death, are most miserable; their sins are not removed, they lye under them, so under the curse of God in this world, and the world to come; so in danger of the first death, which will rend the soul and body asunder, that the soul may be cast out into Hell; so also of the second: O that such would labor for their part in Christ, Christ came into the world, Christ is now Preached and offered unto us, men be in a woful case, and are told of it, and yet how few regard to embrace Christ, how few customers hath Christ? one would think that all that hear of Christ, should be heartily glad of him, and embrace and flye unto him; but alas, most men for profits, pleasures, or love of their vile lusts, are content to let go Christ, and he lies as a dead commodity, and they that bring him to the world be unwelcom, and so indeed few have part in Christ.
The consideration hereof, might make us mourn for our sins, the cause of Christs death, might be a corrasive to eat our sin, and make it odious to us, might make us serve God zealously and faithfully all our days, yea, to suffer for his sake, and rather to dye with the Martyrs, then any way to dishonor him; and besides, to labor to finde the vertue of Christs death, working mightily in us the death of sin, and sinful lusts. Thus of his death.
But quickned by the Spirit,] Now of his Resurrection: His body and soul that had been sundred, were by the power of his Godhead reunited, and he made alive, so continuing with his Disciples until his ascension into Heaven.
Touching it, consider, that it was so, the Reasons thereof, the place, maner and time, with the benefits flowing from thence, and the duties thereupon to be performed.
That Christ rose again,Christ rose again from the dead. is so plain, that none needs doubt thereof: The Angels that rolled away the stone, the Soldiers that watched the Sepulchre, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary that came to see the Sepulchre, the two Disciples going to Emmaus, the eleven Disciples being together, &c. all were witnesses hereof: So his appearances were many, as to Mary Magdalene, then to her and that other Mary, then to two Disciples going to Emmaus, then to them all save Thomas, then both to Thomas and the others; another time to Cephas, another time to seven of them at the Sea of Tiberias, 1 Cor. 15. 5.as at another to Five hundred Brethren at once; so when he was to ascend, he was taken up in the sight of all those there present; all which are so many evidences of his Resurrection.
Reasons:Why he rose again. 1. That it might appear he had fully discharged our debt. 2. Because being the Son of God, and Author, and Lord of life, it had been unmeet, nay, it was impossible he should be held under of Death.Acts 2. 24. 3. By reason of the second part of his Priesthood, which was yet to fulfil: One part was, to offer himself a Sacrifice Propitiatory to God, for the sins of his people, this he did by his death; now the other is,Rev. 1. 28. to make intercession for his Church, and to apply the vertue of his death to those for whom he dyed: This he could not have done, if he had not risen again.
The maner:The maner of his Resurrection. When they had rolled a great stone to the door of the Sepulchre, sealed it, set Soldiers to watch, yet he rose: They could as well have hindered the rising of the Sun in the Firmament, as his rising; An Angel was sent that caused a great earthquake, and rolled away the stone, &c. No counsel or strength can hinder the work of the Lord.
Place:The place from which he rose. The same where he was laid, which was by Gods providence to avoid cavils, in a new Sepulchre hewen out of a rock, wherein never man had been laid.
Time:When he rose. It was the third day, early in the morning, on the first day of the week, the third day, as was foretold by Christ himself, for he was buried the evening before the Sabbath, and rose the day after; so long between, to approve the truth of his death, and no longer, that he might see no corruption: Early in the morning, to shew that he was the light of the world, the Son of Righteousness, a light to be revealed unto the Gentiles,Psal. 16. 10. one that was to lighten every one that came into the world, namely, that is lightned, even us that are by nature darkness it self; from hence must every man fetch light: On the first day of the week, for so God disposed of it: This first day was answerable to the first day of the world; it was the morrow after the Jews Sabbath: As he began to make the world the first day of it, when before it was not, so now that it was decayed and corrupted by sin, he now came to make it up again, which he did by his Death and Resurrection.
Hence the Reason of the alteration of the Sabbath,Why the Iewish Sabbath was changed. from the Jews Sabbath to the day following, which is ours, to keep a memorial, as of the Creation of the world, so especially of the renewing of the world, by the work of Redemption; and as the first Sabbath continued from the Creation to Christs Resurrection, so no question ought this to abide to the worlds end.
The benefits ensuing hereupon are,The benefits hereof. 1. To assure us that Christ hath fully paid all our debts:1 Cor. 15. 17. If Christ be not risen (saith the Apostle) we are yet in our sins, and our preaching is in vain. 2. To give us power to rise to a new life. 3. To assure us of our Resurrection.
O then, who shall lay any thing to the charge of Believers? Its Christ that is dead,Use. nay, rather which is risen again, for whom therefore there's no evil remaining: They shall have power given them to walk in holiness of life, as the Syon, graft into a stock, receiveth juice and life therefrom; yea, they shall enjoy a comfortable and joyful Resurrection: Contrarily, miserable is the case of the wicked; their debt is all on the File against them, they shall rise but to their cost and smart, to a dreadful judgement, when they shall stand trembling, and wishing that the hills might fall on them, on them the second death shall have power: Now they lie snorting, neither will be awakened by our preaching, notwithstanding their present and approaching misery.
The duties which are hereupon to be performed,The duties to be performed. are, 1. In imitation of Christs Resurrection, in a spiritual maner to rise out of the graves of our lusts and sins,Eph. 5. 14. to a new and holy life: O awake thou that sleepest! the Word is appointed for this end. 2. To endure any thing,Heb. 11▪ 35. rather then to be deprived hereof: The faithful in Heb. 11. endured racking, and would not be delivered therefrom with an ill conscience, that they might have a better and joyful Resurrection. 3. Set our affections on those things which are above.Col. 3. 1. Thus of his Resurrection.