June 1
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A MODEL FOR DYING TO SIN AND LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY
21 For you have been called for this purpose, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you would follow in His steps, 22 HE WHO COMMITTED NO sin, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT found IN HIS MOUTH; 23 [and while being abusively insulted, He did not insult in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself brought our sins in His body up on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by His wounds you were healed. 25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. – 1 Peter 2:21-25
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In this letter, Peter shows to all believers that it is possible to live a righteous life and learn to die to our flesh. He reminds us of the purpose we are called as followers of Jesus. All those who believe in Jesus are expected to be patient, suffer and endure. Of course, the world system cannot fathom this because the prince of this world, Satan, wants us to avoid suffering so we will be unable to endure and grow our faith. Many unbelievers do not know that there is a way to die to our selfish nature and live righteous lives.
Peter explains that the only way we can see the value of giving up our flesh and live holy lives is to look up to the model that we can emulate. This model is someone who though he became human, never committed any sin. There is no trace of deceit from his mouth, because he only utters what his Father says. Can you imagine what it would be like to have nothing foul come out of your mouth? That would be ideal, but James talk about how our tongue is a world of evil in his book in chapter 3, verse 6. Could it be possible to be sinless like Jesus? It isn’t unless we follow our model. He sampled to us the possibility of being holy and avoid sin. He gave us His Holy Spirit to make this likely to happen to everyone who will receive him and serve Him. Many are invited to receive him, but only a few will respond and be able to choose the holy life that can only be granted to those whom he chose before the beginning of time.
Peter tells us that when Jesus died on the cross, he took our sins with him so it can be dead and be possible for us to live a life that chooses the holy and obedient lives. The wounds he bore healed us from sin. What a marvelous God we have who gave us a Shepherd, a guardian of our souls in his Son Jesus Christ! It is through our faith that we can be able to follow the life He wants us to live because of his sacrifice on the cross.
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REFLECTION
• Why isn’t it possible to be righteous and holy on our own?