First Peter 3:18 The Triumphant of Jesus Christ as a Sin-Bearing Savior
Charles e Whisnant, Pastor/Teacher
Four areas in which He triumphed, Victory in the midst of difficulty.
It was a triumphant sin-bearing,
It is a triumphant sermon,
It is a triumphant salvation and
It is a triumphant supremacy.
if we are to grasp the triumph of Christ's sufferings, not only for their sake, that is the sake that we might know those great triumphant realities, but for our sake that we also may understand our triumph in Him.
1A Point One: A triumphant sin-bearing, Verse 18, "For Christ also died for sins, once for all, the just for the unjust in order that He might bring us to God."
1B Several factors of the sin bearing of Christ. it was ultimate.
The suffering of Christ was ultimate. It says this, "For Christ also died." Note that word "also." What is its implication? That Christ suffered to the point that He died. He suffered ultimately.
Its implication is this, the "also" means in addition to somebody else. Who else is he talking about? He's talking about believers. He's been talking about the fact that you will suffer for doing what is right, but keep this in mind, Christ also suffered.
In fact, the writer of Hebrews 12:4 They hadn't suffered yet unto blood.
2B His suffering was related to sins, not His own. First Peter 2:22 says, "He committed no sin." Romans 8:3, it is so used in Hebrews 10:6 and 8.
3B His triumphant sin bearing, not only did He die, not only did He die for sins, it was, thirdly, He died in a unique way. What do I mean by unique? Once. Hebrews 7:26, Hebrews 9:24 . 25 and 28
4A The suffering of Christ was comprehensive, it covered the ground completely.
The sacrifice of Christ for sin was not limited like the Old Testament. In fact, Old Testament sacrifices were limited to a certain person, a certain family, a certain nation, a certain time. Not so the sacrifice of Christ. He wrought satisfaction to God for all who would come to Him.
In John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me and the ones who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out,
5B The death of Christ was vicarious, This phrase, "the just for the unjust," really sums it up.
The righteous for the unrighteous, the sinless for the sinful, that's what he's saying. Jesus Christ, without sin, took the place of sinners. Go back to First Peter 2:24 and remember what we studied there. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, the sinless one in the place of the sinful. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 it says, "He made Him" that is God made Christ "who knew no sin sin," that's what the Greek says. He made the one who knew no sin sin. "He made Him sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Hebrews 9:28 it says, "He was come and offered once to bear the sins of many."
Acts 3:14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;
6B The suffering of Christ was purposeful. It was purposeful.
6B The suffering of Christ was purposeful. It was purposeful.
It's a purpose clause and the verb "to bring us" is a technical word often used to denote introducing someone, or providing access for someone, or bringing someone into a relationship. That's what the word indicates.
It was Jesus Christ who came, He said, to show us the Father, to lead us to the presence of God. He's the only way. He's the only source of introduction.
You say, "Well how do you come to Christ to have Him introduce you to God?"
Well, you have to come with a sense of your sin, a deep desire to be forgiven and a longing to have relationship with God. That's the gospel message. The gospel message is that you're a sinner and I'm a sinner. And if we will turn from sin and come with a heart that desires to know and be reconciled to a holy God, then Jesus Christ will introduce us to God. That's His sin-bearing triumph. 
