Worshiping God in Spirit and in Truth

Live from Salt Lake City, Utah, this is heart of the MatterTGNN’s original show where Shawn McCraney deconstructed religion and developed fulfilled theology. where we do all we can to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. I’m Shawn McCraneyFounder of TGNN and developer of the fulfilled perspective—calling people to faith outside of religion., your host.

Show 13 489 Jesus Christ part VIII
March 29th 2016

Our prayer this evening will be given by _____________________.

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Reminder:
Sunday April 3rd 4pm
First meeting for the first stage play production that we are going to produce here at CAMPUS. Go to www.campuschurch.tv for directions

Following Christ's Example

FROM THE WORD

Last week we read our text from 1st Peter 2 beginning at verse 17 which says:

17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Let’s continue on at verse 21-24 where Peter adds

21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

These words create for us a high, high call to pursue – the highest – to respond and walk as Jesus walked and responded. But notice that the difficulty of it did not stop Peter from pointing out our need to at least consider it, pursue it, maybe even live it?

A Call to Suffer

He starts with the line:

“For even hereunto were ye called:”

Speaking to believers who were NOT one bit different than us, Peter makes it clear

“This is what you were called to do!” “This is God’s purpose for calling you.” “For this is your calling.” We are in the Body of Christ for the ultimate means of presenting these very same attributes in ourselves to the world.

Now, hear me clearly. If you are receiving this message today and you are still “a babe in Christ,” you haven’t “matured yet in the faith,” you haven’t “chewed on the meat of the word,” Peter’s instructions here could really mess you up. Immature believers respond to such teachings in the flesh – and having started in the Spirit begin to react by trying to become perfected in their flesh. Don’t do it.

Instead, look to Christ, spend time in the Word, let the Holy Spirit move you to complicity, not the taskmaster of your own flesh – that has never worked. This being said if you are a babe it is vital that you do taste the sincere milk of the Word so that you can grow thereby. This milk drinking comes first.

For those of you who have walked with Jesus a while and eaten enough plates of meat you embody spiritual strength and maturity, Peter is calling you to a new path – that of suffering. He is calling us to suffer to the wiles of selfish people. He is calling us to suffering of self-effacement. He is calling us to insufferable deaths to our fleshly reactions and to life in the Spirit that causes us to move and respond as Jesus moved and responded.

He is pushing for us to submit to the injustices that run rampant in the world. I realized recently that in this world a person either chooses to be the predator or the prey. Even in Christianity. And if a person is not willing to be the prey they have to be a predator in some sense or another. This is ESPECIALLY true when we try and do the selfless work of Christ in this world.

So in “His name” we can put others in bondage, we can master them, make demands on them, and tell them what they need to do to serve us (or the church or the political party or whatever) or we can follow the lead of Jesus and serve them, doing all we can to set them free. And the more we selflessly seek to set others free the more they will abuse or prey upon us. It’s the law.

Suffering and Christ as Our Example

of the jungle and even though some people have been forgiven for being animals they still let the animal instincts rule. Peter says, “do well,” as Jesus did – especially in the face of persecution, for this is what you and I were called to do. Paul writes in 1st Thessalonians 3:3, that he writes to comfort the saints:

“So that no one should be drawn aside by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to them.”

Meat eaters have to recall – sometimes in the heat of the trial – that we were called, we – listen – like Jesus, have been appointed unto suffering. Here in 1st Peter, Peter gives us a sort of “round about reason” for this to be our calling, and says something REALLY significant: “because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.”

Paul said something really interesting relative to this concept in Philippians 3:8-11:

8 . . . and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (READY?) and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (READY?) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God.; (and then he adds the really wild verse) If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”

Exploring Resurrection Terminology

(As an aside, do a search or study on that last verse – “If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” It’s fascinating because Paul uses a word there “ex-ana-statias” which is not used anywhere else in the Bible to describe resurrection. Anastasis is the typical word translated resurrection. Why Paul used exanastatius is unknown but the emphasis appears to mean he was humbly hoping to attain the resurrection of a believer, and not just participate in the general resurrection itself.)

And it all leads to this idea that those who are Christs, those who do submit to suffering of the flesh and His will may obtain a believers resurrection that is in some way superior to the general resurrection. Such conjecture lead Joseph Smith to suggest that the best resurrections will include fully functioning reproductive parts.

Follow Christ's Example

In any case, Peter’s objective is to hold up Christ as our example (I really hate this phrase because of my religious upbringing) but his purpose is to hold up “the example of Christ” to those who are called to suffer, and to say to them that they should bear their trials in the same Spirit that Christ bores His. The Greek word for “example” here in the King James is another word not found anywhere else in the New Testament. The term is “hupo-grammas” – a compound term taken from the Greek word hupo (meaning under) and grapho (meaning to write). It refers to my favorite and most honed skill taken from my public school education – copying the writing of another.

Remember learning to write cursive? How the teacher gave us papers that had the letters printed on the line above and we had to copy (or try to copy) it on the line right below it – hundreds of times over? Hupogrammas. Taking Christ and His life and the imagery and applying it to this is obvious. You know I want to say something here I personally take very seriously – I do not want to die and find out I was copying the drawing of Jesus from the wrong person. And so we, like the Bereans, seek and search the Word and its descriptions of Him so as to know how to hupogrammas or trace the pattern He has provided us of Himself.

This is one of the single most important values of possessing the Word. It opens our Spirit up to images and imagery of Him that otherwise would not be accessible to us – unless we had a direct revelation like say, Paul. The more I read of Him the less things I can justify cutting away from the pattern that He left us. I mean, even things that appear so cultural and of the time, like what He wore, ate, drank, and how He lived illustrate something for those who want to discover Him through

Emulating Christ's Pattern

Of course His characteristics, His approach, His responses, His teachings, His very words cannot be erased. Adding to the imagery of Him being an illustration or pattern, Peter adds that “we should follow in His steps.” Walk His walk.

It’s an interesting combination of commands. The first is the noun – the person, place, or thing; to pattern ourselves after the pattern or the graphicos and the second is the verb, to walk.

Copy and Walk

COPY and WALK is what Peter is telling us to do here. Looking to animation, the first instruction is to be drawn or patterned after Him and then the second is to replicate that figure over and over, giving us movement. Peter is not just telling us to look like Jesus, he is telling us to act like Jesus – which of course is through our love.

I am beyond convinced that every single one of us has the liberty to choose to what extent we will allow ourselves to be “drawn” or illustrated in His image and to what extent we will allow Him to lead our walk. In the end the decisions are ours and we are all responsible before God for how far we will allow ourselves to be copied in His image and how far we will go to walk in His steps. I don’t think we have it in our power to look upon another person and decide if they are patterned well or rightly enough either. That’s God’s job. All we can do is decide for ourselves, and support people, in love, for what they believe mirrors and honors Him in their lives. I know this last part would be refuted by most people, but that’s okay.

So after telling us to follow Him, Peter adds a reminder most of us know about Him saying –

22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

The Heart of Jesus

Now Peter goes into the heart of Jesus and after telling us to hupogrammo Him – he reminds us that in Him there was no deceit, there was no hypocrisy, there was not a shade of darkness. First Peter tells us that we ought to suffer rebuke when we do well – that this is God-pleasing. Then he tells us to huppogrammo Jesus, copy and walk after Him, now he adds that He ONLY did well . . . and now he adds yet again . . .

23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

Herein lies the basis of all we do as Christians – Him – who He was and what He did and how He did it. Peter, who walked with Him says, “When he was reviled, He did not revile back. When He suffered he threatened not.”

It’s interesting. Because there would be times when He would say things like, “How are you going to escape punishment?” But He never said, “You’re going to hell,” as an imprecation against those who attacked Him. In fact He often blessed those who attacked Him. He plainly said He did not come to judge or condemn the world but to save it? Copied and walking after Him are we not in the same boat?

He was openly criticized by the most influential of the Nation. It occurred publicly, they sought to alienate people from Him and His influence, they used biting remarks and inference about His person, but Peter says He did not “revile those who had reproached him.”

When I have taught through the gospel accounts I have suggested that some of Jesus' responses have been obviously biting. I think I must have interpreted His remarks incorrectly based on Peter’s words here. In other words, I was wrong. See, Peter would have known if Jesus reviled those who reproached Him, right? So context, word choice, and tone escaping me, I have assigned to His person false attributes. I’m sorry Lord.

Certainly, He asked that justice be done. And He demanded to know that if he had spoken evil it be proven – but beyond that He did NOT “revile when reviled and when He was suffering He didn’t lash out with threats.” Amazing.

Trusting the Righteous Judge

But, what did He do? Peter says: “But He committed Himself (meaning His cause and situation) to Him that judgeth righteously.” I would LOVE to reach the point where I commit ALL THINGS to Jesus and trust that He will handle them. This means I hold my tongue – especially regarding

Understanding the Sacrifice

That when I am frustrated I let it go and lift it up to Him. That when I am slighted I am slighted in His name and cause. That when I am slapped, I literally and actually turn the other cheek. Of course the whole point is if He who had every right to revile and judge and threaten when harmed didn’t . . . neither should we.

But Peter doesn’t stop there but speaking of Jesus says: (verse 24)

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

The line, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body,” means He didn’t offer up an animal sacrifice up for our sins, like the former high priests would do in the temple, but He offered His own person, in His own sinless body He bore our sins . . .

The Meaning of the Cross

Where did He bear our sins? On the tree. On the cross. This is a tremendous passage for those who believe He bore our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. His chief apostle Peter tells us right here where the bearing was done – on the cross (of course on a tree means on wood and hearkens back to the Old Testament).

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, THAT . . . (for the purpose of, so THAT . . .)” “We” – (those who were called) “being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Being Dead to Sin

“We being dead to sin . . . should live . . . unto righteousness.” “We being . . . should live.” “We being . . . should live.” The little combination of words perfectly lay out the Christian order. And in order to appropriately understand them we have to start with “we BEING.”

We are. We be. We be what? Dead to sin. By virtue of Jesus having been suspended on a cross and bearing our sins, He vicariously paid for and DIED with our sin on His person! Get it? Suppose we live in an apartment full of rats. Nothing has worked getting rid of them. Nothing on earth and every measure has been attempted – traps, pied pipers, bombs, fire – nothing.

These things have made you utterly miserable. You can’t sleep. You’re afraid to eat. You refuse to entertain people or be hospitable because these rats have overrun your life. One day a guy comes in and opens up this giant white shirt that he’s wearing and all the rats not only in the apartment itself but the whole complex, city, state, nation and world come crawling out of the darkest recesses and onto His body. And then when the last one climbs up his leg and makes a home on Him, He buttons the shirt up, stumbles down to a pier that stretches out over the deep ocean, and jumps, taking every single dirty rat with Him, down into the deep where He and all the rats drown.

Living Free from Sin

The rats are gone. There are no more rats. They are all dead. You used to fear moving. Walking. Eating. The dark. All of it. But because of Him you are now completely free of rats. And not only you, but the town, state, nation and world. So it is with SIN. Because Jesus died bearing our sin with Him to the grave we are as dead to sin as we would be dead to the existence of rats. Rats are gone. They are all dead with Christ. Our sin is gone – nailed and buried with Christ. As a result we too are DEAD to sin. The line dead to sin in the Greek is better translated, “to be absent from sin.”

How could you be in the company of a rat if ALL THE RATS were drown? How could sin overwhelm or invade or present itself in your life if they were all taken on by Him on the cross? We are dead to sin just like we would be dead to rats if we knew all the rats were taken and drown. Did you catch that word – “IF.” IF they were all taken and drown. You see, if a person starts to live as if sin still exists they are making the sacrificial work of the man who drown.

Living Free From Sin

And if you believe that they are still around, lurking in the house, under your bed, you will live as though they are still around. And if you live as if sin is still around, you will begin to live NOT in faith (that Jesus took care of it all) but in fear that it could come back! And His work for us will be rendered less and less effective.

Does sin exist? Only one.

Faithlessness. Not placing it all in His hands and trusting that He really took it all away. All the rats. Gone. There is no rat remaining. And if they are truly all gone we are truly all free. “We being” . . . free, saved, sinless . . . and then Peter says we “should be.” With all the rats gone (that once trapped and manipulated us) we being (completely free of them) “should be.”

Characteristics of a Sin-Free Life

Fearless. Full of faith in Him. Loving. Carefree. Hospitable.

As He was . . . (copied) as He Lived (and walk). Go back to thinking you can sin, or that He didn’t take sin all away for you and you will cease “being.” Therefore you will then fail in the “should be” category too.

All of us are absent from sin. There is no purpose under God’s glowing sun for any believer to be focused on sin. They are gone by and through Christ who bore them on a tree. It is immature faithlessness to look over our shoulder or to examine every action as if sin remains – just as if we spent time searching for rats once all of them have been drown.

Living Unto Righteousness

Instead, Peter says, “being free, we should now live for Him, through Him, as Him” to our neighbor. The “influence of sin in the life of a believer today is as foolish and unreasonable as someone wandering about afraid that T-Rex is going to get them. T Rex is gone. So is sin.

But the fail, the waste, the loss is time and attention continued to be spent on people and pastors looking for T Rex and protecting themselves from it, and building fortifications, and weapons to fight against it.

Paul said in Romans 6:

How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? So being effectually separated from sin (it no longer influences us) “we should,” Peter says, “live unto God – as Christ.” “We being” . . . (dead to sin) “Should live (unto righteousness!)” I read this as a natural result and not a condemnation.

“Dude, all the rats are gone. Be free. Live well! There is no fear and no reason to judge others or be angry or hateful of them and not forgive. Be free! Live well.” Get it?

And then Peter adds, referring to Isaiah 53 and its prophesy of Jesus, reminds us: “By whose stripes ye are healed.” It’s like saying to the rat infested apartment dweller: “Live free, my friend, you have been given new life by His drowning.”

In other words, Christians, remember: you have been healed by His taking your sin upon Him and dying. By the stripes He endured you have been healed, with sin often being likened to disease, by His stripes you have been cleansed of disease.

And a final reminder at verse 25:

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now turned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

(beat)

Let’s open up the phone lines:

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And while the operators are clearing thy calls, take a look at this:

SPOT HERE

Reminder (at end of SHOW):

Sunday April 3rd 4pm
First meeting for the first stage play production that we are going to produce here at CAMPUS.
Go to www.campuschurch.tv for directions

CLOSE WITH Reminder:
This Sunday April 3rd 4pm
First meeting for the first stage play production that we are going to produce here at CAMPUS.
Go to www.campuschurch.tv for directions

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