Sermon Notes by Pastor Arthur H. Coleman Sr. For Sunday November 10, 2013
Text :1 Peter 2:19-23 “For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. (vs20) 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. (vs21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (vs22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (vs23)Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” St. Luke 24:45-48 ( Christ appears to the Eleven) “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. (vs46) And he said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (vs47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (vs48) And ye are witnesses of these things.”
PREMISE
The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 22, Pages 84 &95-96, Comment on 1 Peter 2:21 “ Christians Are Called To Imitate Christ “. “Christians are called to suffering; the cross is the badge of their profession; without the cross they cannot be disciples of the crucified Lord. This was the meaning of your calling, St. Peter says; you knew it when you became Christians; you must not forget it in the hour of trial. Christ suffered for you; he left behind him, when he ascended into heaven, an example for you to imitate, a sketch for you to fill up in detail. Try by the grace of God’s Holy Spirit to renew the likeness of God in your hearts; look to the Lord Jesus Christ as your Model; copy one by one the features of that Divine loveliness; fill up the portrait, little by little, touch by touch, looking with fixed attention on the great Original. And , to change the figure, follow him; he goeth before you. Climb the steep ascent of heaven, stepping in the very footprints of the Divine Guide. He will lead you safe. But there is only one way--- the way he trod himself, the royal way of the most holy cross”.