1 Peter 2:18-25 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the fraudulent.… In these words, take notice — 1. Of one end of Christ in suffering: that He might leave us an example. 2. They were remarkable steps that Christ took when He was here in the days of His flesh. And among them all He did not take one wrong one. 3. The steps of Christ are to be followed. Our Lord did whatsoever became Him, and exactly "fulfilled all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). 4. Here is a special intimation of a Christian's duty patiently to bear injuries, and to take up the Cross. 5. The sufferings of Christ and His example being joined together in the text, here is a signification that by His death He has purchased grace to enable us to follow His example. I. PREMISE SOME THINGS BY WAY OF CAUTION. 1. Think not, as long as you remain in this world, to be altogether free from sin as Christ was. 2. Think not that Christ in all His actions is to be imitated. There are royalties belonging to Him, which none must invade. He alone is judge and lawgiver in Zion. 3. Think not that your obedience can be meritorious, as Christ's was. 4. Think not that your greatest sufferings for the sake of righteousness are in the least expiatory of sin, as Christ's were. II. IN WHAT RESPECTS CHRIST IS AN EXAMPLE TO BE FOLLOWED. 1. In His great self-denials (2 Corinthians 8:9; Romans 15:3; John 7:18). 2. In His patient enduring the world's hatred, and the slights and contradiction of sinners (John 15:18, 19; Hebrews 12:2; Matthew 5:44). 3. In His resisting and overcoming the prince of dark ness (Matthew 4:1-11). 4. In His contempt of the world's glory, and contentment with a mean and low estate in it (Luke 4:5, 6). 5. In His living a life so very beneficial, doing good being His perpetual business (Acts 10:38; Ephesians 5:9; Titus 3:8). 6. In His most profitable and edifying communication (Psalm 45:2; Luke 4:22; 1 Peter 2:22, 23; Matthew 11:28). 7. In His manner of performing holy duties (Hebrews 5:7; Romans 12:11). 8. In His great humility and weakness (Matthew 11:29; Proverbs 6:16, 17). 9. In His love to God, great care to please Him, and fervent zeal for His name and glory (John 14:31; John 8:29). 10. In His sufferings and death (Hebrews 12:2). III. SOME ARGUMENTS TO PERSUADE TO THE IMITATION OF OUR LORD JESUS. 1. Consider the greatness of the person who gives you the example (Revelation 19:16; Philippians 2:10). 2. Remember the relation wherein you that are saints do stand unto the Lord Jesus. "You are members of His body" (Ephesians 5:30). There fore you "should grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). 3. Consider that God did foreordain you that are believers m a conformity to the Lord Jesus (Romans 8:29). 4. Walking as Christ walked will make it evident that you are indeed in Him (1 John 2:6; Galatians 4:19). 5. Your following the example of Christ very much honours Him, and credits Christianity (Colossians 3:1). 6. Christ frequently speaks to you to follow Him, and observes whether and how you do it (Revelation 1:14; Revelation 2:23). 7. Follow Christ's example, that you may enter into His glory (2 Timothy 2:11, 12; Revelation 3:21; Colossians 3:4). IV. SOME DIRECTIONS HOW YOU MAY BE ABLE TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF OUR LORD JESUS. 1. Let your unlikeness to Christ be matter of your great humiliation. 2. Study more the admirable excellency and fairness of the copy which Christ has set you, and how desirable it is still to be growing up more and more into Him in all things. 3. Being sensible of your own impotency, live by faith on the Son of God (Isaiah 45:24; John 15:4, 5). 4. Give up yourselves to the conduct of Christ's own Spirit (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29). (N. Vincent, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. |
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