For even hereunto were ye called:
because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye do well,
and suffer for it, ye take it patiently,
this is acceptable with God. For even
hereunto were called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow His steps:
who did no sin, neither was found guile
in His mouth: who, when He was reviled,
reviled not again; when He suffered,
He threatened not; but committed Himself
to Him that judgeth righteously: 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 strings ye were healed.
1Peter 2:20-24
When Scripture is being twisted to fit a person' theology, or ideology, or philosophy all that happens is false teaching. Scripture defines, and by Scripture is found true translation and interpretation. For instance, Charismatic, Pentecostals use this verse in 1Peter 1:24 where the word is translated healed to mean physical healing and it is used some 26 times to "cure" and 2 times as to "make whole". So then, the proper way to translate this word here in verse 24 is to use the rule: context, context, context: a rule that must always be followed. So, then,. let us look at the context. Chapter two of 1Peter is clearly speaking about us, that we are to be servants and to be subject to masters here on earth and then to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who never sinned, no matter what occurred to Him. We were called to be acceptable to God and to be in His image as He is the model for all Authentic Christians, in fact, for all people. When Jesus died on the cross the debt of sin was paid, a death to death and by His death on the cross we are to become dead to sin so that we might live. By the death, or "bruise" that Jesus endured we can "spiritually" be cleansed from this ill, this death that sin cause to be in the world. Verse 25: "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1Peter 2:25). This word translated "healed" is not bad but must be considered in light of the context and we can clearly see that our healing was from the effect of sin by Jesus Christ so that we are now healed from the death that mankind must endure and that even though we die on this earth we are alive, now and forever: we are healed from this sin.
Liberal, or cultural Christians need to fill this void, this misunderstanding as to what is Authentic Christianity and they do this in several ways, and one is to turn to sensual pleasures. I am not just speaking of fornication, or adultery, or other such sins, no, I am speaking that they attempt to find pleasure sensually and this by some forms of music, speaking in gibberish sounds, to become euphoric in their worship, etc. and the truth about Authentic Christianity is lost. Authentic Christianity does not lose sight of the foundation of Christianity and that is that Jesus Christ bore our sins on the cross and by His agony we are healed.
The cross is simply the revelation of God's judgment on sin. Jesus was not a martyr, although He was a witness, and the cross was not His martyrdom. Jesus came to earth to die! What Jesus did on the cross changed everything as He switched all of the human race back into a right relationship with God. No, not all will come to Jesus, to accept Him, to accept God, but the debt of sin is now paid and not due to anything they can do or have done, it is solely paid by God to pay the debt owed to Him. Redemption is possible ad He made a way for every person to get into communion with God, to have a relationship with God. This was the whole purpose of the cross that of putting away sin, and not for the purpose of self-realization as so many churches today that are cultural or liberal teach.
The cross is not the cross of a man, but is, and was, the cross of God. We cannot realize the cross of God in any human experience for it is the exhibition of the nature of God. When we come to the cross we do not go through it; we abide in the life God desires us to live and the Cross is the gateway into that life. The center of salvation is the Cross of Jesus. It is by this center of salvation that salvation is easy to obtain as the cost, this great cost was and is that it cost God so much. It is by the Cross that sinful man may merge into a way of life that is acceptable to the heart of God.
Authentic Christians must be diligent, watchful especially to those who have lost their way and have forgotten their responsibility to serve God and their fellowman. Cultural Christians act as if the norm for a Christian is a life of constant indulgence, to live in affluence, to have more sensual pleasure, and luxury, and make this their aim in life. Some cultural Christians pursue possession, prestige, power, and position as if these things make life meaningful. What a contrast this is to the humble and those living a modest lifestyle, the lifestyle Jesus taught and demonstrated. To live a cultural life is to lose the meaning of the Cross of God who became incarnate to die for sin, to make it possible for man to choose to accept, to repent, to live, to have eternal life, to be a child of God, to be the bride of Jesus Christ. All that God has done is lost in the endeavor to found piety in anything other than the word of God, to find it in the death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven by Jesus Christ. It seems as if the liberal or cultural Christian is seeking distraction from the truth, the fact that they must deny themselves and follow Jesus Christ; they are seeking another gospel.
Will you take the time to examine your faith?
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the
word of the LORD; Thus saith the
LORD God; Behold, I am against the
shepherds; and I will require My flock
at their hand, and cause them to cease
from feeding the flock; neither shall the
shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I
will deliver My flock from their mouths,
that they may not be meat for them.
Ezekiel 34:10
Look upon the Cross: there you will find Jesus
Richard L. Crumb
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