1 Peter 3:13-22: a reflection

13Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.” 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear, 16having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil. 18Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

At the heart of this passage is the reason Christ suffered: to bring us to God. Christ also suffered for sins once, Peter writes, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. Here is the gospel in brief: Christ, the righteous one, suffered for sins, not his own, for he had none, but ours; the righteous suffered for the unrighteous. And the purpose was to bring us to God, to reconcile us, to open the way for us who were far off to be brought near. The righteous suffered for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. This is the heart of what Christ has done for us. Christ, the righteous, suffered for us, the unrighteous, to bring us to God. The righteous suffered for the unrighteous to bring us near. Christ suffered to bring us to God. The purpose of his suffering was to bring us to God.

Notice the exchange and the purpose in Peter's words. The exchange: the righteous for the unrighteous. Christ, who alone was righteous, who had no sin of his own, suffered for sins, taking upon himself what was ours, suffering in the place of us, the unrighteous. And the purpose: that he might bring you to God. His suffering was not without aim; it was to bring us to God, to reconcile us who were far off, to open the way for us to be brought near to the God from whom our sin had separated us. This is the gospel: Christ suffered, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God. And it means that in Christ we who were far off are brought near, reconciled to God, given access to him, not by our own righteousness, for we had none, but by his suffering in our place. To be brought to God through Christ's suffering in our place is our salvation. Christ suffered, the righteous for the unrighteous, that we might be brought to God. Through Christ's suffering we are brought near to God. In Christ we who were far off are reconciled and brought to God.

That is worth resting in, for Christ suffered, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God, and in him we who were far off are brought near. We can feel separated from God by our sin, far off, without access to him; but Christ, the righteous one, suffered for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, and the purpose was to bring us to God, to reconcile us, to bring us near. We are brought to God not by our own righteousness, which we lack, but by Christ's suffering for us. When you feel far from God, remember that Christ suffered to bring you to God, the righteous for the unrighteous. Rest in the truth that Christ suffered, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring us to God, so that in him we who were far off are brought near, reconciled and given access to God; for we can feel separated from God by our sin, far off and without a way to him, but Christ, who alone was righteous and had no sin of his own, suffered for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, and the very purpose of his suffering was to bring us to God, to reconcile us and open the way for us to be brought near, so that we are brought to God not by any righteousness of our own, which we lack, but by Christ's suffering for us, and in him we who were far off are reconciled and brought near to the God from whom our sin had separated us.

Lord Jesus, at the heart of this passage is the reason you suffered: to bring us to God. Christ also suffered for sins once, Peter writes, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. Here is the gospel in brief: you, the righteous one, suffered for sins, not your own, for you had none, but ours; the righteous suffered for the unrighteous. And the purpose was to bring us to God, to reconcile us, to open the way for us who were far off to be brought near. This is the heart of what you have done for me. Show me the exchange and the purpose in Peter's words. The exchange: the righteous for the unrighteous. You, who alone were righteous, who had no sin of your own, suffered for sins, taking upon yourself what was mine, suffering in the place of me, the unrighteous. And the purpose: that you might bring me to God. Your suffering was not without aim; it was to bring me to God, to reconcile me who was far off, to open the way for me to be brought near to the God from whom my sin had separated me. This is the gospel: you suffered, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring me to God. And it means that in you I who was far off am brought near, reconciled to God, given access to him, not by my own righteousness, for I had none, but by your suffering in my place. Let me rest in that, for you suffered, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring me to God, and in you I who was far off am brought near. When I feel separated from God by my sin, far off, without access to him, help me remember that you suffered to bring me to God, Lord, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that I am brought to God not by any righteousness of my own, which I lack, but by your suffering for me, and in you I who was far off am reconciled and brought near.