WE WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY (Outline)
April 29, 2007 - EASTER 4 - 1 Peter 2:19-25
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INTRO: There are all kinds of voices that we hear calling to us in our lives. There is the voice of human wisdom. Human wisdom likes to say, “My knowledge is supreme.” There is the voice of human reason. Our rational minds try to reason out everything in this life. Now, human reason is not always in harmony with the truth of Scripture. Sadly, some churches have placed the value and importance of human reason over the truth and power of the word of God. We may also have listened to other voices in our lives.
Today we hear and listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd. Our Good Shepherd calls and we hear and we listen and we follow. Please take time today to read chapter 10 of John (the Good Shepherd chapter). Here is one verse from John 10. "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out"(JOHN 10:3). The end of our text today reminds us:
WE WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY.
I. Our Good Shepherd bore our sins, so
II. That we follow in his steps.
I. OUR GOOD SHEPHERD BORE OUR SINS
A. This letter of God through Peter was a letter of hope and encouragement for persecuted believers.
1. Chapter 2 begins by reminding these believers to live as God’s people in an ungodly world.
2. In verse 18 Peter mentions the obedience of slaves to / for their masters.
3. This obedience was to be carried out because this action also meant obedience to God.
B. Verse 19. Obedience might also include bearing up under unjust suffering.
1. These believers would and could endure because they were conscious of God.
2. Verse 22 reminds these believers of the injustice Jesus endured – willingly, for them.
C. The innocent Good Shepherd bore the sins of the guilty sheep, verse 24.
1. The sheep could not save themselves. It took the sacrificial love of Jesus to carry their sins.
2. Verse 25 describes the concern of the Good Shepherd for the souls of wandering sheep.
D. On this Good Shepherd Sunday we are reminded of our own wandering ways. What voices do we pay attention to? There is the voice of the world that tries to strike fear in our hearts. There are the voices of our own human wisdom, reason, and selfishness. All these can easily lead us astray, in the wrong direction. But thanks be to God who does not abandon us to our sinful, selfish ways. Thanks be to God who provides the Good Shepherd who bore our sins! "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all"(ISAIAH 53:6).
E. There is a certain comfort in the sure knowledge of our eternal salvation. Those that listen to false prophets and shepherds often are unsure of what the future has in store. This is not the case for the wandering sheep that hear, listen and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd. Uncertainty of what is yet to come is not the case for you. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life"(ROMANS 6:22). Our Good Shepherd bore our sins to take away the punishment of sin. We are set free from sin. We were like sheep going astray but now we are God’s sheep going to heaven.
F. Our Good Shepherd bore our sins to provide eternal life for each and every one of us. Eternity is the Good Shepherd’s gift to us, his wandering sheep. This gift of the Good Shepherd on the cross is ours by grace through faith. "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"(2 CORINTHIANS 5:21). Our Good Shepherd who was innocent, blameless and righteous bore our sins. We who are guilty and unrighteous are forgiven by God’s grace, love, and mercy. Our heavenly Father no longer sees our sins but sees the perfect sacrifice of his Son, our Good Shepherd.
WE WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY. Praise God that our Good Shepherd bore our sins. So --
II. THAT WE FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS
A. These believers were under constant threat and attacks by the government and even the church.
1. This was not to be totally unexpected. Verse 19 spoke of unjust suffering.
2. Their knowledge (and faith in) of God was would cause these believers to endure.
B. Peter uses a comparison of sufferings in verse 20. There is just and unjust suffering.
1. Those suffering for doing wrong are getting what they deserve. There is not boating.
2. Suffering unjustly is commendable. Consider all the unjust suffering Jesus endured.
C. Verse 21 says these believers were called to this -- suffering and following in Jesus’ steps.
1. Peter explains what it means to follow in Jesus’ steps in verse 23.
2. Christ never spoke an angry word. Even on the cross Jesus spoke forgiveness for enemies.
3. Christ entrusted himself to his heavenly Father. God was with our Good Shepherd.
D. This is quite an example to follow. Yes, Jesus died on the cross. That is not easy. Our Good Shepherd also spent his entire lifetime as one of forgiveness and love. That attitude can be even more difficult as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps. Our sinful nature wants to get even with those who wrong us. Our sinful nature wants to see justice carried out and the bad people get what they truly deserve. Today we are reminded that believers follow in the steps of Jesus with lives of love and forgiveness. "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you"(COLOSS. 3:13). Amazing – forgive as the Lord forgave! Forgive and forget and move on.
E. Challenging, difficult and hard to do this? Yes. We thank God that we do not have to depend on our own strength in order to love and forgive. By grace through faith the power of Jesus and his diving forgiveness is alive and well in our hearts and the hearts of every believer. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me"(GALATIANS 2:20). Christ alive in us makes it easier for us to walk in the steps of our Good Shepherd. Pray that this life of Christ may be seen in our lives!
F. Peter wanted these believers to shining examples of God’s live in a world darkened by sin. Opposed on every side because of their faith, their faith was to still be the example that others would learn from. The early apostles did this. They preached God’s message. They reminded the people that they had put to death the Author of Life. They believed and were saved. They really came to see and understand that Jesus had done nothing wrong. There was nothing bad to say about him. May others in the world around us come to the same conclusion about our life. "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us"(TITUS 2:7,8). What a blessing to walk in the steps of Jesus until others have nothing bad to say about us!
CONC.: WE WERE LIKE SHEEP GOING ASTRAY. All too often we have listened to the voices of human reason or wisdom. Or may be we have listened to our own selfish sinful voice that cares very little about anyone else but ourselves. Our Good Shepherd knows us. Our Good Shepherd calls us. We hear his voice and listen to his voice and follow his voice. We are his sheep. Our Good Shepherd bore our sins so that we follow in his steps. "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen"(HEBREWS 13:20,21). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
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EASTER 4 readings:
ACTS 13:15,16a, 26-33; REVELATION 7:9-17; JOHN 10:22-30
