Exemplar of fulfilling the WILL of THE FATHER, *GOD*, of SERVING, of PATIENT SUFFERING, of HONEST LOVE, of MEEKNESS, of HUMILITY, of OBEDIENCE, of HOLINESS, and so much more, we OUGHT to LEARN from HIM, and FOLLOW HIM closely, for ONLY HE CAN lead our souls! In coming weeks, we will go deeper into knowing HIM more completely, THAT we can begin to take on HIS likeness, and develop further into our TRUTH...
1 PETER 2: 21-25...
21+++For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
22+++WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23+++and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24+++and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25+++For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
The fruits of Christ's sufferings are the death of sin, and a new holy life of righteousness; for both which we have an example, and powerful motives, and ability to perform also, from the death and resurrection of Christ. And our justification; Christ was bruised and crucified as a sacrifice for our sins, and by his stripes the diseases of our souls are cured.
Here is man's sin; he goes astray; it is his own act. His misery; he goes astray from the pasture, from the Shepherd, and from the flock, and so exposes himself to dangers without number.
Here is the recovery by conversion; they are now returned as the effect of Divine grace. This return is, from all their errors and wanderings, to Christ. Sinners, before their conversion, are always going astray; their life is a continued error.
Christ is an example to his people in the exercise of grace, as of faith, love, zeal, meekness, and humility; and in the discharge of duty, in his regard to the commands of the moral law, and positive institutions of religion; in his constancy in prayer; in frequent attendance on public worship; in his submission to the ordinance of baptism, and his celebration of the supper; and likewise in his sufferings; and in his meekness, patience, courage, and resignation to the will of God, which is what is here intended, and in which his people are to fellow and imitate him.
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