Jesus Christ: Victim and Victor by Mark S. Camp
1 Peter 3:18-22
In chapter 3 of this epistle, the Apostle Peter has been
speaking about the subject of godly living. He has spoken of
the way in which Christian wives and husbands should conduct
themselves; the kind of spirit which should pervade the entire
walk of a believer; and, of the persecution which often
accompanies the walk of righteousness. He then exhorted his
readers to set apart Christ in their hearts, to sanctify him as
Lord, and to be able to give a defense for the hope that lies
within them.
In the text before us for consideration, the Apostle now goes
to the root cause or the basic motivation for living a godly
and righteous life. The basic thought is that Jesus Christ has
died for sins and has paid the sin penalty. Our sins caused
Christ to have to suffer death on the cross, therefore, we are
to abstain from sin in any form.
I would like to draw your attention to focus upon the work of
Christ as he wrought out reconciliation between God and man in
the atonement. We shall see Jesus Christ as a Victim and as a
Victor. Our Lord was a victim of man's sins, a victim of the
cruel and agonizing death on Calvary. But, Christ was also a
Victor, in that he accomplished the work which the Father sent
him to do, and he triumphed over death and its evil clutches.
As a Victim, we shall see that his death was:
1. An act of atonement
2. An act of substitution
3. An act of reconciliation
As a Victor, we shall see the contrast between the flesh and
spirit, and shall see the glorious triumph of his most gracious
offering of himself.
I. Jesus Christ as Victim
A. His death was an act of atonement
1. He was the chosen sacrifice to atone for sins.
2. The Law was weak and could not atone for sin.
It only served to remind of sin.
Rom. 8:3 - "For what the Law could not do... God did: sending
his own Son...as an offering for sin."
3. In this act of atonement, Christ became a
propitiation for sins. His death was an act of
removal or covering (Rom. 3:23-26). His death
removed the displeasure and the wrath of God
which was against those whom Christ came to save.
4. It was a real sacrifice for sin by which guilt
and condemnation was taken away from those for
whom it was intended, and now makes a believer
"at one" with God.
5. What was the extent of this atonement? (To whom
did it apply?)
a. It was first of all universal.
Jn. 1:29 - "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins
of the world."
Jn. 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one
and only Son."
a1. It is universal in the sense that it
was not intended to save only people
from any one tribe or race.
a2. It is universal in the sense that it
is sufficient to save "whosoever"
believes it.
b. But, the atonement is also particular.
Mt. 1:21 - "He will save his people from their sins."
Mt. 20:28 - "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give his life a ransom for
many."
Acts 20:28 - "Shepherd the church of God which he purchased
with his own blood."
Eph. 5:2 - "Christ...gave himself up for us."
Jn. 10:15 - "I lay down my life for the sheep."
2. The atonement was a once for all time atonement.
a. It would never have to be repeated.
Heb. 9:12 - "Through his own blood he entered the holy place
once for all, having obtained eternal
redemption."
Heb. 10:10 - "We have been sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
Heb. 10:18 - "Now where there is forgiveness of these
things, there is no longer any offering for
sin."
B. His death was an act of substitution.
1. "The just for the unjust." (v. 18)
a. The character or nature of the
recipients of this acts was that of
unrighteousness.
b. Christ, the righteous, holy, sinless,
God-man dying or substituting himself
in the place of unrighteous, condemned,
sinful, depraved man.
Rom. 5:8 - "But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in
that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for
us."
2. This act of substitution was prophecied in the
Old Testament.
Is. 53:4 - "Surely our griefs he himself bore."
53:5 - "He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities."
53:6 - "The Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to
fall on him."
3. This act of substitution is spoken of in the New
Testament.
Rom. 8:32 - "He who did not apare his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all."
2 Cor. 5:21 - "He made him who knew no sin to be sin on our
behalf, that we might become the
righteousness of God in him.
Gal. 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law,
having become a curse for us."
1 Pet. 2:24 - "He himself bore our sins in his body on the
cross."
C. His death was an act of reconciliation.
1. Reconciliation is a work of God. Man does not
initiate reconciliation.
Leon Morris has said, "If God and man are to be reconciled,
it cannot be by the simple expedient of ignoring sin, but only
by overcoming it. It is the consistent teaching of Scripture
that man could not remove the cause of enmity. The barrier
which the sin of man had erected the wit of man could not find
means to remove. But in the death of him whom God 'made sin'
for man, the cause of enmity was squarely faced and removed.
Therefore, a complete reconciliation results, so that man turns
to God in repentance and trust, and God looks on man with favor
and not in wrath."
2. The result of reconciliation is that we are now
able to have access to God.
Heb. 4:16 - "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to
the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy
and may find grace to help in time of
trouble."
READ HEBREWS 10:19-22
And so we see that the death of Jesus on Calvary was an act of
atonement. It was an act of substitution. It was an act of
reconciliation.
The act of atonement focuses our attention upon the wrath of
God. The act of substitution focuses our attention upon the
love of God. And, the act of reconciliation focuses our
attention upon our alienation from God.
If you are listening today and are without Christ as your Lord
and Savior, I must tell you two things:
1. As a human being you are a sinner by birth, alienated
from God. You are subject to feeling the intense
anger of his wrath. If you remain in your sins, then
you must be willing to face the consequences of an
eternal punishment.
2. But, because Jesus Christ became a victim to the death
on the cross, you can be reconsiled with God. You
can experience the gracious mercy and love of God by
placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as
Savior.
II. Jesus Christ as Victor
A. The contrast between flesh and spirit (v. 18-19)
1. Flesh refers to human flesh, spirit refers to
the spirit of man (not the Holy Spirit as some
translations lead us to believe.)
2. The physical body of Jesus underwent death, but
his spirit entered into a fuller life.
3. In his flesh, Jesus suffered an execution. He
died so that we might live.
4. But his spirit did not die. He became more than
a victim, he became the Lord Victorious, winning
the victory over sin and death.
a. In the Spirit, while his physical body was
in the tomb, Jesus went and preached his
victory to the fallen angels and to the
unrepentent. He proved to them that he was
alive and well, that Satan's fortresses had
been conquered.
b. How Satan and his fallen angels must have
rejoiced to see Christ die. But, how they
must have trembled to see him alive and
appearing in glory.
5. Verse 22 illustrates this victory even further.
a. Christ is now at the right hand of God.
b. He has been made the exalted Lord. All
things have been put into subjection under
his feet.
B. We are saved by his victory and guaranteed an eternal
inheritance in heaven.
1. Just as Noah and his family were saved by the
ark in the midst of the flood waters, we are
saved by taking safety in the ark of Christ.
2. The flood waters sealed the death and judgement
of those who were unrepentant of their sins.
Yet, the waters had no power over those who had
found refuge in the ark.
3. So also, the death and resurrection of Jesus will
save all who trust in him for salvation, who flee
to him for refuge. But, his death and
resurrection will condemn and seal the death and
judgement of those who remain in their sins.
4. The waters of baptism do not save, but they
picture the the salvation of those who have
identified with the atonement, substitution, and
reconciliation brought about by Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: The act of Christ on Calvary was an act of free
grace on the part of God. Christian, lift up holy hands and
rejoice this day in your salvation, a salvation brought about
not by your own efforts or decisions, but solely by the
sovereign grace of God. Unbeliever, stand warned this day -
Flee the wrath of God to come. Come to the ark of safety!
Flee to the refuge of peace. Be made right with God this day
and receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
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