Page 32 - December 2025 - Truth & Tidings

" or Christ also suffered once for sins, the divorce, etc. We suffer because of sin. Christ
righteous for the unrighteous, that he
suffered because of sin – certainly not His
Fmight bring us to God” (1Pe 3:18 ESV). own – but more than that, He suffered for sins.
For The Righteous for the

Why is there suffering in this world? The Unrighteous
question reaches everyone and never goes The suffering was substitutionary. As the
away. The atheist wields it as the death knell sinless One (righteous), He was suffering
to theism but offers no viable alternative or not only the effects of sin in a fallen world as
explanation. Peter isn’t interested in provid- sinful human beings interacted maliciously
ing a direct answer; instead, he counsels his with Him, but He was purposefully suffering
readers to welcome suffering that comes in the place of the sinful (unrighteous). The
about from doing good. What for? Suffering cross of Christ was a colossal miscarriage of
unrighteously is the hardest pill to swallow. justice. Jesus’ innocence was recognized, yet
Everyone understands and expects suffering He was crucified on the basis of expediency
as a consequence for bad behaviour, but suf-
fering for good behaviour? to placate the religious establishment in their
hatred. He willingly and purposefully took the
Christ Also Suffered rightful place of the sinner – condemned and
worthy of death – on the cross and suffered
Why would Peter consider suffering wrong-
fully (unrighteously) such a virtue? Because the sinner’s death!
Christ did. The One who “committed no sin” That He Might Bring Us to God
(2:22) lived His life in the service of others, and
was also rejected and scorned. His miraculous Why would He suffer like this? What virtue
healings and wonderful teachings did not is there in unjust suffering? It was in order to
exclude Him from unrighteous suffering. In bring us to God. The only way we can be right
reality, His exemplary life seemed to arouse with God is to have our sin taken out of the
the abuse and insult of those around. way. Isaiah reminds us that it is our sin that
alienates us from God (Isa 59:2). Peter is teach-
For Sins ing us a beautiful truth: Christ’s suffering as a

There was purpose in His suffering. The sinless human being was actually a sacrifice
short answer to the opening question, “Why for sin on our behalf. As a righteous Sufferer,
is there suffering?” is, Because of sin. Sin is He took the place of the unrighteous so that
brutal and affects us all more deeply and our sins could be removed and the way be
completely than we care to admit. Sin always made clear to God!
brings suffering; it is the reason for what besets Has the suffering of Christ, the righteous One,
us – death, disease, decay, disappointment, brought you, the unrighteous, to God?