THE CROSS AND ETHICS:WHAT HAS THE CROSS GOT TO

DO WITH ETHICS?

CCL Open Night 8

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:18-25

1. Freedom

2. Insight

3. Purpose

4. Inclusion

5. Adversity

6. Style

ch. 15: cross

(ch. 29: forgiving)

1. FREEDOM

vv24b-25:

‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree …

By his wounds you have been healed. For you were

straying like sheep, but have now returned to the

Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.’

John Stott

‘The Cross of Christ’

The mysterious unity of the Father

and the Son rendered it possible for

God at once to endure and to inflict

penal suffering. [Here is] only unfathomable mercy.

For in order to save us in such a way as to satisfy

himself, God through Christ substituted himself for

us. Divine love triumphed over divine wrath by divine

self-sacrifice. The cross was an act simultaneously of

punishment and amnesty, severity and grace, justice

and mercy.’

2. INSIGHT

v24:

‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the

tree, that we might die to sin … By his wounds you

have been healed.

3. PURPOSE

v24:

‘… that we might … live to righteousness.’

4. INCLUSION

v21:

‘For to this youz have been called, because Christ

also suffered for youz, leaving youz an example, so

that youz might follow in his steps.’

5. ADVERSITY

vv 19—21:

‘For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

‘For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

‘For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.’

6. ‘STYLE’

vv 19—21:

‘For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

‘For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

‘For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.’

6. ‘STYLE’

v 23:

‘When he was reviled,’ says Peter, ‘he did not revile

in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but

continued entrusting himself to him who judges

justly.’

We who settle things are ourselves subject to

settlement. Humility is the first condition for any

humane justice. Only God has a right to carry justice

to its limits, and, if he did, as Shakespeare asks us,

How would you be

If He, who is the tops of judgment, should

But judge you as you are? O think on that;

And mercy then will breathe within your lips

Like man new made.

Service

Kindess and compassion

Forgiveness and reconciliation

Grace

‘theology of the cross’

or

‘theology of glory’?