What does the Bible mean when it says, “Christ suffered for us and that we should prepare ourselves to suffer also”?
Let’s look at the entire Scripture, which you have quoted in order to give you a biblical answer.
Servants (slaves), be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth”; Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
(1 Peter 2:18-23)
The theme of this twenty-first verse is the behavior of Christian slaves. God stated that they needed to be submissive and He showed them true godly submission. The Bible is referring to a type of suffering which comes from people.
When the master reviled or threatened them, they were not to revile or threaten in return. The Bible then imparts these same principles as truth into all of our lives. The Word of God declares that when we are persecuted for the Gospel, or Jesus’ sake, we should not return the evil that is done. This is truly suffering like Christ did.
Not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9).
It is very important to note that God is against slavery. He was simply teaching slaves how to work Christianity while in their current bondage.
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Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally on WFMJ, the NBC affiliate, reaching thousands weekly.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.