Peter shares the heart of the Gospel in 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit.” Note three things from this powerful verse.

First, there is the grievous and vicious reality of Jesus’ death. “For Christ also suffered once for sins. . . being put to death in the flesh. . .” (1 Peter 3:18). Crucifixion was a most grievous and vicious manner of death. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be “a man of sorrows” (Isaiah 53:3). His pain is incalculable and inconceivable to finite minds. Jesus’ death was prophesied in Genesis 3:15 and Exodus 12:13. His death was no surprise to Him (Revelation 13:8). Jesus’ death is verified by over two hundred verses in the four Gospel accounts.

Second, there is the gracious and vicarious reason for Jesus’ death. Peter also explains why Jesus died on the cross. Jesus’s death was sacrificial. 1 Peter 3:18 reads, “For Christ also suffered once for sins. . .” John said of Jesus in John 1:29, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Hebrews 9:26b reads, “but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Jesus’ death was substitutional. Jesus died “the just for the unjust” (1 Peter 3:18). In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Jesus’ death was sufficient. Peter reminds us “For Christ also suffered once for sins. . .” (1 Peter 3:18). We read about Jesus in Hebrews 1:3, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Third, there is the glorious and victorious result from Jesus’ death. Peter further explains what happened because Jesus died on the cross, when he writes, “that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Remember the veil separating the holy of holies from the holy place in the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) and the way to the Father is open (Hebrews 10:19-22). Remember from the cross Jesus cried, “Tetelestai” which means, “It is finished!” This was the cry of victory. Peter also reminds us that after Jesus gave His life on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, He was “made alive in the Spirit” referring to His glorious resurrection. He was raised to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). The resurrection was God’s pledge of acceptance of Jesus’ death for our sins on Calvary’s cross.

Make certain you genuinely believe in your heart the heart of the Gospel.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.