The word of the cross, according to verse 25, doesn't just lift guilt from us. It reaches out to us and it brings us back from lostness and

erring and straying and doesn't just do that. presents us to a shepherd and a guardian of our souls.

When the word of the cross comes savingly to us, we find that we begin to love what God loves.

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper opens 1st Peter 2, 21 to 25, and truth. John Piper opens 1st Peter 2 21 to 25 and emphasizes the power of the

cross to transform our desires. The sermon was originally preached at

Bethlehem Baptist Church on June 26th, 1994.

The main thing that we see here is a word to us from God about the purpose of this church.

And more importantly than that, a word from the Lord about his unwavering, massive, eternally compelling

commitment to see that purpose through even at the cost of the life of his son.

Backed up by the warrant of the blood of the son of the living God and therefore cannot fail.

It's stated three times this connection between the purpose of God for us and how we live as a church together horizontally and the warrant and the security and the

endorsement and the power and the commitment behind that purpose in the

cross in the death of Jesus three times. behind that

Jesus three times this is stated.

Number one is found in verse 21.

Christ also suffered for you leaving you an example in order that you might follow in his steps.

Now, here are the two parts to that.

Christ suffered for you.

Purpose that you might follow in his steps.

Now there's the purpose of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

We are to be a people who walk in the steps of Jesus.

So where he walked, we walk.

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