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THE SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF OUR SOULS
I Peter 2:21-25
Christ died a suitable death; that is God accomplished his purpose of the salvation of sinners through the death burial and resurrection of His Son. Christ died the innocent on the behalf of the guilty and the innocent in the place of the guilty to purchase our redemption. Having purchased our redemption with His own blood He is now our Supervisor. He is described in I Peter 2:25 as being the “Bishop of our souls”. The word Bishop means “overseer”. We are no longer our own; we have a Lord in heaven who purchased us with His own blood and claims us for Himself (I Cor. 6:19-20). We are to obey Him and to follow Him. We are to seek to live for His glory. How precious it should be to us that He who began a good work in us by His grace (Phil. 1:6) will keep our souls and present us faultless before His presence (Jude 24).
He also is our Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd He gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11). As the Great Shepherd, He cares for, guides, protects, and provides for the sheep (Psalms 23; Hebrews 13:20). As the Chief Shepherd, He is coming again for the sheep (I Peter 5:4). What a privilege to have a Supervisor who takes such good care of us.
Peter also says that Christ is our Standard. In I Peter 2:21 he says “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps.” The word example in the Greek language was used of a student who was to pattern his work after the example of his teacher. Likewise, we too, are to look to Jesus as the example and for our lives. Some, unfortunately, try to pattern their lives after other men and women and the ways of the world. Only Jesus is the perfect standard. It’s not whether I’m as good as someone else, but whether I’m like Jesus. I won’t reach His perfect standard, but I can learn a lot by studying Him closely, and letting the Holy Spirit make me more like Him.
As believers, our lives are to be submitted to Christ. Only He is our Supervisor, our Shepherd, and our Standard.