We commonly speak of Jesus’ death being essential for our salvation (recall Genesis 2:17). But Peter’s readers are burdened by suffering and so Peter zeroes in on Christ’s suffering (as he had also done in 1 Peter 2:21–23) and what he obtained for Christians through those sufferings. We do well to realize that his suffering was for us, so that we may be assured that our suffering is not an expression of God’s frustrated anger at our ongoing weaknesses. Through his suffering he took the curse that was rightfully ours so that we might be filled with his blessing, not only in the life to come but already in this life. (See Isaiah 53:1–12.)
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,