Sunday Morning in the Word February 4, 2018

Studies in 1 Peter In Desperate Times 1 Peter 3:18-22

1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

1 Peter 3:19-21a . . . in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God).

“A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” Martin Luther

Other comments on this passage “His words were no doubt clear to those who first heard them, but they have been hard for later generations to understand.”

Other comments on this passage “The exegetical questions basically come down to these: Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? Different answers to each of these questions can be found, resulting in a possible 180 different exegetical combinations!”

2 Peter 3:16 He (the Apostle Paul) speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some matters that are hard to understand.

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 1 Peter 3:18b-20a He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 1 Peter 3:18b-20a He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 1 Peter 3:18b-20a He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 2 Peter 2:4 For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment . . . Jude 1:6 . . . and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. 

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 2 Peter 2:4 For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment . . . Jude 1:6 . . . and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day. 

Genesis 6:1-4 Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 2 Peter 2:4 For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but cast them into hell and delivered them in chains of utter darkness to be kept for judgment . . . Jude 1:6 . . . and the angels who did not keep their own position but abandoned their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains in deep darkness for the judgment on the great day.  Genesis 6:1-4

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? Genesis 3:15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.

Where did Christ go? When did he go? To whom did he speak? What did he say? 1 Peter 3:18b-20a He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.

MacArthur Study Bible Note What did he say? MacArthur Study Bible Note 1 Pet. 3:19  proclaimed - Between Christ’s death and resurrection, his living spirit went to the demon spirits bound in the abyss and proclaimed that, in spite of his death, he had triumphed over them.

What did he say? Colossians 2:14-15 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

1 Peter 3:19-21a . . . in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people—were saved through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) . . .

ESV Study Bible Note ----1 Pet. 3:21 A comparison is drawn between salvation in the ark and baptism. In both instances, believers are saved through the waters of judgment, since baptism portrays salvation through judgment. The mere mechanical act of baptism does not save, for Peter explicitly says, “not as a removal of dirt from the body,” meaning that the passing of water over the body does not cleanse anyone. Baptism saves you because it represents inward faith, as evidenced by one’s appeal to God for the forgiveness of one’s sins (for a good conscience).

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,  1 Peter 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

The Character of Christ’s Suffering: Undeserved Did Jesus deserve to be executed?

The Character of Christ’s Suffering: Undeserved 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 

Evidence from the gospel record of his trial before Sanhedrin (Ruling Jewish Council) Mark 15:55-56 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they could not find any. 56 For many were giving false testimony against him, and the testimonies did not agree. 

The Character of Christ’s Suffering: Undeserved Evidence from the gospel record of his trial before Pilate (Roman Governor) John 18:38 I find no grounds for charging him.  The Character of Christ’s Suffering: Undeserved

The Character of Christ’s Suffering: Unprecedented 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 

The Character of Christ’s Suffering: Unprecedented Hebrews 7:26-27 For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself. 

The Consequences of Christ’s Suffering: Reconciliation 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 

The Consequences of Christ’s Suffering: Reconciliation Romans 5:2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.   Ephesians 2:18 For through him (Christ) we both have access in one spirit to the Father. 

The Consequences of Christ’s Suffering: Reconciliation Hebrews 4:16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

The Consequences of Christ’s Suffering: Glorification 1 Peter 3:21b-22 . . . through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. 

The Suffering Savior has become the Conquering King! The Consequences of Christ’s Suffering: Glorification Revelation 19:6-11 The Suffering Savior has become the Conquering King!

Date: June 18, 1815 Event: Battle of Waterloo Participants: Armies of England (Duke of Wellington) and Germany battled army of France (Napoleon) At stake: Control of the Continent of Europe

Outcome: Wellington Defeated

Outcome: Wellington Defeated the Enemy!

Peter’s message to us . . . As we live as exiles and strangers in this broken and often hostile world, wandering about in the fog of sin and confusion…just as Jesus suffered and died and was raised to the highest heights…we, too will one day be raised in glory to dwell with him forever!   So take courage! Allow your faith in Christ to help you stand in the midst of these shaky times in which we live!