1 Peter 3:18-22

Christopher Lindsey

1 Peter 3: 18-22

MP: Do not dismay when you suffer for righteousness sake, rather Hope in Jesus for he has brought you to God.

Pre-Introduction

As you turn to 1 Peter 3:18-22, I do want to make a pre-introduction comment. This morning we arrive at one of the most debated section of scripture in the New Testament. From the time that Pastor Brandon sent out the calendar, we have made a joke. A loving joke at his expense. We joke that he gives the hard passages away to others. However, through God’s providence and my eagerness to take on more scripture the last time I preached it has caused the schedule to shift and is the true reason that I have been put in this precarious situation. Although Pastor Brandon, many times has tried to take this passage back from me, I do have to admit I am stubborn, and I struggle with the sin of pride.

Martin Luther wrote this concerning the interpretational difficulties of this text, “This is a strange text and certainly a more obscure passage than any other passage in the New Testament. I still do not know for sure what the apostle meant.” The great preacher Charles Spurgeon also talks upon the same lines in saying, “This passage nobody understands, though some think they do. It is for our good to be made to feel that we do not know everything.” While the task of interpretation of the text is divided throughout history, one thing is for sure, we have our work cut out for us this morning. I will get more technical than I would like in some spots, please if you have a pen and paper take notes. While often we think we can rely on ourselves for understanding, the bible makes it clear that God is the one who provides understanding. Let’s go to him in Prayer and ask for his illumination and understanding as we worship him through the preaching of his word.

Prayer

Most Holy and Righteous God. You are the God who has called a people to yourself. You have saved us from your Judgement, you have cause us to enter into your Son. The mighty works that you have done by your hand cause us to look to you in awe and wonder. You are the God who saves, you are the God who loves those who are in exile. Prepare our hearts and minds. Fill us with your Spirit so that we may understand your word and the truths in your word and it would penetrate our hearts. Guide us today as we worship you. Help us to put aside the things that would cause us to drift off and not think upon what is being said in your word. Help us now, O’ Lord. In your Son’s name. Amen

Scripture

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, in which, he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formally did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight person, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Introduction

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is not a bedtime read; however, it is a book cataloguing the accounts of Christian Martyrs throughout the history of the Church. John Foxe writes this, “The history of the Church may almost be said to be a history of the trails and sufferings of its members, as experienced at the hands of wicked men.” In his book, Foxe gives short accounts of martyrs in the early church. He begins with Stephen, then continues with over 1500 years of Christian Martyrdom. Foxe provides encouragement for the church, he explains through the persecution the church continued, just as Christ proclaimed. Foxe writes, “the history of Christ’s resurrection gave a new direction to all their hearts, and, after the mission of the Holy Spirit, imparted new confidence to their minds. The powers with which they were endued emboldened them to proclaim His name, to the confusion of the Jewish rulers, and the astonishment of Gentile proselytes.” Those who were martyred, saw death already defeated, and suffering for righteous sake as a gift from the Lord, so that they may be brought to him.

To this is the reason that Peter is writing this letter, and in turn these verses that we arrive to this morning. Peter is providing encouragement to the elect exiles in the dispersion. Those who have been removed from their homes, routines, family, and friends, due to the persecution and suffering that they experienced. Peter writes 1 Peter to provide encouragement to those who are suffering as exiles. Christians are reminded throughout 1 Peter that It was because of God’s mercy that they have been caused to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. Their salvation was being guarded in heaven for a time that would be revealed. Though they should be put through trials and tribulations, they should not fear, because they were a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people after God’s glory. Because of this they were to live certain ways, they were to live holy lives, loving one another, in unity of mind, humble, and tender heartedly. If they were to suffer, they were to suffer for what is good and righteous not evil. Peter then describes how it is that they are to suffer in the passage before us today. They are to suffer for righteousness sake because Christ has also suffered. Likewise, they are to Hope in Jesus through their suffering. The main point that I want us to see today, through all the interpretation challenges is this: Do not dismay when you suffer for righteousness sake, rather Hope in Jesus for he is your vindication.

First, we see The Purpose of Christ Suffering. Read with me in Verse 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.” The gift of the gospel that we have to start this passage is laid out before us. Christ suffered in the place of the unrighteous, this word for suffered in some manuscripts says died. No matter. We understand that Christ did suffer, and this was a suffering unto death upon the Cross.

Christ’s life upon this earth was characterized in suffering, wasn’t it? He was born in the manger where there was no room for him (Luke 2:7). He was born to a poor mother and father. After his birth, King Herod was trying to kill him which caused his family had to flee to Egypt. After coming back to Nazareth, he grew in wisdom and stature, but still in poverty, most likely working as a carpenter. More than that, in his ministry, it was riddled with people actively seeking to kill him. He was constantly moving, being mocked and scorn. At the end of his life, he was betrayed, beaten, mocked, embarrassed, nailed to a cross. While upon that cross he experienced the full wrath of God pouring upon him, and then ultimately death. What was the purpose of the righteous one suffering? He suffered for the unrighteous.

Peter also says that Christ suffered once for sins. What a sacrifice Christ is. One that the Old Testament sacrificial system was but a shadow. Daily they would have to bring animals to sacrifice so that they could provide atonement for their sins, but Christ’s death was the full atonement needed for sins. He suffered once for sins. There is no other sacrifice that is needed, he was the full payment for the unrighteous. The only way that sins can be atoned for fully is if God himself atoned for them. One that is fully righteous, one that fully followed the law, one that preceded sin, holy and undefiled by sin. By the righteous one, the unrighteous can be made righteous. Christ righteousness was of his own, the one who was holy and existed throughout eternity past entered earth as a man. Jesus was born into the flesh, he entered into his creation, and made himself lower than the heavenly beings. Throughout his time upon the earth, He was sinless and lived a sinless life. He held a right standing before God, perfectly obeying all of God’s commands. He alone is the righteous one, the one without sin. It was because of his sacrifice that those who are unrighteous may be brought to God. Our standing before God was nothing but condemnation because of our sin. We are unrighteous before God. We disobeyed God’s law and because of that we deserve the wrath of God poured out upon us. The Just God upholding his justice has to punish for sin, or he wouldn’t be just. The penalty for sin is death, both spiritual and physical death, the wrath of God being poured upon us for disobeying his laws.

Instead, Christ the one who had fulfilled all righteousness, stepped in our place and died for us, the unrighteous. He took our penalty upon himself, he took our wrath and brought us to God. He brought us to God through his death and through his righteousness. Before God would not allow us in his presence. Think back to the old testament sacrifices on the day of atonement. On this day the high priest would go into the holy place. One time a year the priest would enter the holy place in the temple, where the ark of the covenant was kept and sprinkle blood upon the mercy seat. This is where God would appear before them in a cloud over the mercy seat. But for this to happen a bull and a ram would have to be sacrificed for a sin offering and a burnt offering. The priest would have to wash, cleaning himself and put on clean clothes, then he would take two male goats for a sin offering for the people. All this God commanded to be done before the priest were allowed to walk in before his presence. But because of Christ’s perfect once and for all sacrifice, are now able to be in the presence of God. We would not be able to approach God apart from being righteous. Sinfulness or unrighteousness is not compatible with God. But now being seen in Christ’s righteousness, we are united to Him. He has redeemed us. Therefore, we can now come before God, we can enter the presence of His glory, only because Christ is the one who has brought us to him. No Good work could do bring us to God. No amount of money could have paid for our entry into the presence with God. The only means was and is Christ. We through Christ’s sacrifice are seen through his Righteousness, not righteousness of our own accord but Christ’s righteousness. Christ, therefore, is our vindication when we are in the presence of the Father. He is the evidence of our justification and he intercedes on our behalf with the Father. We are Justified through Christ, those who were condemned, now brought to a just state, a state of Good standing in the fathers’ eyes because of Christ.

To those of you who are here thinking that all religious paths lead to God. That is wrong. Only through faith in Christ can bring us to God. It is only because of him can we appear before God. If you are thinking through Christianity and other religions, thinking that they are basically the same, they are not. There is only one way to God and that is through Jesus, Jesus says he is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me. If you have not turned in faith to Jesus, for the forgiveness of your sin, Repent and believe. Be reconciled to God through his Son, who has bore your sins upon the cross.

Brothers and sisters, Christ was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. Christ died. If that was then end of the story it would be a sad one. But yet, Peter reminds us that Christ was made alive. Death didn’t hold him captive; it couldn’t restrain him. He defeated death as it was prophesied in Genesis 3. That the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.

For those who are in Christ, death is not the last word. No, likewise we will be raised again. For those in Christ, suffering has its purpose, it brings us to God. We as Christians follow Christ though death to victory. Victory from sin, victory from death, and we are seated at his table. This is Good news, brothers and sister, we have our vindication. We have our victory. Nothing else should matter. Remember we have a hope. A hope not in the government, a hope not in the world, a hope not in angels, a hope in Jesus. We will be raised again. We will be Jesus upon our death. If death takes us, oh well, death is not the final straw for us. We will see the one whom we love and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. We will, then through death, obtain the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls.

Next, we see the Proclamation of Victory, Verse 19 and 20, in which, he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

This is where things start getting deep, so please bear with me, try to follow along, and if you have any questions, Courtney will be ready to answer them afterwards. For the interpretation of this section, there are three majority views, and a lot of little views. I am going to give you all three, and the last being the view, I think is right.

The first Majority view can be explained as Jesus in his disembodied spirit, after his death and before his resurrection, goes to the underworld, or hell/sheol, and proclaimed or preached a genuine offer of salvation to the ones who were alive before the flood and those who had never had an opportunity to hear the gospel. While there is a lot of conjecture about what happened and who, and in what manner Christ preached to these spirits in prison, this view falls short with the idea that Christ went down in his disembodied spirit. We are not told anywhere where Christ’s nature after his death was affected. What I mean by this is summed by one commentator as “Christ in his entirety was put to death at the crucifixion and in his entirety was made alive at the resurrection.” The other issue with this view, is that no where in scripture does one have another chance of salvation after death. This view, however with the problems noted above, it still shows the theme of this section, Christ has vindicated his people.

The second view can be explained as: Through Noah, the pre-incarnate Christ preached to the contemporaries of Noah who needed to hear the word of God, those who are in prison refer to those who were in Sin in the time of Noah. Christ through Noah proclaimed the gospel to those around him.

The Final view can be explained as Christ proclaimed victory to the spirits that are referred to in Genesis 6:1-4, “When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. Then the lord said, “My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for his flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.” These angels that came and had relations with the women upon the earth, produced demonic offspring called the Nephilim. Between the influences of these demonic offspring and human wickedness that ran through all of creation, God saw the wickedness and pronounced judgment over them. Peter describes in 2 Peter 2:4, “for if God did not spare angels when they sinned but cast them into hell and committed to them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.” Jude also reference this account, “and the angles who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.” So, the question of who did Jesus proclaim to is answered with those spirits who left their proper dwelling and were bound up awaiting their day of Judgment. The When question can be answered by looking at the text, If Jesus went and proclaimed at the point in which he ascended, Peter would had referenced it with the resurrection, and he doesn’t do that. However, if we would take the view of Jesus went and proclaimed between death and resurrection, we would follow the contextual flow of this section, where Christ was crucified, died, and rose again. So what did Jesus preach? When peter describes his preaching, we are not told what he preach but we are told that he went and preached. However, one may see that it is an announcement of his lordship and of his victory. Those spirits who fell and were bound, tried to stop God’s plans of salvation from coming about through corrupting the human race. Jesus proclaimed the victory that he has had over sin and he is now and forever more Lord over all things.

This is a confusing passage, as both Luther and Spurgeon alluded to. It humbles us. When we get to problem verses like theses here, we should not run away and we should try to understand, but we need to be humble. We must respect each other’s views and do not cause dis unity because of different interpretations. Each of these interpretations do not influence any first-tier issue that we have. In my opinion, it isn’t a second or third tier issue. The interpretations above all point to one thing that Christ is our vindication for our suffering. Jesus has defeated sin and death, and when we suffer, we are united to him, therefore we should not fear. Now, When I refer to suffering, I am not talking about a flat tire, children being disrespectful, car breaking down, or the ice cream machine always down at every MacDonald’s on the planet. What I am referring to and what Peter is describing is opposition to the gospel in a society when it is confronted by the truths of the gospel. I think it is hard for us, in our bible belt, Sunday best, context to truly understand exactly what Peter is addressing. However, the nation that we live in and the world that we live in, have people that are contrary to the gospel. Peter does give this reminder that we as God’s people are not the first ones to face persecution and ridicule for following God. Noah and his family also faced opposition to the gospel that he preached. Noah and his family were in the minority of believers and they were surrounded by those who were unbelieving in God. “Noah was righteous in the midst of a wicked world”,

Peter exhorts us to also live as righteous while we are exiles. “Noah witnessed boldly to those around him by believing God and building the ark.” Peter exhorts us to witness the hope that is within us. Noah knew of the judgement that was to come upon those who didn’t believe, so does Peter will remind us that God’s judgment is surely coming. Noah and his family was saved through Judgment by God. Therefore, for those of us that are in Christ we can trust the promises of God that he will save us from his Judgment.

Judgement is coming for those who do not believe, but for those who are in Christ, we are vindicated through his death. We are brought into the presence of God, and seen as righteous based on Christ. Because of this we can patient wait through persecution and ridicule, seeing Christ as our vindication. One author says this, “Just as Jesus was vindicated before his opponents, so also will the Christian be, if they like Jesus, remain faithful and righteous to the tasks God has called them to do.”

There are people that are being persecuted for their faith. There are people in China, in the underground house churches who are being arrested. There are brothers and sisters that are being killed for leaving the family religion in the world that we live in now. These brothers and sisters in Christ need our prayers. That they would persevere through the persecution, that they would not fall back to their former ways but continue the race that is set before them.

For us also we must remember, if it ever come to us being persecuted doing good, Just as God patiently waited to punish those who persecuted Noah, so should we wait patiently wait through maltreatment, even if it means that we have to die. Christ has won, he has ascended to the right hand of the father, all angels, authorities and powers have been subjected to him. He is Lord over all things, He is lord over all principalities, all darkness, everything he is lord over. He alone is the one that we turn to. If we are thrown in prison for gathering, don’t dismay. If we are beaten for following Jesus, don’t worry. Jesus is our vindication. We should be those who follow Christ, even if it means following him through suffering.

Next, we see Peter address the Baptism of victory, starting in verse 20 to verse 21. “Because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

If we would just read the beginning of verse 21 out of context, We would sound like Delmar in O’ Brother where art thou and say after being baptized, “Well that’s it boys, I have been redeemed, the preacher has warshed away all my sins and transgressions, it’s the straight and narrow from here on out, and heavens everlasting is my reward…. Neither God nor man got nothin’ on me now. Come on in boys the waters fine.”

Ole’ Delmar is partly true in his assessment of what Baptism is. However, it is not the act of Baptism itself that is the saving factor. Peter reminds his readers of this as he writes not as a removal of dirt from the body. The simple act of taking a person a dunking them under the water does not save. The ritual, per say, is not what saves you. If we were to baptize someone apart from their appeal to God, it does nothing. It washes nothing away.

Peter says Baptism which resembles or similar to this story of Noah and the flood. How so? In Noah’s story, they were immersed in water as a judgment. If they were on the earth, they would have died. God’s wrath for sin would be accomplished and they would have partly paid the penalty for their sin. However, God in his mercy, saw the faith of Noah and provided a means in which he would be saved. God provided for Noah an ark of salvation from the water judgment. As Noah and his family were on the ark and the heavens from above opened up and the waters from below filled the earth, they were raised. Noah and his family were saved through this water. Now for us salvation isn’t an ark, but it is in Christ. Tony Merida reminds us by saying, “Noah proclaimed to those who were persecuting him, Get in the ark! While we proclaim, Get in Christ.” Baptism signifies death and life for the believer. As they are immersed into the water, they die, and then they are brought out of the water, it is as if they are brought in the newness of life. Romans 6 reminds us of this truth, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were Baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father we too might walk in the newness of life.”

The right of baptism is done in an appeal to God or as the Greek word, here demands, a pledge to God. Through Baptism you pledge yourself to God that He is now Lord over your life. You pledge to follow him, now and forever more, through death and to the resurrection. This Pledge is done to God for a good conscience. That the person is no longer tied to this world and the sin in which bound them so tightly, they have died in Christ, their sins have been forgiven, and have been saved in Christ. Baptism is a shadow to this because, just as the ark saved Noah from the water judgment, so are we saved from God’s judgment in Christ, and we are raised, just as Christ has been raised in the resurrection, we likewise are raised, seated in Christ. All of our sins have been forgiven and now through faith in Christ we have a clear conscience, because we believe that the righteous one has taken our sins upon the cross for us, no longer is our sin over us condemning us before God, but we are like Christ because God see’s, not our righteousness but no Christ righteousness. Just as the Noahic story points to the saving power from Judgment so does baptism point to this same fact. One writer puts it like this, “By being baptized they are marked out as God’s chosen few and his family, will be saved even when all those around them mock and slander them. Baptism is the symbol of their being united with Christ in his resurrection as well as his defeat of the demonic hosts. Consequently, your baptism is the reminder of the victory in which you stand, the victory that Christ achieved by his death and resurrection and exaltation above all principalities and powers.”

If you’re here today and you are not trusting in Christ, the judgment of God is still upon you. Repent from your sins and come to Christ and be baptized in his name. Leave the things of this world behind, Signify yourselves as a follower of Jesus. Turn to him.

For those of you here today, who have never been baptized and are trusting in Jesus, be baptized. Declare publicly of your association to Christ. Baptism is an ordinance from Christ, and if you have not followed him in baptism, you are not following the commandments of Christ. If you want to know more about following Christ in baptism, talk to pastor Brandon or one of the elders, or grab me after and I will get you to them.

For the Christian here today, who has been baptized. Don’t forget it. You have been united with Christ through your baptism. Christ has brought you justification. You now are able to be brought to God, as a child, united with Christ. You are vindication to the father. Just as Christ did not stay in the grave, neither will you. See the end of 21 and 22, Peter says through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to him. You are now able to face anything that comes your way. Everything has been subjected to Jesus. He is Lord of all. The Lord who you are united to reigns over all things. So, what is there to fear? Demons or the devil? Christ is lord over them. Government and rulers? No, Christ is lord over them. Death? No, Christ is Lord over death. Therefore, brothers and sisters, there is nothing to fear, but in Christ we have every reason to Hope. Hope in Christ, for he has brought you to God.