1 Peter 3:18-22 - Christ’s perpetual ministry

Pray

1 Peter 3:18–22 NASB95

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Introduction: what Christ is doing for Christians, is what He has always done

This is a difficult passage and it raises a series of questions.

vv19-20 are very difficult - who were the spirits in prison? who had been disobedient? Did Christ descend into hell?

Next, how does baptism "save" you?

I don’t have all the answers, but we will look at the possiblilities. We will do our best to understand and gain wisdom from Peter’s message

Historically, during this time, Christians were coming under increasing suffering and persecution in the Roman empire

In the overall theme of the letter, Peter is providing instruction to Christians in Asia Minor, contrasting what is happening in the world, with what is happening with God’s Kingdom. A spiritual battle is happening. With the coming of Jesus Christ, God started a new phase in building His Kingdom

One of the things Christ has done is to redeem a people for Himself, who would become the building blocks of the Kingdom. These are His followers, those who have repented of their sins, and committed to follow Jesus Christ in His righteousness. This is the key to the Gospel message

In the past few lessons, Paul has explained that suffering is something all Christians should expect, but it is only temporary for us.

When Christ saves us, as His followers we will be able to follow Him not only through the difficulties of this life, but through death and resurrection into a glorious eternity in heaven.

Key Question: Why do Christian’s suffer?

Answer: All people will suffer, but Christians suffer because they share the Gospel, and the Gospel of Christ has always been an offence to the disobedient and rebellious

Slide

1 Peter 3:18 NASB95

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Point 1: Christ expects us to suffer, just as He did. v. 18

Explanation:

For (18a) is tied to v 17. This provides rationale for Peter's instruction. v 18e summarizes why Christ went to the cross.

The word “also” in this passage tells us that as Christians, we may suffer to the point of death, as Christ’s followers. There is a big difference though, as Christ suffered and died for our sins. We may have to suffer to bring others to Christ

This verse is an important memory verse for Christians - it summarizes the Gospel for and for others. It is also important because it reminds us of why Christians face suffering.

Illustration: In the Army we were as leaders and soldiers we were taught that leaders were to set the example for their followers. By His ministry, suffering, death and resurrection, Christ set the example for His followers.

Questions so far?

Argumentation: If someone follows an unpopular leader, they may suffer some level of persecution for it. The hope of the majority is that if they make things tough, people will abandon that leader. As many people are naturally rebellious, this often has the opposite effect, though it does work in many cases. Even though they are trying to do the right thing, people will often give up if enough pressure is put on them.

Application/Exhortation: Christ knows his followers will come under pressure and suffering, but He guarantees them eternal life, far away from their persecutors. When you come under persecution for your faith, stay the course. You’ll bring glory to Christ for doing so, and be awarded a crown in heaven.

Next slide

1 Peter 3:19–20 NASB95

in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

What do you think Peter meant here?

Point 2: Christs ministry to the world, since the beginning. Vv 19-20

Explanation

So when did Jesus’ Spirit go on this mission to preach to the spirits in prison?

Part of the problem is the meaning of the word “prison”, in our text. Does it mean hell, or does it mean those who are imprisoned or enslaved due to sin? Those who haven’t responded to the good news. If we compare text with text, it appears to be the second thing.

Perhaps Peter said it better in:

2 Peter 2:4–9 NASB95

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,

So what Peter may be saying is this: that Christ has been on this preaching mission, in Spirit, to the spirits of men and women, since before the flood and continues it to this day. But just like in the days of Noah, He has saved a righteous remnant, while many were lost.

Having said all that, I agree with R.C. Sproul, who added this at the end of his commentary on this passage:

1-2 Peter Spirits in Prison

I am not prepared to say that this is exactly what Peter meant, but the ambiguity of the language here in this text does not require us to come to the conclusion that it must refer to some kind of post-resurrection preaching mission in hell to angels or to dead people. It may have its primary reference to the earthly ministry of Jesus. This is a text about which I am open to correction and reproof, and I will be quick to ask the Apostle when I see him in glory what he meant by these very enigmatic words.

Questions so far?

Argumentation:

This is the most difficult part of today’s text. This is where something that was written 2000 years ago is hard to understand, since we don’t have perfect information on the context.

In preparing this lesson, I consulted four different commentaries, written by very competent men, and all had different explanations.

Here are some of the things that can be confusing:

Part of what can confuse us is the Apostle’s Creed: It says:

Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary

Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell

The third day he rose again from the dead… and so on

It is important to remember that the Apostle’s Creed is not in the Bible. Rather it is an important statement of faith that was developed by the early Christian Church.

Some believe that the wording of the creed says that after Jesus was crucified, and before His resurrection, He descended into a literal hell. I’m not sure this is what the writers of the creed meant, and this cannot be supported anywhere in the Bible, except for the passage we are studying. I’m not sure this is what Peter is saying.

We know that Jesus dying words were: Father, into your hands I commit my Spirit. That means that when He gave up the ghost, His Spirit went directly to Heaven.

We know that His body was laid in a grave for three days, until He was raised from the dead. If His Spirit was in Heaven and body was in the grave - what part of Him could have gone to hell to preach?

Application/Exhortation:

With all of the difficulties in understanding this passage, we can draw some lessons:

The Spirit of Jesus has been a witness to the spirit of people across biblical history, from the beginning to now.

When Christians share the Gospel, they do so under the power of the Holy Spirit. If someone accepts the Gospel and turns to Christ, that is the Spirit’s doing. If someone rejects the Gospel, they are not rejecting us, but the Holy Spirit. History and the Bible tell us that the majority will reject Christ.

Christ expects us to share the Gospel whenever we can, and trust the outcome to Him. We may encounter trouble when we do so, but He will be with us and protect us.

Next slide

1 Peter 3:21 NASB95

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Point 3: Baptism is the sign of our salvation, through the resurrection of Christ. V.21

Explanation:

NIV -

In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.

The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 1 Pe 3:20–21.

Baptism signifies deliverance, like the deliverance of Noah’s family, or the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, through the Red Sea

We are saved through the death and resurrection of Christ -Submitting to baptism is the sign of our faith, and the sign of a good conscience.

We are saved because the Holy Spirit touched our hearts and we turned to Christ for salvation. We are not saved by the ceremony of baptism. The Jewish mikva (a baptism) was a ceremony of purification but did not symbolize a change of heart. Baptism is a sign of a good conscience toward God. Saved-deliverance from harm or detriment. Matthew Henry says that baptism “is the visible sign” a sign of a good heart toward God

Illustration: This is like when you graduate, say from high school. The graduation ceremony is a symbol. It is a symbol that represents four years of hard work and study, successfully completed. What is important is not the symbol, but what it symbolizes. Baptism symbolizes that we have repented of our sins, and turned to Christ.

Argumentation: Some say that for Christians, baptism is not necessary. It’s true that its not necessary for salvation but it is still a command of Christ. 15 But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 3:15.

Application/exhortation: Baptism is an important ceremony because is publicly testifies we are Christian, in obedience to Christ, as our Lord. In obedience, all Christians should be baptized, as a sign of the change that has occurred in them when they turned to Christ

Slide

1 Peter 3:22 NASB95

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Point 4: Christ saves us because He has all power and authority over all people and things. V.22

Explanation:

Peter concludes this chapter, by reminding us that Christ, who is in us, is far greater than he that is in the world.

We follow Christ, rather than sinful men, because He is our Lord and has the power of life and death. He has always had this power and authority, but it was confirmed in a very real way when He ascended into heaven.

As much as people in the world may try to discourage us from following Christ, they have no real power. We need to remember this when we are in times of real trouble.

Argumentation: People in positions of power will do their best to persuade God’s people that God’s power is somehow weak, or unreal. The actions of governments is a good example of this, when they tried to shut down worship.

Application/Exhortation:

Only God has the power of eternal life and death. Men can take our earthly lives, but not our eternal spirits. For the followers of Christ, as Paul said, to live is Christ, but to die is gain. We need to keep this in mind as we live our lives here in the world.

Slide

Conclusion:

We need to keep in mind that our Lord suffered and died for the sins of His people.

All people will suffer, but Christians suffer because they share the Gospel, and the Gospel of Christ has always been an offence to the disobedient and rebellious

All that being said, Christ will always protect His followers, especially when they are obedient to His word

Slide

Gospel appeal

If you have not turned to Christ, I beg you to do so today.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NASB95

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Romans 10:9 NASB95

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;