Suffering Provides Opportunities

Today, we’ll be going over what many theologians consider to be the most difficult to understand passage of the Bible. Granted, it has caused many to write some strange interpretations of this section, but I believe that we can glean some principles from Peter in the context of the whole of the Bible. We obviously remember that this letter was intended as a means of encouragement to the Christians reading it, as they were going through some very challenging and scary times.

Again, as I’ve stated so often in the past, it never ceases to amaze me how God’s timing in the presentation of His Word is so perfect in view of what we are experiencing in our world even now. Whether it be the current COVID-19 pandemic, a sudden fatal accident, a death in the family, a business failure, a loss of a job, etc., there always seems a sense of unfairness. Among the readers of this letter, there was a very real sense of unjust suffering. Most of us prefer that if negative things happen, it happens only to those who intentionally reject and mock God. Yet, we all know that is not how the world operates. Oftentimes, God’s divine choices do not make earthly sense. Sometimes, we rejoice; and other times, we mourn and find ourselves puzzled.

However, as we dig into this passage today, I am praying that all of us will receive encouragement from the Lord in a similar way in which the early Christians who read Peter’s 1st letter did.

In suffering for Christ, we can rejoice in God’s purposes.

Rejoice in Christ’s Death - 3:18

Verse 18 follows immediately Peter’s comments, that it is better . . . that you should suffer for doing what is right . . . Then he shows us the comparison to start providing hope.

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;

Here we find the perfect illustration in that Jesus suffered unjustly, while choosing to do exactly what God the Father wanted Him to do. I still find myself thinking about the wrongness of what was done to Jesus by those who were so arrogant and the spiritual corruption of those who pretended to be followers of God. Yet, I realize that none of us are just. Jesus went through this to show us the need to live in obedience to God. This can only be done because Jesus became our substitute. In other words, the One Who was perfectly just had to become unjust (full of our sin) in order that He could make the unjust (you and I), just through His death on the cross. He suffered for doing the Father’s will, not because of any sins He committed. For we know that Jesus was pure and holy, without any sin.

We also see that His death on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin, was a one time event. It did not need repeating. In fact, the Greek word that has been translated to once for all, means of perpetual validity, not requiring repetition. What Jesus did on the cross was completely sufficient and would never to be repeated and would never require anything else.

In addition, Peter says that it was so that He might bring us to God. It is as if we are being presented to the Heavenly Father, without any stain or blemish, made righteous in Christ. In the language spoken by the Greeks, this would have been the equivalent of someone making an introduction to someone else. In the courts and palaces, someone who had the right to bring people to the ruler would escort them into the presence of that ruler, make introductions, allowing that person full access and permission to have time with the king.

The last part of verse 18 is where the challenge begins for the next two verses: made alive in the spirit. Part of the problem is that some translations capitalize the word spirit. In the Greek language, the manuscripts were either written entirely in small letters (miniscule) or entirely in capital letters (uncials). In the majority of solid Greek scholars, they suggest we would better understand the last part of verse 18 as reading, being put to death with reference to the flesh, but made alive with reference to the spirit. In addition, there is no definite article in the Greek writings, which further negates the idea of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the comparison is not with the body of Christ and the Holy Spirit. The contrast is seen with Christ’s physical body and His spirit. His spirit is not the same as the Holy Spirit. His spirit is part of what makes up who Jesus is.

This is important to understand since we recognize that God did not possess someone else’s body. He had and still has His own body, His own soul, and His own spirit, which we read about from the Gospels. So if His spirit was made alive, this implies that his spirit died at some point. The closest understanding we would have of this is when He actually became sin for humanity on the cross and was totally forsaken by His Father. This was that moment in time when He was separated from the Father. So the unfortunate translation by several translations uses the word by, instead of in. You see, resurrection deals with the physical body. When the sacrificial work was done on the cross, Jesus’ spirit was willingly yielded to His Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit. He wasn’t talking about the Holy Spirit, for the Holy Spirit didn’t die. Only Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised to life forevermore.

Rejoice in Christ’s Declaration - 3:19-20

This section is where a great deal of misinterpretation and conjecture have taken place over the centuries. However, I believe that if we take the entirety of the Bible and put these verses under that light, this will make a bit more sense. It is here that we find ourselves between the time of Jesus’ death and His resurrection, which took place three days later.

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 is this proclamation and who are the spirits now in prison? Well, first of all, I would suggest that these spirits were not people. In just looking through the New Testament, all the writers chose to use this word to describe angelic beings, whether they were good or demonic. To my understanding, I am unable to find any time that this word for spirits speaks of humanity, alive or dead.

Another point of confusion as to the whereabouts is that some suggest that this refers to hell. However, the Bible never suggest that Jesus ever went to hell. states in a couple of places that Jesus went to hades. Now I’m going to give a little information that should show a distinction between hades and hell. is a great resource to give clarity.

Revelation 20:11–15 NASB95

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Hades is known as the place of the dead who have not believed in God. This is a temporary place where they await the final resurrection to judgment. Hell, however, is a permanent place and the final stop for those who have rejected Christ and are judged to condemnation. The believer in Christ, is immediately in the presence of Christ according to .

Philippians 1:20–24 NASB95

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

So, getting back to what Jesus did between His death and resurrection, it appears that he went to deliver a message of victory to the spirits. We need to realize that they were literally imprisoned. Verse 20 leads us to believe that they were active on this earth during Noah’s time. We should probably assume that they were fallen angels, those who were serving Satan. They obviously had a terrible influence upon the world outside of Noah’s family. Anything more would be pure conjecture and we don’t need to waste our mental efforts on that.

What did Jesus say? Some suggest that Jesus preached to them. However, that is not logical on a couple of counts. First of all, angels cannot be saved, according to . Secondly, the Bible tells us that he made proclamation. This does not mean that Jesus preached a gospel message. If that were the case, another verb would have been used. What it does mean is that He made a huge announcement, a proclamation. We don’t have a transcript of what Jesus said. Suffice it to say that it must have been a proclamation of victory as He made it known that they were truly subject to Him. We see this in verse 22, as well as .

Now we come upon

Noah is actually someone who many can relate to when being treated unfairly and feeling worthless and wondering if we should just give up and throw in the towel. If I can take you on a little Old Testament walk, I’d like for you to consider Noah. If you find yourself getting discouraged because not many people, or maybe nobody is taking you seriously when you speak of Christ, you’re in good company. Think about Noah, in that while he was being obedient to God in building the ark, he was also obedient in that he preached about repentance and turning to God during that time. How much time, you ask? Try to think about doing that for 120 years. And as far as we know, things didn’t improve during that time, but got steadily worse. Yet, Noah is listed as a great man of faith and obedience. I cannot consider earthly results while living my life for Jesus. What may look meager or small will be seen in a totally different manner by God.

Rejoice in Christ’s Deliverance - 3:21

Peter segues from the ark bringing Noah’s family safely through the water to a comparison of water in baptism and the connection with being saved.

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,

We have talked quite often of how the Old Testament gives a lot of pictures, or shadows, or types of occurrences in the New Testament. Here is another where the flood during Noah’s time is compared with baptism. It is our practice at this church, and seemed fairly clearly to be a practice of the early church, that the mode of baptism was immersion. I don’t want to dwell on this except to explain that the reasoning is seen as a visual picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Baptism did and still should be a picture of a complete separation from the past which was set against God. It often meant a willingness that if one would undergo believer’s baptism, it meant a potential shunning from family, a loss of jobs, or the dismissal of friends who would try to undermine God.

We have talked quite often of how the Old Testament gives a lot of pictures, or shadows, or types of occurrences in the New Testament. Here is another where the flood during Noah’s time is compared with baptism. It is our practice at this church, and seemed fairly clearly to be a practice of the early church that the mode of baptism was immersion. I don’t want to dwell on this except to explain that the reasoning is seen as a visual picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. I so wish that the modern church of today would have the same serious commitment to the baptism and all that it entails. Baptism did and still should be a picture of a complete separation from the past which was set against God. It often meant a willingness to undergo believer’s baptism, though it meant a potential shunning from family, a loss of jobs, or the dismissal of friends who would try to undermine God.

The similarity is seen in that the flood waters buried the earth and all its inhabitants in judgment, while lifting up the ark with Noah and his family and keeping them safe. The ark is not what ultimately saved Noah’s family. It was God Who saved them because they placed their faith in Him and obeyed Him. The same is with us, in that Jesus saves us when we place our faith in Him. Our undergoing baptism provides a public declaration of that reality.

Now for those who suggest that baptism saves you, please read this carefully. Peter makes it clear that it is through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The baptism does give us the pledge of a good conscience toward God, according to the NIV. A pledge is merely a promise or an agreement. Husbands and wives give each other this pledge when they get married. In the early church, and often I will do the same, the question was and is asked if the person being baptized intended to have nothing to do with their sinful past and if they are committed to obeying God and living for Him. In other words, baptism is not meant to be a rite of passage. It is an important reminder that we belong to Christ, we obey Christ, and we live for Him.

We read in , that the body without the spirit is dead, we must assume that when the spirit comes back to the body, there is life. We are reminded of this is when Jairus’ daughter had died. Verse 55 states her spirit returned, and she got up immediately. My friends, it is this reality that gives the Christian hope. Jesus was made alive in the spirit. Jesus was raised from the dead. The Gospel message is meaningless if there is no resurrection. Just preaching that Jesus died for our sins and not telling people that He rose from the dead, is only part of the Gospel message.

Jesus’ resurrection gives proof that He is God and that what He did on the cross was enough and was accepted by the Father. The fact that Jesus was resurrected shows that death has no power over Jesus. The fact that Jesus is alive today and will be forever, offers so much encouragement in that I can trust Him for every need and the ability to do good works for His glory.

Rejoice in Christ’s Dominion - 3:22

It is at this point, that Peter summarizes with the ultimate climax. He speaks of what happened next which sets the stage for life right now and when the readers of this letter lived. In the midst of whatever suffering you may be experiencing, this verse offers tremendous hope for us to rejoice in God’s purposes.

mate climax. He speaks of what happened next which sets the stage for life right now and when the readers of this letter lived. In the midst of whatever suffering you may be experiencing, this verse offers tremendous hope for us to rejoice in God’s purposes.

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.

Peter tells us that Jesus has ascended into heaven. This event took place early in the book of Acts, 40 days after Christ’s resurrection. So we see the four parts of the timeline—Crucifixion, between crucifixion and resurrection, the resurrection, and the ascension.

Peter relates to us the prominent place of power and exaltation, at the right hand of God. But to show the absolute authority and power, Peter makes it clear to all that this wasn’t a temporary victory or a winning scuffle, it was total and complete: having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

In all of this, verse 22 reminds us as we consider everything going on around us that God is on the throne. Yes, bad things will probably come our way; some without intention and some just because we belong to Christ. But we have no need to fear since God is on His throne.

That day on the cross, everything looked backward and upside down for the follower of God. However, His suffering led to ultimate victory. People in this world who don’t have a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ need to hear us proclaim the good news. There will come a day when death shall invade their space; after that, there is no more opportunity. I dare not run away or be quiet in efforts to avoid persecution or being unfairly treated. I need to realize that God’s purposes are far greater than I can possibly imagine.

In suffering for Christ, we can rejoice in God’s purposes.