Christ: The Triumph of Suffering

The New King James Version (Chapter 3)

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism z(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, abut the answer 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, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Introduction: Have you ever wondered — why doesn’t God do something?

Maybe you’re looking at the world-its craziness, its sin, and its arrogance against God.

Maybe you’re looking at the suffering of God’s people or the weakness of the church.

Maybe you’re experiencing opposition from someone who defies the ways of God and yet you feel that they are prospering and you are suffering?

Background: This is exactly the situation that Peter is speaking to. The churches in this area are seeing evil and debauchery prosper, while they experience persecution, not from just one, but two sides. Jews persecuted Christians first and now the Roman government is now persecuting them!

2 Thoughts: Why is God not judging them and saving us? Is God really as powerful as He says He is because it sure doesn’t seem like it.

Proposition: Christ examples the triumph of suffering.

Interrogative: How does Christ example triumph over suffering?

Peter is going to answer the following questions:

What is our faith in Christ’s triumph based on?

How far does Christ’s triumph extend?

How does this triumph apply to the believer now?

What is the final outcome of Christ’s Triumph?

I. The nature of Christ’s work demonstrates triumph (18)

1 Peter 3:18 (NKJV)

Christ’s Suffering and Ours

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

A. The Action

1. Temporary suffering/death

2. Once for sins

B. The Nature: The Just for the Unjust

1. This sets an example for us

1, 2 Peter, Jude (2) Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18–22)

We saw earlier in 2:21–23 that the response of Jesus to unjust suffering functioned as an example for believers.

1, 2 Peter, Jude (2) Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18–22)

That Christ was “righteous” (dikaios) is stressed elsewhere in the New Testament (Matt 27:19; Luke 23:47; Acts 3:14; 7:52; 1 John 2:1, 29; 3:7; cf. Isa 53:11). Since Christ suffered as the sinless one (1 John 2:1; 2 Cor 5:21), his suffering is unique. Indeed, only Christ suffered “for the unrighteous” (hyper adikōn).

2. This is why our consciences are cleansed

1 Peter 3:13–16 (NKJV)

Suffering for Right and Wrong

13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.” 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

C. The Purpose: That he might bring us to God

D. The Method: Triumph through the resurrection!

1. Put to death in the flesh

2. Made alive in the resurrection

Implication:

When we suffer for Christ, we are partakers not only of His suffering, but the victory of the resurrection.

Acts 2:31

31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

Acts 4:2

2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

Acts 4:33

33 And with igreat power the apostles gave jwitness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And kgreat grace was upon them all.

Acts 17:18

18 Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 2:31–17:18.

When we think of following Christ, we often think of emulating certain attributes, but we don’t think of following him in every aspect. The truth is, that Christ calls us to follow in his suffering, and His death because it leads to the triumph of the resurrection.

1, 2 Peter, Jude ((2) Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18–22))

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

Philippians 3:10–11 (NKJV)

10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Transition: Just how far does this resurrection power extend?

II. The extent of Christ’s work demonstrates triumph (19-20)

1 Peter 3:19–20 (NKJV)

19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

A. The Identity

The Spirits in Prison

Clues:

a. There is a clear connection to Genesis 6:1-4

Genesis 6:1–6 (NKJV)

6 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

b. Peter will also references angels in 2 Peter 2:4, and Jude 6

2 Peter 2:4–9 (NKJV) Doom of False Teachers

4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,

Jude 5–7 (NKJV) Old and New Apostates

5 But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

c. Fallen Angels in Prison is Consistent with Satan in Prison

Revelation 20:7–8 (NKJV)

7 Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.

d. Conclusion: The Spirits in Prison are Angels (very likely)

One major objection- Angels can’t marry

Matthew 22:23–33 (NKJV)

Conflict with Sadducees

Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40

23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him, 24 saying: “Teacher, Moses said that if a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. 25 Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. 26 Likewise the second also, and the third, even to the seventh. 27 Last of all the woman died also. 28 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her.”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. 31 But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the multitudes heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

2. Answering the Objection

a. The text specifies “angels in heaven”

b. The text says that people won’t marry in heaven, but they are certainly capable of sexual relations on earth.

c. Then why can’t be believe that angels who don’t have sexual relationships in heaven can’t on earth.

2. “He went” - used for the ascending not descending

1, 2 Peter, Jude (2) Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18–22)

There are instances in the New Testament where the word “went” (poreuomai) refers to the ascension of Christ (Acts 1:10–11; John 14:2, 3, 28; 16:7, 28), while it nowhere refers to his descent into the underworld. We also noticed in v. 18 a clear reference to the resurrection of Christ. The “going” in v. 19, therefore, also most naturally refers to what is true of Christ’s resurrection body. It is obviously the case that Christ did not need his resurrection body to preach through Noah by means of the Spirit. Indeed, the reference to Christ “going” in v. 19 demonstrates the implausibility of the first view since it is difficult to understand how Christ needs to “go anywhere” if he speaks only through the Holy Spirit.

3. “and preached to”

a. Could mean that Christ literally announced their defeat.

b. The the semantic range of keruso allows for behavior to act as preaching. (1 Corinthians 11 - the act of communion proclaims)

c. Either way, Christ has the full right to declare complete triumph over evil, including demonic spirits, and this is the most extreme example possible.

B. The Scenario - God’s divine patience

Genesis 6 represents the pinnacle of sexual immorality and evil

God’s Judgement is Coming

God is divinely patient in giving more opportunity for repentance.

This requires Noah and his family to wait, undergo suffering and persecution.

Eventually the waters of judgement do come

The same waters that judge, also save (8 people)

C. The Implications:

In Noah’s day, the first century, the judgement of the world actually means the relief and saving of God’s suffering people.

When God’s people suffer, their faith can falter because they feel like God is not dealing with the problems like he should. God’s people will suffer in a wicked world and God will withhold his judgement on them for a time because of his mercy.

Ultimately Christ’s redemptive work resulted in triumph even over the greatest evil the world has ever known.

Because of this we can be confident that if we share in his suffering, we will also share in His triumph (the resurrection)

Transition: So how does this apply to the believer now?

III. The symbol of Christ’s work demonstrates triumph over suffering (21)

1 Peter 3:21 (NKJV)

21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

A. The Nature of antitype

Hebrews 9:23–24 (NKJV)

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

B. How does baptism save us?

1. What is not - washing of the flesh

1, 2 Peter, Jude (2) Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18–22)

The statement about the removal of dirt is made so that believers will not understand baptism mechanically or superficially. They must attend to what is really happening in baptism.

2. What it is - spiritual baptism:

a. Jesus spoke of a baptism that he would he would be baptized with.

Mark 10:38–39 (NKJV)

38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

39 They said to Him, “We are able.”

So Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized;

Luke 12:50 (NKJV)

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

b. Paul spoke of our being baptized with Christ

Colossians 2:12 (NKJV)

12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Romans 6:3–6 (NKJV)

3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.

B. The Result of Spiritual Baptism - the cleansing of the conscience

1 Corinthians 12:13 (NKJV)

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

1. It references the cleansing of sin of the whole person

2. It implies that we can know this cleansing experientially

3. The cleansed conscience reminds us of Christ victory!

Application

If you genuinely know Christ as your Savior than you have been cleansed by his blood.

But if you live with a clean conscience before the Lord, than you will not experience the ongoing victory in Christ and will falter in times of suffering.

Transition: What is the final outcome of all of this?

IV. The Results of Christ work examples triumph over suffering (22)

1 Peter 3:22 (NKJV)

22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

A. The Old Testament Quotation

Psalm 110:1–2 (NKJV)

1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.

Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

1, 2 Peter, Jude (2) Christ’s Suffering as the Pathway to Exaltation (3:18–22)

Jesus applied the psalm to himself in his teaching (cf. Matt 22:44; 26:64; Mark 12:36; 14:62; Luke 20:42–43; 22:69), and the influence of the psalm is pervasive in the rest of the New Testament (Acts 2:34–35; Rom 8:34; 1 Cor 15:25; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12).

B. The Resurrection of Christ results in total Triumph

Concluding Applications:

When God doesn’t seem to be proactive in dealing with others, we must remember His patience.

Our union with Christ’s death guarantees our union in His resurrection.

Suffering with Christ gives us the opportunity to experience the resurrection.

Total Victory is in Jesus!