1 Pter 3:18-22 Wounded For Me

English Standard Version Chapter 3

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, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 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. 21 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Jesus “also” suffered (“likewise” - an encouraging eye opener)

Jesus suffered “once” (*only once - this speaks to necessity of Christ suffering; “for sins”: once was all it took to pay the debt for sinners)

Jesus suffered as the “Christ” (Christos; the Anointed one, the Messiah the Christ; Christ; the deliverer)

*Jesus suffered “for” our sake, in our stead, in our behalf (Why? “that He might bring us to God”)

Jesus had to suffer and die in order for sinners to have a way to God.

V.18 not only tells us why Jesus had to suffer and die, this verse tells us Jesus was “made alive in the Spirit.” (God the Holy Spirit, along with God the Father, and the Son raised Jesus Christ from the dead).

Necessity of Christ suffering: Hebrews 5:1, 3; 10:26; 1 John 2:2; 1 Corinthians 15:3; Galatians 1:4

Jesus Christ suffering was in our stead in at least two ways: 1) So that our sin debt would be paid off, 2) So that our desire for sin would be done away with *Scriptures above

“To bring you to God” - This is Atonement: All of us are unable and unworthy to enter into God’s presence without Jesus Christ.

Christ chose to suffer on our behalf.