“…To Bring You To God.” 1 Peter 3:17-22

I have to admit that when I first started studying our Scripture for this morning I was intimidated and perplexed. The opening and closing verses of this section of Scripture are clear as a bell and the very foundation of our faith as followers of Jesus. But, the middle verses, verses 19-20, are some of the most mesmerizing verses in the Bible. Martin Luther was one of the leaders of the Protestant Reformation and an incredible Bible teacher. In his commentary on Peter and Jude, 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 certaint just what Peter means.” I felt so much better about my lack of understanding after reading what Luther had to say about the same verses. After studying them for a week, I’m still not sure what Peter intended, but I have a much better idea of what he could have had in mind when he wrote to the brothers and sisters in the five provinces of the Roman Empire. We will get to that later, but I wanted to share my experience with you to encourage you to never give up on seeking to understand those parts of God’s Word that at first you fail to understand. Over time, with much prayer and study, God will bring clarity to those verses He desires to use to teach you. And, in those instances where some things simply remain unclear, we will have the opportunity to ask Him one day. Let’s read our Scripture for this morning found in 1 Peter 3:17-22.

17 For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits-- 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. 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. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:17-22 NIV)

I wanted to include verse 17 because the verses that come after it are connected by the little words, “for” and “also.” If you will remember our study from last week, you will remember that Peter encouraged the followers of Jesus to seek to do good because unbelievers were less likely to do them harm if they were a blessing to the community. He knew that wouldn’t always be the case, Peter had himself been the victim of those who intended to do him harm even though he was sharing the good news of Jesus with them. Peter encouraged them that if they were to suffer for doing good they would be blessed. They shouldn’t fear those who mean to harm them, but they should be prepared to share the reason for the hope they have found in Jesus. Then, in verse 17, Peter writes,

17 For it is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. (1 Peter 3:17 NIV)

Did you hear that? It is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering for doing good is God’s will, then it is for suffering for doing evil. I’m certain that when they heard these words they were caught off guard like most of us are when he hear these words. How can “God’s will” and “suffering for doing good” go together? We hear so much teaching in our day, and it was present in the early church as well, that if you do good then good will come to you. Some believe that God is like your grandparents who indulge you with everything your little heart desires. That may be what some Bible teachers teach, but that is not what the Bible teaches. Peter says that sometimes suffering for doing good is God’s will. His Sovereign Hand is present in our suffering, even when we are suffering for doing the right thing, even when we are walking in God’s will for our lives. I have taken the time to share this with you because of how Peter connects this line of thought with verse 18. Let’s read 1 Peter 3:18 together.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

Peter connects the two truths together. It is better for you and me to suffer for doing good, if it is God’s will, then it is for suffering for doing evil…For Christ also suffered…  Peter once again calls the followers of Jesus to set their eyes upon Jesus, the One who suffered for them. There could be no greater motivator, and no greater source of strength for them to continue to be faithful to the Lord, in the midst of their suffering, than to be mindful of the One who suffered for them. Edmund Clowney wrote,

Persecuted and suffering Christians need to remember both the humiliation and the exaltation of Christ. His patient suffering will show them meekness when they are interrogated. His glorious triumph will give them courage to face their accusers. Undergirding both the meekness and the boldness of the Christian is the saving work of Christ. (Clowney, Edmund. 1 Peter. pg. 123)

Just this week I read a report of the growing rates of persecution taking place in Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Cuba, countries where some of you grew up. All churches in Cuba have to register with the State and any individual who associates with an unregistered religious organization is viewed as a criminal, subjected to harassment, and could face jail time. The Mexican drug cartels, who have gained more and more power in Mexico, view Christians as a threat because they oppose the activity of the cartels. Our Haitian brothers and sisters here at Britton Christian Church have family members back in Haiti who are facing the pressure of the gangs who have all but taken control of Haiti. The Haitian gangs also view Christians as a threat because they will not participate with them. Peter’s words to those who were being persecuted in the Roman Empire ring true with crystal clarity to our brothers and sisters who are living in situations where they are persecuted for following Jesus instead of the State or some drug lord or gang leader. 

I mentioned to you earlier that the beginning and ending verses of our Scripture are some of the most important truths of our faith. I want to highlight them for us this morning. Let’s read verse 18 once again.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. (1 Peter 3:18 NIV)

Peter tells us that Jesus suffered “once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” This one verse clears up so much misunderstanding. In our day there are many differing opinions about who Jesus is, what happened to Jesus, and why it happened to Jesus. Peter clears all of that up for us in this one verse. Jesus suffered once, He was crucified as an offering for your sin and my sin, but once, and He endured all of this to “bring you to God.”  

A growing number of people in our day do not believe that Jesus lived a sinless life and yet Peter tells us that Jesus was the righteous One who died for those who are unrighteous, those who are sinners. The write of Hebrews, in Hebrews 4:15, writes,

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-- yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 NIV)

Jesus was tempted in every way that you are tempted, in every way that I am tempted, and yet He never, not one time, gave in to temptation and sinned. Back in 1 Peter 2, when Peter was encouraging the members of the churches who were slaves to bear up under unjust treatment by their masters, he wrote,

21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:21-24 NIV)

“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” The Bible teaches that the consequence of sin is death, so if Jesus lived a sinless life, why did He die? That's a critically important question and Peter answers it for us. Peter writes, “...Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous…” So, if Jesus, who never sinned, suffered and died “for” sins, whose sins did He suffer and die for? It’s always best to seek biblical answers to biblical questions. Turn with me to Romans 5:8-10.

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:8-10 NIV)

Did you find your answer? “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus suffered and died for our sins so that we might have the opportunity to be reconciled to God. There are so many places in God’s Word that I could take you this morning, but I’ll just show you one more. Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 5:21 and let’s read together.

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV)

Jesus took on our sin, on the cross, so that we might take on His righteousness and be reconciled to God the Father. Why would Jesus do this? Why would He, the sinless One, willingly offer up His sinless life for sinners like you and me? Peter answers that question by telling us He did it “to bring you to God.” 

Next month, Jewish people all over the world will celebrate Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. You can read about “when” and “why” God instituted this holy day for His people back in Leviticus 16:29-30. Yom Kippur is the day when the High Priest would enter into the Holy of Holies, within the temple, to offer a blood sacrifice for the sins of the people of Israel. The day of Atonement continues for the Jewish people to this day because the blood of bulls and goats was not sufficient to cover the sins of the people once and for all. The sacrifice had to be repeated year-after-year. It was only after the sacrifice had been made that the people would be made “at-one” with God, but, as I said, the sacrifice had to be made every year for the sins of the people. The writer of Hebrews tells us, 

24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:24-28 NIV)

There is no more need for a sacrifice for your sins or mine. The sacrifice has been made once and for all for all of those who will receive the gift of forgiveness through the sacrifice made on your behalf by Jesus, our Sinless Savior! Through Jesus we can draw near to God. In Hebrews 10:19-22 we read,

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22 NIV)

Let’s move on. If you will go back to 1 Peter 3:19-20. I want to share the verses I spoke about in the beginning of our study. Before we read them, I will tell you that there are three main interpretations of what Peter meant when he wrote these verses. I’ll share them with you once we read the Scripture.

19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits-- 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, (1 Peter 3:19-20 NIV)

Throughout history there have been three main ideas about what Peter had in mind when he wrote these words. First, some have believed that Jesus descended into hell and preached to the spirits of those who died in the flood during the time of Noah. A second interpretation is that the spirit of Christ was actually preaching through Noah, during the days he was building the ark, and calling the people to repentance. To understand this line of thinking it is important to go back to 1 Peter 1:10-11 where Peter wrote,

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. (1 Peter 1:10-11 NIV)

Think about what Peter is saying. The prophets of long ago, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and the others didn’t fully understand the details of all they were speaking. They “searched intently to try and find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.” So, this second line of thought is that it was the Spirit of Christ who was speaking through Noah to deliver the message God had for the people of his day. 

The third line of interpretation is that Jesus proclaimed to the spirits who were in prison His triumph, His victory, and their inability to thwart the purposes of God. Those who hold to this line of thinking focus on two things. First, the Greek word for “spirits” in this verse is “πνεύμασιν” (pneumasin) and is used of supernatural beings, either good or bad, in Scripture. Those who believe this is what Peter had in mind, recognize that the spirits in this verse are the same spirits Peter was referring to in 2 Peter 2. Let me read it to you. 

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;… 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. (2 Peter 2:4-5; 9 NIV)

After wrestling with these verses all week I believe this is what Peter had in mind. Jesus didn’t descend into hell to preach to those who had died long ago. The Scripture doesn’t say Jesus “descended,” it says He “went.” Robert Mounce writes,

Christ’s proclamation to the fallen angels was not the offer of a second chance but the announcement of his complete and final victory over the power of sin and Satan. By his death and resurrection Christ had ‘disarmed the powers and authorities’ and ‘made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross’ (Colossians 2:15). (Mounce, Robert. A Living Hope: Commentary on 1 and 2 Peter. pg. 57). 

Just as there was evil going on in the days leading up to the judgment of the flood, there was evil going on in the days of those who received this letter from Peter, and there is still evil taking place in our society and world today. God’s judgment came in the past and is coming in the future. So, we, those of us who follow Jesus need to remember that God is faithful, Jesus has won the victory over the dark powers of the enemy, and our future is secure in Christ. Paul told the followers of Jesus living in Ephesus.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV)

There is a battle going on and our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but it is a spiritual battle. Have no fear! There’s no need to fear because our Victorious King has won the battle and He has given us everything we need to fight these spiritual battles as we put on the full armor of God. Let’s look at one more thing before we leave here this morning. Read 1 Peter 3:21-22 with me.

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. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand-- with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1 Peter 3:21-22 NIV)

What does Peter mean that “this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you…”? The early church saw in people, things, and events a foreshadowing of things to come. For instance, David was a great king over Israel, but he was only a shadow, a foretaste of The King to come, Jesus our Lord. All of the sacrifices of the Old Testament point forward to the final sacrifice of Jesus’ life for the forgiveness of sins. The deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt is a type of the true deliverance from bondage from sin brought about Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

The waters of judgment that took place during the days of Noah are a symbol of the baptismal waters entered into by those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior of their life. But how is this so? Those outside the ark vanished in the waters of judgment, but Noah and his family, eight in all, were saved when the waters of judgment came upon them. Jesus is our ark! 

Being baptized does not “save” us and Peter makes this clear when he writes, “not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” The act of baptism is symbolic of dying to ourselves and being resurrected to a new life, just like Noah and his family, when the waters subsided, they were born into a new world. 

Just this morning we witnessed the baptism of Adleigh. I met with Adleigh to talk about baptism. We read Scripture, from Romans 6, about the meaning of baptism. I explained to her that we were going to bury the old Adleigh underneath the water, and Jesus would raise a brand new Adleigh to life. And we did that this morning. It was not the waters of baptism that saved Adleigh and reconciled her to God, but it was the death and resurrection of Jesus her Lord that saved her. She is a new creation in Christ and her baptism was an announcement to the world that she has been united to Jesus in His death and resurrection. Jesus has made Adleigh more than a conqueror through His victory! Her future is secure because of His victory! She will never walk alone because her King has promised to lead her and guide her, never forsake her for the rest of her days! Wow! What certainty and security this young girl now has as she faces the uncertainty and insecurity of a dark and changing world. You can know this same security and certainty this very morning if you will say “Yes!” to Jesus. Won’t you invite Him in? 

Mike Hays

Britton Christian Church

September 29, 2024