1 Peter 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. By whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 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.

There is also an antitype which now saves us: baptism. Not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but an answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Father, as we consider Your word, we thank You that You are a good Father, as we sang just a few minutes ago. Your goodness is most clearly displayed in the loving gift of Your Son. Father, You loved the whole world that You gave Your only begotten Son for us. Jesus, Your life wasn't taken from You, but You laid it down, demonstrating Your love towards us.

So we pray, God, that as we consider that today, as we even think about Your death on the cross, You would, Lord, continue to transform us by the renewing of our minds, that we would be able to live our lives in a way that brings honor, praise, and glory to You this week. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all those that agreed said, Amen. You can be seated.

Since the end of January, we have been studying through the book of 1 Peter together. This series of studies in 1 Peter actually sits in a much larger study for us at Cross Connection through the whole of the New Testament, the last third of the Bible. This study through the New Testament began back in November of 2008, which is almost eight years ago. In fact, since just about the time that I became the pastor of this church, we have been studying through the New Testament together. We went through the book of Acts, and we've gone through the epistles of the New Testament.

Chronologically, we are studying the history book of the Book of Acts, and we're still not finished. We won't be finished for quite some time. Who knows, the Lord could come back before we do finish, and then He can wrap it up for us and teach us the whole Book of Revelation. I would much rather have Him teach Revelation than me, so I'm all for it if He wants to do that.

As we go through the Scriptures, one of the things you will see as you are a part of our church for any length of time is that we are serious about the Word of God. We believe that God's Word is important, living, and powerful. That's why we partner with ministries like the Gideons and others, such as Cross Connection Outreach, which delivers the Word of God throughout the world. We are committed to going through the Scriptures verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book to receive the whole counsel of God.

It has been my plan that we would finish this book. In fact, when we started this back at the end of January, I intended to take only six weeks in 1 Peter. It has taken a little longer than that. By this time, we were supposed to be about midway through 2 Peter, having already done Jude and getting ready to go into the Book of Hebrews this summer. Well, we are way beyond my plan. My pastor, Pastor Pat, who pastored this church for 27 years, used to have a little magnet on a filing cabinet in his office, which is now my office. It said, "Man Plans, God Laughs." That has certainly been my experience going through this.

While it was my intent to go through the five chapters of 1 Peter in just six weeks, God has seen fit to keep us here. I believe He has a message for us living in this place at this time from this book. I have called this series "Keys of the Kingdom" because there are some important truths that I would call keys to being a part of the Kingdom of God found in these five chapters that Peter lays out for us.

If you are a follower of Jesus, if you are a Christian, then the Bible describes you as being a citizen of heaven. The Apostle Paul talks about this in his letter to the church at Philippi in Philippians chapter 3. He says that we are citizens of heaven and that we are eagerly looking forward to the day when we come into that kingdom. But for now, we are here as representatives of the Kingdom of God. As followers of King Jesus and representatives of His kingdom, there are some very important truths or keys to His kingdom that we find here in 1 Peter.

The first point we have seen as we've gone through this is that this place, Earth, is not our forever home. Now, I don't know about you, but I'm very thankful for that. When I look at all the things that are going on in the world, especially the political issues happening in our own nation, it makes me all the more grateful that this is not my forever home. My hope is not in this nation or this world; my hope is in another place. We eagerly wait for the coming of our Lord and Savior to bring us into that kingdom. Amen? Is anybody with me on that? Good.

Well, that's one of the keys we find here in 1 Peter: this place is not our forever home. Another thing we discover is that, as followers of King Jesus and representatives of His kingdom here in this world, we are to represent Him well while we are here. The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, specifically in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, describes us as ambassadors for Christ. We are from another kingdom. Even if you were born and raised here in the United States of America, if you're a Christian, your citizenship is in heaven. You have dual citizenship. Your citizenship is in heaven, and here you are an ambassador for Jesus and for His kingdom.

As ambassadors, we are called to represent Him well, living in such a way that honors the King and His kingdom. One of the other points we find in this passage is that, as ambassadors for Christ living here, we are to be completely subject—Peter uses the word "submitted"—to the ruling authorities of this world. Even though our King and His kingdom are greater than the kings and kingdoms of this world, He is called the King of kings. He directs His followers to be submitted to the kingdoms, the leadership, and the authorities of this world while they are here.

When we read that, there is a part of us, especially if you were born and raised in America, that resists submission. The culture of America is one of independence, and we have this great declaration of unsubmission known as the Declaration of Independence. It expresses a refusal to submit, and that sentiment is ingrained in our being. So, when the Scriptures say to submit yourself to every governing authority, there is a part of me—and probably you—that says, "Oh, I don't like that." Yet, that is what Jesus directs His servants, His ambassadors, to do. You see, we do not have diplomatic immunity as ambassadors of Christ.

We do not have the authority, as those subject to His kingdom, to say to the kingdoms of this world, "We will not submit to your authority." In fact, Jesus says, "No, I want you to submit to their authority." I want you to live after the pattern and mindset of the kingdom of heaven, which is contrary to the world in which we live.

Another key that we find in 1 Peter is that if you live like this—an ambassador of the kingdom of heaven submitted to the authorities of this world—you may potentially suffer. As you look at Christian history, that has been the case. Christians throughout history, in just about every place on the planet, have experienced suffering for the cause of the kingdom of Christ. Christians today, in other parts of the world—not necessarily here—are facing persecution and suffering because of the kingdom of God. This is exactly what Peter says; it is one of the keys of the kingdom.

However, another great key that we find in this passage is that, though we may suffer in this world as subjects of King Jesus and ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven, this is not our eternal home. We have a reward and an eternity awaiting us when our sojourn here is complete. That is wonderful, and it is where our hope comes from.

I was listening to a rather well-known Christian man in the United Kingdom this past week. He has a very well-known brother who passed away a few years ago in our own nation. Some of you may have heard the name before: Christopher Hitchens. Christopher Hitchens was the author of a book called "God is Not Great," and he was a very prominent evangelical atheist. It may sound strange to be an evangelical atheist, but that is what he was before he died of cancer a few years ago. His brother, Peter Hitchens, is an evangelical Christian.

I was watching an interview with Peter Hitchens this past week, and he was discussing his view of how things are in the United Kingdom and the United States. He had a very pessimistic outlook on both. The interviewer looked at him and said, "Well, gosh, that sounds very pessimistic. I thought you were a Christian." Peter Hitchens responded in his wonderful British accent, which instantly captures our attention.

With a British accent, we think they must be intelligent because they have a British accent. I mean, I wish I had a British accent because then instantly this church would be double the size just because I had a British accent.

So, with his British accent, he said, "Well, I may be pessimistic here, but my hope is in heaven. My hope is not in this place." That is one of the keys of the kingdom and the subjects of that kingdom. In 1 Peter, it speaks of sojourning; we are just passing through. It speaks of submission, suffering, and ultimate salvation. These are essential things for us, who are followers of King Jesus and ambassadors of His kingdom, to hold on to.

We are just passing through. We should not invest ourselves in this place in such a way that we think we will be here forever, though we should seek the peace of this place. We should be submitted to the authorities, knowing that this may cause suffering in our lives. However, our salvation ultimately points to heaven.

In the midst of this, Peter writes, "Look at verse 17." We briefly touched on it a few weeks ago. In 1 Peter 3, verse 17, he says, "For it is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." Now, that is audacious and perhaps absurd. It is better to suffer. Really? It is better.

Peter says that if you are going to suffer—and it is all but guaranteed for followers of Jesus living according to the principles of His kingdom that they will suffer in a world that is contrary to them—then it is better for you to suffer for righteousness' sake, according to the will of God, than to suffer for being a bozo. That's a 21st-century update.

It is better to suffer for righteousness' sake, if it is the will of God, than to suffer for being a Christian jerk. I apologize for saying that, but sometimes that's how people act. We take the clear teaching of the Bible and become arrogant, rude, and obnoxious with it. We think that by being rude and obnoxious, we will win friends and influence people on behalf of the King and His kingdom, but it doesn't work.

Sometimes people suffer as Christians because they are being a bozo, not because they are walking in righteousness. But here, Peter says it is better if you suffer according to the will of God for doing what is right.

I don't know about you, but frankly, I'd rather not suffer at all. Yet, so many times in the Scriptures, there is almost a guarantee of suffering for those who are living for the kingdom of God. Living for the kingdom of God is contrary to the way that the kingdoms of this world operate, and so the potential for suffering is great. This is clearly seen in Christian history. What we have experienced in terms of religious freedom is not the norm.

Here, it is stated that it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good. We must ask ourselves, is it really better? To answer that, we can look back one chapter. In 1 Peter chapter 3, we can turn back to 1 Peter chapter 2 for a reminder of where we came from. In 1 Peter 2:19, Peter says, "For this is commendable. This is praiseworthy. You are worthy of praise if, because of conscience toward God, one endures grief, suffering wrongfully." You are worthy of receiving praise and commendation if, for the sake of the kingdom of God, you suffer unjustly.

But commendation from whom? In verse 20, Peter asks, "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your own faults, you take it patiently?" However, when you do good—when you do the right thing, the thing that has honesty and integrity laced in it—and if you suffer and take it patiently, this is praiseworthy and commendable before God.

So, who will provide this commendation? If you are a follower of King Jesus and a representative of His kingdom, and if you suffer wrongfully in this world, who will commend you? It will be God in heaven. Peter says prophetically, in the end, eschatologically, when you stand before God, you will receive praise and honor from Him. The one who deserves all praise and honor will honor you if you take it patiently after suffering wrongfully.

This is the calling to which you were called, as stated in verse 21, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that we should follow in His steps. This teaching was not only from the apostle Peter; it is also the teaching of Jesus. In what is called the Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, we read in Matthew 5:10, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for doing the right thing."

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they, outsiders, revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad.

Now, nobody rejoices in persecution or suffering unless this is true, for great is your reward in heaven. And what is that reward? The praise, honor, and commendation of God. Jesus taught this, and Peter now teaches it as well. It is commendable; it is praiseworthy from God if you endure suffering for doing what is right patiently.

So, if you're going to suffer, make sure that you're suffering in such a way that brings reward. Make sure that you're suffering because you're doing the right thing. Make sure that you're suffering because you are representing the King and His kingdom well, and you're living after the pattern of heaven.

You may ask, how do I live after the pattern of heaven? Well, read the Scriptures; you'll find out. That's why we study them so systematically here, so that we might know how we are to live. Peter even asked the question, how shall we then live? Knowing that these things are the case, which we're going to see when we get into 2 Peter, he gives some very clear indications about how my life and your life is to be lived as ambassadors of the kingdom.

We've already looked at some of that previously here in 1 Peter chapter 3, where we were told that we are to endure these difficult things that come upon us. We are to do it with meekness, fear, and grace. He says, sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is within you, with meekness and fear, having a good conscience.

So, he says that we are to live in this way, where we are tenderhearted and gracious towards people and meek in this world. Even when they come against us, we do not render evil for evil. Yet here in verse 17, he says, for it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

So, if you're going to suffer, suffer in a way that brings reward, for this is the sort of suffering that God wills. Did you get that? God wills suffering? Wait a minute. God wills my suffering. I'm not sure that I like the sound of that.

I'm not sure when you actually pick up on what's being said that you like the sound of that. God in heaven, who we teach is all-loving, all-powerful, and all-good, wills the unjust suffering of His people. Does that really fit with the Scriptures?

Well, look at 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 19. One page to the right, he says it again: "Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good as to a faithful Creator." Let those who suffer according to the will of God.

Now, in all honesty, this doesn't seem to fit within the cutely packaged American Christianity that is peddled by many prosperity preachers in our nation here in the 21st century. That God in heaven wills the unjust suffering of His people. And yet, Peter has now said it twice: 1 Peter chapter 3, verse 17, and 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 19. Suffering according to the will of God.

I don't think I would ever be accused of being a proponent of prosperity teaching, and yet, even I have a hard time with this concept of God willing suffering. So, we have to be able to explain it. What is meant by this?

Peter says in verse 17, "It is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good than for doing evil." This leaves a kind of stop in our minds, making us think, "Wait, what is God willing in suffering?" Hold on a second. Then he says this in verse 18: "For Christ also suffered."

So, if it is the will of God that you suffer, remember that Christ also suffered. Jesus suffered for doing good. I think if any of you have ever read through the Gospels, you recognize that this is the case. Jesus did nothing wrong. In fact, He did wonderfully good things. He fed those who were hungry, healed those who were sick, raised people who were dead, and cast demons out of people who were possessed. He did nothing wrong. He preached a message of salvation and forgiveness.

Yes, He transgressed the traditions of the religious people of His day, but He never broke God's law. The book of Hebrews says that Jesus was tested in all points like as we are, and yet, He never sinned. Then He suffered. He suffered an incredibly torturous, terrible, painful death on the cross. He suffered for doing good. And yet, not only did He suffer for doing good, but Jesus also suffered according to the will of God.

It was God's will that He suffer. How do we know that? Well, it's very clearly seen. In the night that Jesus would be betrayed and turned over to the Jewish high priest to be crucified, He prayed in a garden called the Garden of Gethsemane. It's recorded in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 26. It says that He went a little further from His disciples in verse 39. He fell on His face and prayed, saying, "Oh, my Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."

A few verses later, He prays the same prayer again. In verse 42, a second time He went and prayed, saying, "Oh, my Father, if this cup cannot pass from me unless I drink it, Your will be done." Then, two verses later in verse 44, it states that He left His disciples and went away again and prayed a third time the same words.

So, in Matthew's Gospel, and not just in Matthew's Gospel, but also in Mark, chapter 13, and Luke, chapter 22, it is recorded that three times Jesus prayed, "I don't will this. But Father, whatever You will, I will submit myself to Your will. You will my suffering." This is an awesome thing to consider. Jesus, in His humanity, did not want to suffer. Can anybody be Christ-like in that? Jesus, in His humanity, did not want to suffer. And yet, He could see and recognize that God in heaven, the Father, was determining His suffering. He willed beforehand His suffering.

That's a heavy reality. I don't want to suffer. I've never met a single person that wants to suffer. Jesus did not want to suffer. And yet, God the Father in heaven planned, determined, and willed the suffering of Jesus.

Point number one, your sermon guide is in your bulletin: Christ's suffering fulfilled God's will. Probably the number one question I've received from believers, Christians who want to follow Jesus and do the right thing, is, "What's God's will for my life? I want to do God's will." Well, what if God's will is that you suffer? Do you still want that? Jesus prayed, "Not my will, but Your will be done." I have to be honest with you; I can only do that. I can pray the prayer of Jesus and say, "Lord, not my will, but Your will be done in this instance."

But God willed the suffering of Jesus. We look at that and say it seems unbearable. In fact, the skeptic would rightly ask, why would you want to serve a God who wills the unjust suffering of His own Son and potentially His other followers? Why would you want to serve that?

Well, look at the rest of verse 18. For Christ also suffered once for sins. Point number two on your outline: Christ's suffering was for a purpose. Jesus came to do the will of the Father. Hebrews chapter 10 makes this very clear. The words of Christ, the Messiah, Jesus, were, "Behold, I have come to do your will, O God." The will of God the Father in heaven was that Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God here upon the earth, would suffer. He would suffer unjustly, but His unjust suffering was for a purpose. It was on behalf of my sin and your sin. So, Christ also suffered once for sins.

Jesus did not suffer for His own unrighteousness. We all recognize, as we read through the Gospels, that it wasn't because of anything bad that He had done. He suffered for my unrighteousness and your sin. Our failures—Christ suffered for those—in our place. That's what the Gospel preaches. He suffered and died according to the determined plan and will of God the Father.

Why? Again, 1 Peter 3, verse 18 tells us: "For Christ also suffered once for sins." Why? That He might bring us to God. That He might bring me and you to God. Notice the word "might" there. That He might have the opportunity to make the way open for you and me, sinful individuals, to come before God.

Point number three on your outline: Christ's suffering was for our salvation. His unjust suffering was not pointless. It was not absurd. It was not senseless. Christ suffered for our sins. He was put to death in the flesh, as Peter says. The crucifixion was the determined plan and will of God the Father.

The predetermined plan. God, outside of time, made the decision that this was the way that sinful, lost humanity could be brought back to Him. To be brought back into relationship and connection with Him. This was the only way.

And that's why when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "If there be any other way," heaven was silent. The silence of heaven was loud. There is no other way. This is it. This is the only way. If there was a way through the law of Moses, if there was a way through certain rituals and rites, if there was a way through certain good works that you and I could come to God, then the answer would have come when Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, prayed, "If there is any other way." The silence from heaven was loud.

So, the crucifixion was the determined plan and will of God the Father. He predetermined that Jesus would be unjustly crucified. You may ask, is that really true? Well, let's look. If you would, you're in 1 Peter. Turn to the left to the book of Acts. You're going to pass Hebrews, 1 and 2 Timothy, Philippians, Corinthians, and Romans, all the way back to the book of Acts.

Acts chapter 2 contains a message, most of it a sermon given by the author of the book that we're studying. This is the first sermon that Peter, the apostle, gave after the church was started by the Spirit of God. The climax of his message is this: Acts chapter 2, verse 22. Peter, with a gathered assembly of thousands before him, says, "Men of Israel, hear these words."

Acts 2:22 states, "Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know. Him being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put Him to death."

So, who killed Jesus? That's the age-old question, right? Who killed Jesus? Well, according to Peter, by the inspired word of God, it was not the Jews that killed Jesus. It was not the Romans that killed Jesus. It was God the Father in heaven who determined that Christ would die, by the agency of the Jews and the Romans, by crucifixion there outside of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago.

It was the determined will of God that Jesus would suffer injustice. Why? So that He would die for your sins and mine, and that He might make the way open for us to come to God through Him. One of my favorite verses is found in 2 Corinthians 5:21. It says, "For He, God the Father, made Him, Jesus the Son, who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might be the righteousness of God in Christ." Jesus bore and became my sin and yours so that He could give to you and to me His righteousness.

Peter here says, "He died there; He suffered for sins that He might bring us to God." Now, that word "might" is important. The word "might" there is the Greek subjunctive. This was written originally in Greek, and the mood of that word is subjunctive. This may mean nothing to you, but let me try to explain what it means. It means that the death of Jesus was sufficient for the justification that deals with all sin of all peoples at all times in every place. When Jesus died on the cross once for sins, His death was sufficient to deal with all sin of all humanity at all times.

Yet, His sacrifice is only sufficient for those who receive it or appropriate it by faith. It is only received by those who accept it by grace through faith. You cannot be saved by your good works. You cannot be saved by your church attendance, by your giving to anything, or by your serving in the children's ministry, although that might be as close to hell as some people ever get. But there is no way that those actions save you. Just strike that from your memory; I didn't say that at all. There is no way that those actions save you. Christ alone saves.

Jesus suffered. The awesome thing is that He suffered temporarily, momentarily, so that He might make it possible for you and me to live eternally with Him. In all honesty, I would love nothing more than for 1 Peter chapter 3 to end right there, but it doesn't. Peter continues in 1 Peter 3:18, saying, "Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit."

By whom? The Spirit. Also, He, Jesus, went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, once when 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.

Well, what is that all about? I love the Apostle Peter. In his next book, 2 Peter, chapter 3, he ends his letter like this: "And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul." Peter is kind of giving a little nod to the Apostle Paul, referring to him as "our beloved brother, my friend the Apostle Paul." According to the wisdom given to him, Paul has written to them, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them things in which are some things hard to understand. Untaught and unstable people twist these to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

So, what is Peter saying? In 2 Peter 3:16, he says, "Listen, Paul has written some great things in his letters, although some of his things are really hard to understand." When I read that, I think, "And what about this, Peter? You just one-upped Paul's hard-to-understand meter." This may very well be one of the most difficult passages in definitely the book of 1 Peter, maybe in the whole New Testament, and perhaps in the whole of the Bible. It is one of the most difficult passages in the Bible to understand and to interpret.

Now, I know there may be someone among the 200 or so in here who is currently writing me a card on the back of the prayer card in size 5 script, telling me how they understand this perfectly. I apologize, but you don't. The reason I know that you don't is because Martin Luther—not Martin Luther King Jr., the great civil rights leader of the 20th century, but Martin Luther, the great Christian reformer of 500 years ago—said this about this passage: "A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter meant."

So listen here: If Martin Luther doesn't have a clue, neither do you. He acknowledges that this is a hard one. I appreciate some of my friends who teach the Bible; they come to this passage, shrug their shoulders, and say, "All right, on to the next verse."

But we're not going to do that. I have read numerous commentaries on this passage, and one of the things you find when you read many commentaries is that if you read five, you get ten opinions. That's really how it works with pastors and teachers. There is not a lot of agreement as to what is going on here.

After reading through many commentaries and discussing this passage with some friends I respect over the years, I have come to the conclusion that I do not know with certainty what Peter is saying. To quote dear old Martin Luther, "All that aside," these difficult-to-interpret words answer for us at least three important questions.

Number one: What happens when we die? Number two: What happened when Jesus died on the cross? And number three: What did Jesus do between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Have you ever wondered about that? He dies on the cross, they lay him in a tomb, then what? What is going on during the interim period between the cross and the resurrection?

At the very least, these verses give us some insight into what happens when we die. First, we do not merely sleep or cease to exist. That, for me, is good news. Secondly, what happened when Jesus died? From what we can tell from this passage, he did not go to heaven. He would not go to heaven until after the resurrection and after 40 days on the earth until he ascended to heaven.

Also, he did not lay frozen in the tomb, kind of laying in state, awaiting Sunday to come. Next, he did not cease to exist, as many today claim happens when you die. That is not the case. Jesus did not cease to exist, nor did he go and experience the torments of hell. What he did do is win. That is what this passage declares. Jesus, at his death, was victorious. He won.

So then, the next question is: What did Jesus do or where did he go during the time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Upon his death on the cross, Jesus went as a living spirit somewhere where others were, to whom he proclaimed his victory through the suffering and death of the cross. Now that just opens up a whole Pandora's box of more questions.

Well, where did he go? Where was this somewhere that he went? Who were these individuals that he spoke to? What was the message that he gave? These are good questions, and this is where it gets a little murky. There are three classical interpretations about what is going on here in this passage. This also relates to the passages spoken to us in the book of Jude, in Ephesians chapter four, and a couple of other veiled passages in Scripture.

It seems to tell us that Jesus, after he says, "It is finished" and breathes his last on the cross, was put to death in the flesh but was alive in the spirit. At that moment, when they laid his lifeless body in the tomb, Jesus was still at work. The first view on this is that Jesus, upon his death, descended into a place called Hades and proclaimed to the spirits of those who had died in Old Testament times his victory on the cross. That's one classical view.

Another view is that this has nothing to do with what Jesus did during the time between the crucifixion and the resurrection. Instead, it suggests that Christ, through the Spirit of God, spoke through Noah, whom Peter mentions here, to the people of his day about the coming judgment and about Christ. That's another classical view.

The third classical view is that Jesus descended into the depths of the earth, a place called Hades, and there he proclaimed his victory over the spirits of fallen angels that had committed some sort of unique wickedness during the time of Noah, as recorded in the book of Genesis chapter six.

At this point, if you're confused, I can give you a stack of commentaries that will help you be even more confused. You can go through this and try to figure out what is going on and what is happening. This is why I, along with many others, like Martin Luther, would say that I do not know with certainty what this passage means.

However, here's what I do know for sure, and this is essential: what you believe about these 45 words does not really matter as it relates to your salvation. These are not essential for your salvation. That means you can have an opinion on this, and it probably differs from the opinion of others.

That the person sitting next to you has. You can actually have no opinion about this and say, "I don't know," and that's perfectly fine. But what you can't do is say you have no opinion about the vicarious redemption of Jesus Christ. You cannot say, "I have no opinion about whether or not Jesus' death on the cross matters." It matters because that's essential.

The important point that is taught through these words is point number four on your outline: Christ's suffering brought about victory. Where do I conclude that from? Well, notice that it says that by the Spirit, Jesus also went and preached—maybe not the best translation—that word "preached" to the spirits in prison. The word "preached" there is a word that means to proclaim or to sound, and it's connected with proclaiming victory. It is the shout of victory.

When Jesus was on the cross and cried in agony, "It is finished," when he breathed his last, he declared with victory, "It is finished." Sin, death, and Satan are done, and the victory is won. This means that all the suffering you may experience as an ambassador of Jesus here in this life for the sake of his kingdom is temporary.

Point number five on your outline: Christ's suffering means that our suffering is temporary. His suffering means that our suffering is temporary. Now, I hope that you don't go and watch these videos, but of course, these have been on the internet quite frequently over the last couple of years, where terrorists over in Syria and Iraq post videos of Christians being put to death, burned at the stake, and having their heads cut off—these kinds of twisted and sick things.

We look at that and think of the suffering and the agony that probably none of us will ever experience. Any suffering in this life for the cause of the kingdom of Christ is temporary. When they breathe their last in agony in this life, they wake up in eternity with pure joy. Well, Peter continues.

With the hard sayings, I have two minutes and five seconds to explain. Verse 21 states, "There is also an antitype which now saves us: baptism." Wait, what? If you've been around the Bible or the church for a while, this presents a problem for many. Peter seems to say that baptism saves us.

Let's read it again: "There is also an antitype which now saves us." Just like Noah was saved through the flood, there is an antitype which now saves us. It is not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but an answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels, authorities, and powers having been made subject to Him.

So, the question arises, and it's one that people have brought to me before. They say, "I've been reading through 1 Peter, and I came across this verse that's kind of tough for me." I respond, "Let me stop you there. I think you're probably reading 1 Peter chapter 3, verses 21 and on." They often reply, "Yeah, how'd you know?" I say, "Well, I figured if you're having a hard time with Peter, you're probably struggling with the fact that he seems to say that baptism saves us."

"Yes, I'm having a hard time with that. How do you answer it, pastor? What is he speaking of?"

Well, again, we have to get into the context of the passage. The previous verse speaks about a guy named Noah. We believe that thousands of years ago, there was a global flood through which God judged the earth for their sin, and all of humanity was destroyed by this flood, save for a man named Noah, his wife, their three sons, and their sons' three wives—eight people in total. They were saved on a boat, an ark, that we lovingly and affectionately call Noah's Ark.

Now, you might ask, "Do you believe that?" Yes, we believe that. "Why do you believe that?" Because Jesus preached and taught it, and the Bible records it. We believe that it actually took place.

You might think, "Well, it sounds kind of crazy." Okay, call me crazy; we believe it. However, here’s what we do not believe: we do not believe that there were stone people, or that Noah got all ape on his daughter who was pregnant, and Kurt Russell was not on the ark. We don't believe any of that sort of stuff; it's not in the Bible.

But we do believe that there was a man with his family who was saved through a global flood. Now, here, Peter says that water is symbolic of the same sort of water that we experience in a Christian act called baptism. Baptism is that act, that sacrament, whereby a person who has put their faith in Christ is taken down into the water. They go down under the water, being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and then come up out of the water.

To rise and walk in newness of life, here's what we know is true: that action does not save you. This cannot contradict other passages of Scripture that declare that baptism does not save you by that act. So, what is being said here?

I appreciate the New International Version that renders verse 21 like this: "And this water symbolizes baptism." What water? The water that Noah went through during the flood. 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.

Here's the important point: the baptism experience as a symbol points back to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, which is that which saves us. So then, if there is no resurrection, baptism is worthless. The baptism experience is you being buried with Christ in baptism under the waters, and when you come up, you are symbolizing the resurrection unto a newness of life that He gives through His resurrection on the cross. Baptism merely symbolizes that.

But here's the awesome thing I think about baptism. If you were baptized and have gone down under the water, you realize that it is a temporary, painless, non-fearful experience. And here's the truth that the resurrection of Jesus Christ wins for me and for those who put their faith in Him: death is a temporary, painless, and non-fearful experience. Because Christ died for us, He removes the sting of death and the fear of death. We who once lived in fear of death no longer live in fear of death. Why? Because it is as painless and as temporary and as quick as simply going under the water and coming back up.

One of the things that you learn when you are actually baptized is that it wasn't that big of a deal and didn't hurt so bad. I'm here to tell you that death will be like that for the Christian. That's good news.

And why will it be like that for the Christian? Well, because Jesus has gone, as stated in verse 22, into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. I can prove to you today that death, even in suffering, is painless and temporary and not to be feared. Why? Acts chapter 7 is the story of Stephen, the first martyr of the Christian faith. As he was being stoned...

By men who were taking his life, throwing huge rocks at him, he gazed up into heaven with the face of an angel and said, "I see Christ standing at the throne of God." There was no fear in death, though he suffered agony in life. That is the promise to the Christian, and that is the Gospel. Amen?

Would you stand with me as we close in prayer? Father, we thank you for the good news that is seen through the cross. Because Jesus, you who knew no sin, became sin for us, and you destroyed sin and death there 2,000 years ago that we might know life abundantly and eternally. Lord, help us not to fear death. Help us not to fear suffering in this life, because anything we may suffer in this life is, at the worst, temporary. It is a momentary light affliction which is working for us a far greater and eternal weight of glory.

So God, help us to live with that kind of faith, with no fear, because there is no way that those who don't know you cannot be in awe of that kind of faith. So work it into our lives, we pray.

It may be that as we're standing here today, you would say that you are terribly afraid and terrified of death one day. Suffering is something you do everything you can to try and stay away from because of your fear of that. Christ came to remove all fear of these things and to give us an outlook of faith and hope.

If you would like to receive the free gift of His grace today, to receive forgiveness for your sins because of what Jesus did for you, I want to give you an opportunity to do that. If that's you today and you'd like to receive His forgiving grace, would you just lift up your hand high so I can see it? Anyone here today? God bless you. I see you back here and down here in the front. Anyone else?

If that's you today, would you, where you're at, pray out loud with me? "Dear Jesus, I recognize that I have failed. My life has not lived up to your perfect standard. I need your forgiving grace. Jesus, would you come into my life, forgive me..."

Of my sin, help me to follow You by faith and to turn away from the things that I once held dear. Help me to follow You, Jesus. It's in Your name that I pray. Amen.