Peter has been teaching us to rest in our Living Hope Jesus Christ seated in heaven. That we have been born again and are secure in the life we have in Christ Jesus. In Chapter 3 he has been saying that We may suffer for righteousness’ sake “it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will than for doing evil.” Se we are called to live as a family of God, brothers and sisters. Christ will be the Lord of our lives, the Lord our loves, and the anchor of the big picture living Hope that we are both body and soul, and that though we might suffer trials on earth for following Christ he will bring us all the way home.

Today we will see that the suffering of Jesus on the cross takes away our sin. And the humility of Jesus gave way as our resurrected Lord to glory. And a glorious proclamation that Jesus is our Lord and our God. The Holy Spirit will be held up as the one who empowers the proclamation of Jesus’ life and victory as well as the proclamation that instead of Judgement our lives can be hidden in Christ. If we are brought to God by the Holy Spirit and united to Christ we will be made alive by the Spirit no less than Jesus is.

Read 1 Peter 3:18-22 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. (ESV)

Again Pastor Doriani reminds us, The passage is a cousin of 1 Peter 2:18-25. Both present Jesus as the supreme example of the innocent man who endures mistreatment. In 1 Peter 2, Jesus suffers injustice and entrusts himself to God. In 1 Peter 3, Jesus suffers for doing good and experiences God's vindication. In each passage, Jesus both illustrates and empowers righteous action. Yet whereas 1 Peter 2 accents Jesus' sacrifice, 1Peter 3 calls attention to his resurrection, exaltation, and power over all (3:21-22), (Doriani, 147).

#1 Clear: Jesus’ Suffering and Vindication (v.18, 22)

#2 Unclear Passages and What to do with them: 3 Views of our passage (19-21)

#3 Its Going to be Ok: Jesus Saves Sinners. Jesus Wins. (18, 21, 22).

#1 Clear: Jesus’ suffering and vindication

[18] For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God

[[22] who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God [he has obeyed], with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (ESV)

‘Jesus suffered – to save us from our sins, reconcile us to God (bring us to God). He was put to death but did not stay dead because God the Father resurrected him as he promised to and Jesus had predicted. And he has finished his work. He has sat down. Ceased from work. Sitting down means its done. (Such as a father when the recliner is sat in…except for earthly father’s sometimes its not actually done.). But for the regal king of the universe when he sits. Its done.

[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 [S]pirit,

#2 Peter is going to give an Example – and there is a lot of interpretations of it. So we move to #2 Unclear passages and what to do with them: 3 Views of our passage

We can be greatly disturbed if we don’t understand every word. Everything the bible says, but a few considerations.

The bible has great clarity as we just saw with who Jesus is, what he accomplished. If you look at the core statements of belief the apostles creed, and great protestant confessions we agree on huge and primary beliefs.

And often even beyond that important are precious distinctive insights of protestant and reformational theology that may be agreed on…

But even then we may agree on a scriptural truth and yet differ on which exact passages teach that truth.

Often God blesses us with a truth clearly stated in 2 or three scriptures.

So so when you come come to a confusing passage you can rely on the clear as guardrails on the unclear. Think of bowling with the guardrails up. We have the clear passages of scripture on the one side. We have our confessional creeds and standards on the others side. And 1 Peter do is a 7 10 split. Its ok, bowl you may miss both pins, get one, but you will be guarded from ending up in the gutters of heresies.

So for this passage you have at least 2 perfectly acceptable interpretations. Each of which agrees with other clear areas of Scripture.

But there is one interpretation that includes teaching on purgatory and second chances after death. Which takes roman catholic tradition and uses an unclear passage as a passage to not get the teaching but as the mold to press a human tradition pressed unnaturally into a scripture passage.

This is saying, We have a belief, even a false belief and we’ll find a scripture verse we can make say that.

No. Let clear scripture be the guide for unclear scriptures.

WCF 1.9 The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not many, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.”

Its ok to not know for certain what an individual passage means. But it does a single meaning. Many applications and was given for our good.

Even Peter says of Paul’s letters, 2 Peter 3:16 - There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

Ha. Really Peter.

The unstable use this passage to teach. Purgatory/Second Chance after death. And Baptism as what saves us. Both are false from clear places in scripture and this passage itself.

Dan Doriani encourages us “If we read the passage in context and hold to the essentials of the faith we will at least avoid major error.” – Doriani, 147.

Three options #1 Christ descended to Hades to preach to the dead (suggesting a second chance). #2 Christ through the Holy Spirit, proclaimed in Noah’s day to the disobedient and the Lord preserved his people through a type of “baptism” in the Ark. #3 Christ resurrection was proclaimed triumphantly to fallen angels/demons/spirits in prison.

View #1 Christ descended to Hades to preach to the dead (traditional patristic reading, but problematic in Reformed theology if taken as a postmortem offer of repentance).

The passage does not say Jesus descended. – It mentions proclaiming in the days of Noah, it mentions his ascension to Heaven. So to whomever Jesus spoke it was either in time Proclamation of Judgement and need for Repentance in the Days of Noah. OR A Proclamation of his victory from Heaven.

The word for prison phulake – is not Hades, Gehenna so not hell or purgatory meaning.

Its orthodox if this is just a proclamation of victory by Jesus.

This isn’t a second chance, this isn’t purgatory. Luke 16, indicates a finality to the death of the reach man “a great chasm has been fixed. No second chances. He will be judged on the last day as Heb. 9:27 says, “It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (No mention of probation, paying of sins by saints…two things here).

Unbelievers do not get second chances. Believers do not have remaining sin to pay for or righteousness to gain why? The full final work of Christ. Double imputation. I have no more to pay because Jesus paid it fully on the cross. I have no lack in righteousness because Rom. 3:22-24 Romans 3:22–24 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (ESV)

Purgatory is an invention of those who believe our works save us it just might take a few thousand years for us to do it. No. It is Done. It is accomplished by Jesus.

Heb. 10:14 “By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Rom. 8:1 there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

The question is are you in Christ Jesus?

So Jesus is not preaching second chances, he is not in purgatory, he is not preaching

2 Cor. 6:2 NOW, is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

View #2 Christ, through the Spirit, proclaimed in Noah’s day to the disobedient (the most common Reformed interpretation, following Augustine and Calvin).

This view observes that the end of v. 18 and beginning of v. 19 that the word spirit can be capital S or lowercase s

So either made Alive in. his human spirit or alive by the Power of the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit.

Either works with Greek grammer. And you should have a footnote.

This would change the words

This means v. 19 can be translated as “In Which” he went or By Whom – In which would mean Jesus’ resurrected body.

The word Spirit as the capital Holy Spirit is the NKJV translation. And also the KJV capitalizes Spirit).

So Grammar allows for either interpretation?

SO what are we to do? Use Context.

Such as 1 Peter 1:10–11 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, [11] inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. (ESV)

So already Peter has said in Old Testament times “the Spirit of Christ … the Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets,” and Peter says in, 2 Pet. 2:5 that Noah was a “herald of righteousness.”

Futher, Hebrews 11:7 says, [7] By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

So humans lost in sin need a herald like Noah to call them to repentance. Which Jesus truly did by the Holy Spirit. But in this suffering, proclamation only Noah’s family was saved.

So we can see Peter telling us, you suffer for righteousness sake, set Jesus apart in your heart and proclaim Jesus to the world like Noah did. Don’t worry God will save you.

Why is Peter doing any of this? He wants us to see the riches of grace and our great deliverance by God through the sufferings and resurrection of Jesus. And he wants us to see how it connects.

To paraphrase Christ died, but was raised by the Holy Spirit. (We’ve been talking about witnesses to Christ as a righteous sufferer this reminds me that By that same Holy Spirit, Christ preached through Noah to the disobedient of his generation.

Noah’s family, a tiny persecuted minority like you exiles, were saved through water while the ungodly perished.

Baptism corresponds to this as a sign: it is not outward washing, but a Spirit-wrought appeal to God for a good conscience, uniting us to Christ’s resurrection.

The emphasis is of this view is on covenantal continuity between the suffering and perseverance of the Old testament people, Jesus, and us, Why? Christ has always been proclaiming his Word by the Spirit, and baptism is a sign of the work of God to save us through Christ Jesus. There are rescues by arks, there are rescues by Christ and baptism is that sign.

What about us: Just as Noah’s small family endured in faith and was vindicated, so too the church under persecution can endure, knowing baptism testifies that they belong to Christ and will be brought safely through final judgment.

All these things are true. And we don’t need These verses to know this….BUT maybe the S in Spirit should be lowercase and maybe it is not by whom but by which.

And Peter is saying…

View #3 Christ’s resurrection was proclaimed triumphantly after his resurrection to fallen angels/demonic spirits.

Christ suffered and died in his human flesh, but was made alive in his spirit, his resurrection.

In that risen state he proclaims victory to the “spirits in prison” and many believe this means hostile angelic powers).

Spirits plural usually does not refer to humans which would be souls such as in Revelation which mentions the human souls under the alter.

Imprisoned does not mean Jesus has to travel anywhere rather than make the proclamation to the bound and imprisoned fallen angels.

Matt. 12:28-29 – if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you…or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry of his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man?

Jesus has proclaimed his victory. Satan is bound in some manner that he was not before the cross of Christ.

We know from Jesus’ conversation with the thief on the cross that he ascended to Paradise for this proclamation (Luke 24:34, 46).

And the Holy Spirit is part of the resurrection power and proclamation of victory.

So then why the Noah Analogy?

Just as Noah and his family were saved through water when judgment fell, so believers are saved through baptism into Christ’s resurrection life and victory.

Baptism “now saves you..Not water on the skin but… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (v. 21).

This reminds us less of the work of the Holy Spirit but of Baptism pointing to our union with the risen Christ.

And with this view we can say isn’t a theme of Peter’s already been in chapter one about our living hope in the resurrected Jesus?

So how does this apply to you? In this reading.

Suffering Christians can be assured that the Christ who triumphed over all hostile powers will likewise bring them safely through judgment into resurrection life. Baptism is God’s seal of that promise.

Peter says in 1 Peter, There are some things in paul’s writings that are hard to understand…But we conform ourselves to the whole teaching of scripture. And it is beautiful that even if we are unsure that we know that Jesus wins. And in fact that either of these second two views have teachings that are clearly scriptural.

For my Part I think Peter means that Jesus was resurrected by the Power of the Holy Spirit. And by this same Holy Spirit he preached in the days of Noah and those who ignored this preaching are imprisoned in judgement after having died in the flood…

Look in v. 1 One caution, a final twisting of scripture that can happen is taking this little phrase “baptism which now saves you” and stopping reading….If you are confused in your bible often the answer is keep reading. And then re-read carefully.

1 Peter 3 v. 21. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you,… not as a removal of dirt from the body [not the ceremony] but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, [right faith in Christ] 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. (ESV)

The flood was an old covenant example of being saved by God’s sheer grace. And Noah as a representative head included his whole household in this this picture. Remember Heb. 11:7 , in reverent fear [Noah] constructed an ark for the saving of his household

So you have a large scale examples like the Flood and Ark, Exodus and Israel through the red see. You also have covenant signs like Circumcision. And Baptism.

Baptism is a water example …But the water and sign, which might symbolize cleansing by the removal of dirt doesn’t save you. According to vs. 21 if we keep reading what actually saves you?

What does save you is an appeal to God

What is a good conscience? The one who has repented of sin and looked to Jesus for salvation.

God has accepted the death of Jesus and sealed it with his approval by the resurrection

V. 22 is saying that Jesus has gone before us making the way as our living hope seated in heaven. He becomes the fore-runner, the prototype, the one who is able to “sit down” showing it is “Finished” it is down.

Now all spiritual authority is Christ’s. Satan has been defeated. The Kingdom of God has been purchased, and we are being brought into it.

If like Noah, we entrust our salvation by faith to Jesus, we will be brought through the flood of judgement.

Therefore, baptism is placing us under the sign of judgment trusting God to bring us through the judgement safely by his sheer mercy because we are united to Jesus by faith and are a part of his covenant people.

We see this sign of needing to individually trust in God being applied to the covenant community in

As we said to Noah and his household.

To Israel as a community in Exodus with the Red Sea Crossing (1 Cor. 10:1-2 “For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”).

Circumcision is a sign of this as well (Abraham believed God and received the sign of the covenant, and it was placed on the covenant community as a sign) But Isaac, Jacob, and all the children needed to exercise individual faith. and this sign becomes baptism in the New Testament. Which Col. 2:11-12 teaches.

So does Baptism save? No. It is a sign of salvation, not the washing of water but faith in Christ.

Because #3 Jesus Saves Sinners. Jesus Won.

[18] For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God,

Verse [22] Jesus has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God [he has obeyed], with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (ESV)

Jesus Saves Sinners by his work on the cross, by the work of the Holy Spirit in Proclamation and Application of Jesus’ work. The Reality of the sign of baptism not just the symbol.

What is the reality? Regneration being, re-alived-again. Before the work of the Holy Spirit you were dead in your sins. Sin spiritually kills the human heart and our fellowship with God. To be united to Christ we needed to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. We needed to be born again.

If you have not repented of all the wrongs, the sin, the shames if your life then today, You need a cleansed heart and forgiveness of sin you need the finished work of Christ and him seated in heaven.

Titus 3:4–7 [4] But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, [5] he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, [6] whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, [7] so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (ESV)

You must appeal to a loving heavenly Father of perfect Justice against sin by appealing to the finished work of Christ.

Then resting in Christ by faith We can be certain it is finished.

In the coming weeks Peter will continue in Chapter 4 by saying, saved sons and daughter of God, let’s get to copying how Jesus lived his humble life on earth before the glory of Heaven, the glory of sitting in victory.

God will raise and vindicate us. It will be by the power of the Holy Spirit. And we will bear the signs of a covenant community, brothers and sisters in Christ. Baptized. Eating the Lord’s Supper together.

Peter likes to circles back again to how these truths of our salvation and the work of the Spirit transform how we suffer and interact with the world. He is shuffling a deck of cards (gospel left hand), (transformed lives by the HS, right hand). The best way to live a joyful life of transforming grace.Prayer |Benediction

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