All scripture is good, it is God breathed. It serves a purpose and we can learn. The more we learn the more we understand like the Apostles. John 12:16 (ESV) "His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him." We don't want to skip the hard stuff, so we are going to go back and look at the section we skipped last week.
1 Peter 3:13-22 (ESV) "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 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, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 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. 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, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having ben subjected to him."
We are going to work backwards through the scriptures.
VS 18-20 "Christ descended and proclaimed..."
What did Martin Luther say about these verses "A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the Testament so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means...I cannot understand and I cannot explain it. And there has been no one who has explained it."
Another commentator wrote... "The exegetical questions basically come down to these:
Where did Christ go?
He preached through Noah in spirit in his day. "Preacher or herald of righteousness". He preached a message of repentance.
When did he go?
He descended to the place of the dead, sheol/hades during the time between death and resurrection. (Thief on the cross and parable of rich man and Lazurus), Apostles Creed "Hell, the dead"
To whom did he speak?
Spirits in prison were unsaved in the day of Noah.
Spirits were fallen angels who rebelled and particularly heinous in days of Noah. (Gen 6)
What did he say?
Proclaimed the gospel in order to offer second chance? No! Hebrew 9:27 (ESV) "And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement," You don't have a chance to repent once your life is over.
Baptism symbolizes Christ's death burial and resurrection
Baptism...a parallel to the flood and Ark. The righteous are saved from judgement
Romans 6:3-4 (ESV) "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
We believe that baptism doesn't actually save you, but it is an example of what has happened in your life. The appeal to God is what saves and the baptism represents that. Jesus' work saves. We don't believe baptism saves because of the thief on the cross and the plethora of Faith alone in scriptures. John 3:16, John 5:24, Romans 3:28, Romans 4:4, Romans 5:1, Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2: 8-9.
Genuine faith produces good work. Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
John 15:5 (ESV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Believers should be baptized
If you are a believer in Jesus Christ you need to be baptized. Baptism is closely tied to salvation and clearly commanded. This whole section is illustrating that Christ suffered, follow his example and Christ's suffering brought about victory.
Don't fear wicked men
1 Peter 3:13-17 (ESV) "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."
Who is there to harm you for doing good? Not God. Wicked people crucified Jesus, who died for wicked people. Ironic! But look what they accomplished. Everything! You too might suffer at the hands of evil men (vs. 14) and if you do you are blessed. Because God chose you, he's refining you, he sees you and will greatly reward you.
We are not to fear their intimidation. Do not let wicked men knock you off the course Christ has set you on. Do not let them dictate how you live, think, worship and serve. Fear of wicked men and their schemes is not from God.
Joshua 1:9 (ESV) "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
2 Timothy 1:7 (ESV) "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."
Romans 8:31 (ESV) "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Matthew 10:26-28 (ESV) "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Peter seems to be quoting Isaiah 8:12 (How Judah should prepare for Assyrian invasion.) Fear God more than the Assyrians. We ought to be different as believers. No panic, no despair. Easier said than done.
vs 15, but instead in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy. Submit to him. Set your hearts to his service. When you do you look different. When given the platform share the truth.
Always be prepared to give a reason for your hope
Our youth are learning (training) how to give a defense of what they believe called apologetics. We should not just say "because the bible tells me so". The bible stands alone through prophecy, historical, accuracies, testimony of apostles. It is good to know things like the argument for the existence of God.
Cosmological argument-uncaused first cause.
Teleological argument-complexity, design, purpose in nature.
Ontological argument
Moral argument-objective morality exists. That requires a transcendent foundation. God. When an Atheist makes moral claim say..."By what standard?"
You don't know everything, but you do have to know something so that you can be able to vocalize why we have the hope that we do. God reveals himself to us. He gives you what you need. Spend time with God, read, pray.
Matthew 10:19-20 (ESV) "When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
When you spend time with God, in his word, in prayer, he has a way of speaking to you and through you.
Be gentle and respectful
You are not going to argue anyone into the kingdom. How we speak and conduct ourselves matters. It is not just the content. The way you present something (with love/graciousness) will make a greater impact.
Matthew 5:43-44 (ESV) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
We have to love those who hate us.
Best witnessing comes with a good conscience
Our practices ought to match our preaching.
Repent...live pure....peaceable....humble....loving....hospitable
Psalms 34:1-3 "I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boasts in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!"
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