I. Our Relationship to God. 1: 1-2:10
II. Our Relationship to the World. 2:11-4-6
A. We are citizens. 2:11-17
B. We are servants. 2: 18-25
C. We love our Spouses. 3: 1-7
D. We are Peacemakers. 3: 8-12
E. We are Revolutionaries. 3: 13-16.
F. We are Sufferers. 3:17-4:6
III. Our Relationship to the Church. 4:7-5:11
I We are Sufferers. 3:17-4:6
A. God's rule of Suffering: "For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong?" 3:17
1. Suffering for evil is worse because it:
a. Disgraces the cause of Christ. 1st Peter 4:15-17.
b. Influences others to do evil.
c. Justifies the enemies of Christ in their opposition to the truth.
d. Is deserved and therefore is not commendable.
2. Suffering for righteousness is better because it:
a. Proves one's love for Christ. 1st Peter 4:12
b. Glorifies and pleases God. 1st Peter 4:16
c. Produces Christian growth. Heb. 12:10-11
d. Vindicates the cause of Christ. 1st Peter 2:15
e. Is more likely to convert the persecutors or observers. 1st Peter 2:12.
f. Is rewarded in heaven. Matt. 5:10-12.
B. Christ's example of suffering:
1. "for Christ also died for sins once for all, the just and the unjust" 1st Peter 3:18.
a. Christ died for our sins and not His own. 1st Cor. 15:3
b. Christ was the only "just" man who ever died. 1st Peter 2: 22-24.
2. Christ's Substitutionary Suffering: "the just for the unjust."
a. Example of Judah's willingness to be made a prisoner in the place of his brother, Benjamin. Gen. 44:31-34.
b. A righteous man dying for a wicked man. Rom. 5: 6-8; Matt. 20:28; 2nd Cor. 5:21.
c. Christ's unselfish suffering: "in order that he might bring us to God." The ministry of reconciliation. 2nd Cor. 5: 19-21; Eph. 2:14-16, unselfish love.
3. Christ's reward for suffering for righteousness: 1st Peter 3:18
a. Blessed in Paradise: "having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit." Jesus comforted in Paradise. Lk. 23:43.
b. Blessed in Heaven: "having been put to death by the flesh, but made alive by the spirit." (the dative case in Greek may be locative or instrumental, depending on the context; the preposition "en" in verse 19 ("in which" NAS) may also be translated "by which" KJV). Thus the resurrection by power of the Holy Spirit could be indicated as in Rom. 1:3-4 and the subsequent exaltation mentioned in 1st Peter 3:22 and in Phil. 2:8-11.
C. ANTE-DILUVIANS' CONTRAST TO SUFFERING. 1st Peter 3:19-20.
1. Preaching of Christ: "in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison."
a. "In the spirit" --while in the spirit rather than His fleshly form *Between death and the Resurrection: He was in the spirit form but many object to this teaching.
(1) Why preach only to the antediluvians? Why not preach to all of the wicked dead? They were all in Hades at this time.
(2) What Preached? 1st Peter 4:6 says the gospel was preached to the dead, but the verse proves it was while the dead were alive. Read it. Can't preach salvation, it was to late. Heb. 9:27; 2nd Cor. 5:10.(3) How does this idea fit the context of 1st Peter 3;17 and 4:5-6? Christ's preaching of salvation would contradict the principle that it is better suffer for righteousness rather than evil?
*Before His Fleshly existence (Jn. 8:58; 17:5; 1:1-3; Phil. 2: 6-7). This is probably the correct interpretation.
(1) The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets of the OT, 1st Peter 1:11; therefore he was in Noah when he preached. 2nd Peter 2:5.
(2) Christ preaches through his representatives. Eph. 2:17
(3) The text says when Christ preached: when the Antediluvians were "disobedient" to His message when God's patience waited in the days of Noah.
(4) Since they rejected Christ's preaching through Noah and refused to suffer for righteousness, they afterwards suffered for having done what was evil rather than good and thus they fit the context of the main point being illustrated. 1st Peter 3:17
(5) This idea fits 1st Peter 4:6 where "the gospel" is preached to the dead, because Noah preached "righteousness." 2nd Peter 2:5) giving the Antediluvians an opportunity to repent and be saved; this was good news (the gospel), but they rejected it and suffered for evil.
b. "by the Spirit" --if "by the Spirit" is meant rather than "in the spirit" Christ also preached to the antediluvians through the Holy Spirit which was also in the prophets of the OT. 2 Peter 1:20-21 also see Gen. 6:3.
2. Disobedience of Antediluvians: "who once were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah."
a. Disobedient to what? The only thing mentioned in context is the preaching that Christ did. But, it was through Noah
because it was when they were disobedient. 2nd Peter 2:5)
b. Disobedient when? "when the patience (long suffering) of God kept waiting in the days of Noah", during the construction of the ark. Noah preached while building the ark for 120 years. Gen. 6:3. This shows when Christ preached and when they were disobedient and refused to repent and turn to righteousness. 2nd Peter 2:5.
3. Punishment of the Antediluvians. "spirits now in prison" 1st Peter 3:19.
a. Punishment in the Flood: suffered because of evil. Gen.6:5-6.
b. Punishment in hades" "spirits now in prison when Peter writes; but were n the flesh when Christ preached to them. Isa. 24:22; 2nd Peter. 2:4-9.
c. Punishment in hell and the final judgment: 2nd Peter 2:4-9; Heb. 9:27.
d. Thus Peter's point is proved: it is worse to suffer for evil; it is better to suffer for righteousness.
4. SALVATION OF NOAH
a. Noah's suffering for righteousness.
* His message was rejected.
* Ridicule of his construction project.
* Living in an evil environment.
b. Noah's faith and obedience. Heb. 11:7
c. Noah's salvation by floating on top of the water. Heb. 11:7.
5. Point proved: It is still better to suffer for righteousness.
D. The Christian Salvation Through Suffering. 1st Peter 3:21-4:6.
a. Noah was saved by floating on top of the water and we are saved by going under the water.
*saved by grace - Gen. 6:8
*saved by faith - Heb. 11:7
*saved by water - 1st Peter 3:21; Mark 16:16 and Acts 22:16
Water destroyed sin in days of Noah and God destroys sin in baptism. Rom. 6:3-4.
Water washed away sin in days of Noah and water washes away our sin at baptism. Acts 22:16
b. How Baptism Saves
* It is not an exterior washing. Not washing dirt from body.
* It is an interior washing. It makes the conscience clean. "an appeal to a clear conscience."
* Appeal: eperotema. ---"an inquiry, a question, a demand, earnest seeking."
E. The Christian's Salvation through suffering. 1st Peter 3:20-4:6
1. Salvation from future Suffering through baptism.
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How Water Saved Noah NAS - "the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons were brought to safety through water." NIV,ASV -"were saved through water."
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How Baptism Saves Christians NAS "And corresponding to that baptism now saves you---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal for a clear conscience to God."PETER |
Water Saved Noah as a Model of how water Saves Christians.
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Noah's salvation through water is a type (tupos) of the Christian salvation through water. |
Baptism is an anti type (antitupos of the flood. That is "against the type or backwards. Noah was saved by floating on top of water and we are saved by going under the water. |
2. Water Saves only when Faith is expressed in God's ark of safety.
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Noah was saved through the water only because he was in the ark. Noah's faith in God moved him to build and enter the ark which enabled the waters to lift it to safety and destroy the sinners left behind. |
Christians are saved through baptism because they place their faith in that which baptism symbolizes (the death, burial and resurrection of Christ). Baptism saves because it places one in Christ, our ark of safety. Thus, baptism saves us through the resurrection of Christ. |
3. Water Saves only the Few who enter the Ark of Safety.
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Water became a sign of destruction for the many who disbelieved and refused to enter the ark. Water raised up to salvation only 8 who believed and obeyed. |
Baptism saves only those who believe and obey the gospel, trusting and entering the ark of safety. Jesus aid few would enter the narrow gate o baptism and be saved. (Matt. 7:13-14 and Acts 2:38ff. |
4. Water saves as the Medium Through Which God's Saving Power Is Manifested.
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Noah was not saved by staying out of the water: he was completely immersed in the midst of water. |
The word "baptism" is a transliteration. It is actually the word "immersed" when translated. Christians are saved by immersion. |
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Water of the flood buried sinful man and his sinful works. |
Water of baptism buries us into the death of Christ and sin is crucified (Rom. 6:3-4; Col. 2:11-12). |
6. Water saves by washing Away sin.
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Water of the flood washed away the sinful deeds of a wicked world. Gen. 7:23 |
Water of baptism washes away our sin. Acts 22:16 |
7. Water saves by Separating the old life from the new.
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Water of the flood separated Noah from his old life and brought him into a new life. |
Water of baptism destroys the old man of sin and raises a new man. Rom. 6:3-4 |
8. Water saves by Bringing Man into a New Covenant Relationship with God
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Water of the flood destroyed the old covenant God had with the world and brought Noah into a new covenant relationship with God. Gen. 8:13-9:17 |
In water of baptism man dies to the law of sin and death and comes under the law of the spirit of life in Christ. Rom. 6:1-7 |
9. Water Saves by Transferring From the Old World to the New.
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Water of the flood transferred Noah from a world of sin into a world of righteousness. |
Water of baptism transfer men from the kingdom of Satan and sin into the kingdom and body of Christ. 1st Cor. 12:13 and Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:5-6. |
B. Explanation of How Baptism Saves From Future Suffering. 1st Peter 3:21.
(1) Baptism does not save by external cleaning: "not the removal of dirt from the flesh."
(2) Baptism saves by an internal cleaning. An appeal for a clear conscience.
C. Salvation from Future suffering is Conditional on Submission to Present Suffering. 1st Peter 4: 1-6a. Arming with the mind of Jesus to Suffer 1st Peter 4:1a
1.hoplisasthe - aorist imperative - a command to take up arms for Christ. Our weapons are not carnal but spiritual. 2nd Cor. 10:4.
2. Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered. Heb. 5:8
3. All the followers of Christ have been called to suffer as their master suffered. Phil. 1:29
b. He who suffers death in the flesh ceases from sin. 1st Peter 4: 1b.
1. When we die our days of sin are over with.
2. But the old man of sin died with Jesus at baptism, therefore, the Christian is already dead to sin.
3. Christians ought to arm themselves with this mind.
4. Even though a Christian continues to sin, the blood of Jesus washes us clean. 1st John 1:7.
c. He who died to sin in baptism should now live to the Lord instead of lust. 1st Peter 4: 2-3.
d. Inevitable suffering of those who cease from sin. "in this they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation and they malign you." 1st Peter 4:4
e. Same subject is continued in 4:6 ff.
by Lane