1 Peter 3:18-22

 Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  BLESSED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD!!!

  Wowsers!!  If you want to study something that is really deep and difficult to understand check out these verses - 1 Peter 3:18-22.  Let's look at the verses and if you have any interpretations I would appreciate hearing from you.

  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

  In this the first word "for" actually means "because" Christ also suffered - and who did he suffer for?  The righteous AND unrighteous. Why?  To bring them, you, me, to GOD.  What happened? Christ was crucified, died, and resurrected.  He was made alive in the Spirit.

   Now realize we have 2 things here:  Christ came in the flesh as man, upon his death the Spirit came and he was resurrected and alive again 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, 

  Now this verse is a very complicated verse.  Some authors or "experts" say: a) he went to announce to God's faithful followers who had been waiting for their salvation during the whole Old Testament era. 

  b) Some think that this passage says that Christ's Spirit was in Noah as Noah preached to those imprisoned by sin but now in hell. 

  c) And yet others say that Christ went to Hades (Hell) to proclaim his victory and final condemnation to the fallen angels imprisoned there since Noah's day.

  Whatever the case is, the Good News is that Christ's salvation and victory over death and evil is not limited.   Here is the rest of the scriptures:   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.[b] 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.

  Here are 3 things we are certain of from these scriptures: 1) God speaks; 2) God triumphs; 3) God saves.  The above passages tells us this much.

  In verse 21 Peter says that Noah's salvation from the flood symbolizes baptism, a ceremony with water which we still observe today.  However, be careful in thinking that one is not saved until they are baptized.  In Romans 10: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

  Thank you for reading.  If you understand this text or have comments please share. Love you all.

In Christ's Love and Grace

Johnny