INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
• A couple of weeks ago we started to look at the basic issue that sometimes life is not fair.
• We see it all around us; it is something that gets us angry at times.
• How we deal with unjust suffering says a lot about us, it says a lot about how our faith impacts our life.
• Dealing with life’s injustices is no fun, it is not something that any of us look forward to, but it is a reality of life.
• As we consider Jesus, we see that life was not fair to Him either, but what did He do about it?
• He could have done anything He wanted to do about it, but instead, Jesus endured His unfair treatment, His suffering because it lead to a greater good, the opportunity for salvation for mankind.
• Today I want us to look at the impact of Jesus; willingness to endure the unjust suffering that was dealt to Him.
• My hope is that by looking at the benefits and impact of Jesus’ suffering that when we are faced with suffering for doing good, we will not lose heart or deal with the situation in a way that brings dishonor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
• Let us turn to 1 Peter 3:18-22 together. We will begin with verse 18.
• SLIDE #2
• 1 Peter 3:18(ESV) 18For 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,
• As we open with our text this morning we see first of all…
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. Jesus’ suffering was not pointless.
• So many times it looks like the suffering we face is pointless, but that is not so with Jesus.
• Jesus suffered for us! He suffered no because of His sins, but rather because of ours!
• The term “for sins” was a regular term used in the LXX (Greek translation of OT) to denote a “sin offering”.
• This gives emphasis to the atoning nature of Jesus’ death! He died a sin offering to God!
• Jesus died for EVERYONE so therefore EVERYONE can benefit from Jesus enduring the suffering.
• When Christians suffer for doing what is right there are times when our patiently enduring the suffering can open up doors of service for us also.
• In the Old Testament the Priest made sacrifices all the time with the blood of goats and bulls to help set aside the sins of the people, Jesus was the FINAL sacrifice for sin.
• SLIDE #4
• Hebrews 9:11-12(ESV) 11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,£ then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
• You were worth it to God for Him to allow His Son to suffer for you!
• When Jesus suffered and was in the tomb it looked like victory for Satan, but Jesus did not stay down for the count!
• When it looked like Satan had won, Jesus rose from the dead insuring us the opportunity to be able to become a part of God’s family.
• The word in verse 18 “bring” is a word used of the official who would decide who would have access to the king and who would not get access. Jesus is our access to God. Jesus is the one who allows us to be with God.
• Jesus died so we could be brought close to God. Jesus took our sins and offers cleansing to all who will come to Him.
• 18For 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
• As you look at the end of verse 18 you will notice that it says he was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.
• Jesus suffered physical death and in doing so His spirit was released from the limitations it had while in the body. His spirit was energized!
• Luke 23:46 back this thought
• SLIDE #5
• Luke 23:46(ESV) 46Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
• Does all that seem pointless to you? It did not seem so to God!
• Jesus knew all along why He was here and what He was going to do.
• SLIDE #6
• Mark 10:45(ESV) 45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
• The last part of verse 18 tells us that Jesus did this so that He might bring us to God! This leads in into verses 19-20
• SLIDE #7
• 1 Peter 3:19-20(ESV) 19in which£ he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20because£ 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.
• SLIDE #8
II. Jesus’ suffering opened the door to heaven!
• Jesus opened the door for the saints of old first!
• When Jesus was put to death in the flesh, His Spirit was energized and He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison who were once disobedient during the days of Noah.
• To understand what He did we need to understand a couple of things.
• Where He went. Before the resurrection, the souls of the dead went to Hades. In Hades there is two compartments, paradise and Hades. It is like a house with 2 rooms separated a great gulf (Luke 16:23-26 Rich man and Lazarus).
• The souls of the righteous would go to paradise and the evil to Hades. When Jesus told the thief on the cross today “today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43.
• Jesus, after His death descended into Hades to proclaim God’s plan of salvation is complete and to release the saints to be with Him in Heaven until judgment. The lost will continue to be locked in Hades until judgment.
• What did He say? The word “proclamation” denotes an official announcement, a proclamation made by a representative of a government.
• Jesus most likely did not preach a gospel sermon, because the fate of those in Hades and paradise was already sealed, He most likely proclaimed release for the righteous and letting the lost know they would receive their just penalty.
• The flood was given by god to cleanse the world of sin and creation in a sense (Genesis 6:5-6), God provided a way to be saved from the flood, it was Noah and the ark.
• Noah preached for 120 years while he was building the ark and during that fruitful ministry only 8 people were saved, HIS FAMILY!
• Peter most likely picked the generation of Noah because of the tie in with baptism and its’ meaning and power in the next verse.
• were brought safely through water
• This phrase means to preserve though danger, to keep safe, to keep them from perishing and or to rescue.
• Those in the ark were saved from impending death by the flood through the ark. Which leads us to verse 21.
• SLIDE #9
• 1 Peter 3:21(ESV) 21Baptism, 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,
• SLIDE #10
III. Jesus’ suffering gives power to baptism.
• This is important because baptism is PART of what one is called to do in order to become a part of God’s family.
• Baptism is the place where the blood of the covenant is applied to us. Without blood there is no covenant, without our covenant with God, we are not yet a part of His family.
• Peter tells is that during the days of Noah, eight people were saved. Peter is comparing the waters of baptism as the line of demarcation or separation between the lost and the saved.
• In verse 21 the phrase “corresponding to that” speaks of the water in the days of Noah and the waters of baptism. The grammatical construction of the sentence backs this up.
• This is not a matter of me feeling saved without baptism, it is a matter of a proper reading of the Word of God. God’s Word says what is says.
• Before immersion, we are outside of Christ, when a person is repentant and submits to baptism, they are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God.
• The word translated baptism in this verse has an ending that makes the word emphasize not the act of dipping, but the significance or result of the action.
• We are told that baptism is not a removal of dirt, but an appeal to God for a good conscience. The word “appeal” is a technical term that was used as a stipulation in a contract that needed to be accepted before the contract was validated. Once all the stipulations were accepted or the appeals fulfilled, the contract would be validated.
• When we are immersed into Christ, we can stand before God with a clear conscience, knowing are sins are washed away!
• It is the suffering and the subsequent death burial and resurrection of Jesus that gives baptism its’ power and meaning.
• Let’s finish with verse 22.
• SLIDE #11
• 1 Peter 3:22(ESV) 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
• SLIDE #12
IV. Jesus’ suffering led to greater things for Him.
• Suffering can lead to greater areas of service; even in death Jesus did things for us!
• Jesus is at the right hand of God and is making intersession on our behalf.
• All authority is subjected to Him, Jesus is in charge.
• Jesus is doing great things for us right at this very moment! All because He was willing to enduring suffering for doing good!
CONCLUSIONThere are times when we will suffer for doing good. We must not lose heart; we must press on and continue to do what God calls us to do. The world is watching how we deal with adversity.
Is our faith only strong when things are going well or will it withstand tough times also?
We need to always understand that no matter what, God is in control!
