The Suffering of Christ and the Subjection of the World to Him
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
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 been subjected to him.
Explanation
Explanation
1 Peter 3:18-19 “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,”
Christ does not suffer eternally for our sins.
If our sin deserves eternal punishment, why doesn’t Christ suffer for our sins eternally?
Because Christ is God.
The eternal God was punished one time for the eternally damnable sin of mankind.
Let’s say you owed a debtor 17 million dollars, and you were paying the debt over time. What if someone stepped up and said, I will pay all of your debt. Do they necessarily have to pay it over time. No. Is the penalty still the same - yes. 17 million dollars.
What did Christ’s suffering accomplish?
Christ’s suffering brings us to God.
Christ’s suffering makes us alive in the Spirit.
When did Christ proclaim to the spirits in prison, and what does that phrase mean?
Martin Luther spent time on this text, and he eventually stated, “I don’t know what this means.”
There are several theories.
Firstly, Augustine (along with many others) believed that this passage is describing Christ’s preaching through Noah to those who lived while Noah was building the ark.
Christ was not present, but His words through the Holy Spirit were.
The people Noah was speaking to was those who did not believe Noah and were enslaved in their sins.
Secondly, some have understood this passage to mean Old Testament saints who died and were liberated by Christ between between his death and resurrection.
Thirdly, others understand the imprisoned spirits were the sinful beings who perished during Noah’s flood. Christ preached to them in the interval between his death and resurrection.
Fourthly, most scholars believe that this text proclaims Christ’s proclamation of victory and judgement over the evil angels.
Either way, it was a defeat of the enemy and a triumph of Christ. Christ said, “I won.”
Jesus told the thief on the cross, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus also said on the cross, “It is finished.”
1 Peter 3:20 “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.”
Jesus proclaimed in His ascension that He had broken the powers of darkness. His proclamation was known by the spirits who were imprisoned. An example of God’s patience in the midst of hard headedness refers to
1 Peter 3:21-22 “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 been subjected to him.”
Application
Application
Conclusion
Conclusion