Lesson 18

The Blessing That Follows Injustice

I Peter 3:18-4:2

You may have been wondering what happened to our preaching journey through I Peter. Well we took a hiatus, a vacation from Peter and spent it dealing with some other themes.

We return today and pick things up in 3:18. I've had a lot of time to study and to think about this passage. I've needed a lot of time because this is considered one of the thorniest passages in the Bible to interpret. In fact, the Criswell Study Bible notes that there have been more than 90 variations of interpretations on this passage since the 2nd century!

There are two or three particularly difficult phrases in this passage. But before we deal with the individual phrases, let's set the context - let's take a step backwards and get the big picture.

3:18-4:2 is really part of a section that starts in 3:13 and goes through 4:6. It is a section about suffering unjustly, v. 17. This epistle was written to Christians who were on the front edge of persecution and Peter want to encourage them to maintain the right attitudes, Christ honoring, righteous attitudes when the suffering comes. Persecution always involves suffering unjustly and so that is what Peter is writing about here. He wants his readers to know that when you suffering for doing what is right blessings will follow. And the one who illustrates that truth the very best is, of course, Jesus Christ!

Think about it! Did Jesus suffer? Did He suffer unjustly? Did good things result from Christ's suffering injustice?

That is exactly what this section of scripture is all about. Jesus, then, is the focal poing of this passage. In fact, the whole gospel is expressed here in about 5 verses.

Verse 18 speaks of the suffering and death of Jesus on the cross and tells us why Christ died on the cross - because of sin, becoming our substitute and bringing us salvation. This is the gospel in one verse. It tells us that Christ's death has solved the sin problem. The One who was just died for the many who were unjust.

It is Christ who brings us to God. He gives us immediate and permanent access to the Father. So the next time you wonder if unjust suffering can ultimately bring blessing, remember the cross!

Verse 21 makes reference to the resurrection of Christ. So verses 19-20, take place between the death and resurrection.

Verse 22 speaks of Christ's ascension into heaven and tells us what Christ is doing today. Christ is seated at the right hand of God, at the place of highest authority. There He sits and makes intercession for us, as He is moved by our needs and infirmities, Hebrews 7:25; 4:14-16. There He acts as our Advocate, I John 2:2. There He rules all. Christ, then, is the central theme of this passage.

Chapter 4:1 summarizes the main idea of this passage and makes the personal application. The word "therefore" is a connector.

Peter exhorts the saints to arm themselves with the same mind that Christ had regarding unjust punishment. The Greek word translated "arm yourselves" was used of a Greek soldier taking up his weapon.

Our armor against unjust suffering in the mind of Christ. That is what it takes to withstand the attacks of the enemy.

Christians are not living on the earth as tourists. We are not vacationing on our way to heaven. We are soldiers. Everywhere around us the battle rages. The danger is real and the enemy is formidable. Christ died not only to gain victory over sins debt but also to equip us for that fight, to give us the inner strength we need when facing a hostile and unjust world.

There are some very practical applications of what Peter is saying to us. First, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, remember the cross. Jesus suffered terrible injustice, much greater than any suffering we might face, with the silence of a Lamb. Second, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, remember the resurrection. When you suffer for doing what is right, blessing will follow. Third, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, do not resort to sin. Instead, arm yourself with the mind of Christ, for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.

I think that Christians, at times, have an over sensitive concern for justice and that we do not handle injustice, particularly that which comes against us personally and our's collectively very well. Peter's words are definitely fore" is a connector.

Peter exhorts the saints to arm themselves with the same mind that Christ had regarding unjust punishment. The Greek word translated "arm yourselves" was used of a Greek soldier taking up his weapon.

Our armor against unjust suffering in the mind of Christ. That is what it takes to withstand the attacks of the enemy.

Christians are not living on the earth as tourists. We are not vacationing on our way to heaven. We are soldiers. Everywhere around us the battle rages. The danger is real and the enemy is formidable. Christ died not only to gain victory over sins debt but also to equip us for that fight, to give us the inner strength we need when facing a hostile and unjust world.

There are some very practical applications of what Peter is saying to us. First, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, remember the cross. Jesus suffered terrible injustice, much greater than any suffering we might face, with the silence of a Lamb. Second, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, remember the resurrection. When you suffer for doing what is right, blessing will follow. Third, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, do not resort to sin. Instead, arm yourself with the mind of Christ, for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.

I think that Christians, at times, have an over sensitive concern for justice and that we do not handle injustice, particularly that which comes against us personally and our's collectively very well. Peter's words are definitely fore" is a connector.

Peter exhorts the saints to arm themselves with the same mind that Christ had regarding unjust punishment. The Greek word translated "arm yourselves" was used of a Greek soldier taking up his weapon.

Our armor against unjust suffering in the mind of Christ. That is what it takes to withstand the attacks of the enemy.

Christians are not living on the earth as tourists. We are not vacationing on our way to heaven. We are soldiers. Everywhere around us the battle rages. The danger is real and the enemy is formidable. Christ died not only to gain victory over sins debt but also to equip us for that fight, to give us the inner strength we need when facing a hostile and unjust world.

There are some very practical applications of what Peter is saying to us. First, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, remember the cross. Jesus suffered terrible injustice, much greater than any suffering we might face, with the silence of a Lamb. Second, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, remember the resurrection. When you suffer for doing what is right, blessing will follow. Third, when unjust suffering seems unbearable, do not resort to sin. Instead, arm yourself with the mind of Christ, for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.

I think that Christians, at times, have an over sensitive concern for justice and that we do not handle injustice, particularly that which comes against us personally and our's collectively very well. Peter's words are definitely for us!

That was the easy part of this text. Now, in order to deal completely honestly with the text, we've got to tackle to tough parts. There are three of them that seem to stand out to me.

The message in the evening service will handle the difficult part of this text. You will learn ...

What happened to Jesus between Calvary and Easter?

What is meant by the phrase "baptism doth also now save us"?