A.      It is no one’s ambition to suffer in the flesh, but one might be willing to suffer for a good cause.  Jesus Christ calls upon us to be willing to suffer for the very best cause, which is for the sake of righteousness.

B.      Our present study of 1Peter 3:13-4:6 will explain suffering and other topics in the lives of Christians.

II.      READY TO MAKE A DEFENSE

A.      There is a blessing for those who suffer for the sake of righteousness (1Pet. 3:13-14a).

                                                             1.      Persons in authority do not normally persecute those who are zealous for good.  The rule is that rulers reward those who do good (see Rom. 13:3-4; 1Pet. 2:14).  Persecution is the exception.

                                                             2.      However, when Christians do endure persecution for righteousness’ sake, God promises a blessing.

a.       Paul wrote that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2Tim. 3:12).  Therefore, all Christians need to be prepared to deal with persecution.

b.       Jesus declared the blessedness of those who are persecuted for righteousness sake in the beatitudes: “theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10-12).

B.      When we are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, we must respond to it according to 1Peter 3:14b-17.

                                                             1.      First, we must set aside any fear of the opponents of righteousness.

a.       When dealing with men, we might rightly say, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  Undue fear of men will prevent us from doing what is right in God’s sight.

b.       The Lord said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).

                                                             2.      Then, we must take positive steps to rightly represent the cause of Christ.

a.       “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…” – The core of a Christian’s being should be a profound devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Master.

b.       “Always being ready to make a defense… – A Christian must be able to explain why he believes what he believes “with gentleness and reverence.”

c.         “Keep a good conscience…” – One keeps a good conscience by always doing what he believes is right, thus proving his opponents’ slander to be false (see 1Pet. 2:12, 15).

                                                             3.      These steps may lead to suffering, but “it is better to suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

III.   THE FLOOD, BAPTISM, AND SALVATION

A.      In 1Peter 3:18, Christ is presented as an example with which suffering Christians should identify.

                                                             1.      Just as Christians suffer for doing what was right, so also Jesus suffered for doing what was right.

                                                             2.      Although Jesus died in flesh, He was made alive in spirit, in which He also was able to “bring us to God.”  From this truth, a suffering Christian may see that good can come from suffering.

B.      The example of Noah’s salvation is also presented for our encouragement (1Pet. 3:19-20).

                                                             1.      The connection that is made between Christ and Noah is the spirit of Christ.

a.       In spirit (not flesh), Christ is said to have preached to “the spirits now in prison,” which are identified as the disobedient spirits from Noah’s time in verse 20.

i.         Upon first reading of this passage, one may think that Christ preached to these spirits in prison after His resurrection.  However, the timeframe for His preaching is stated as being “when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark.”

ii.        Therefore, we can understand that the spirit of Christ preached to these spirits while they were still men and women alive on the earth.  Because they were disobedient to God then, they are now “in prison,” indicating that they presently restrained and reserved for judgment (compare to 2Pet. 2:4, 9; Jude 6).

iii.      The best explanation of this is that the spirit of Christ preached to the disobedient people of Noah’s time through Noah, who is described as a “preacher of righteousness” (2Pet. 2:5).  (Consider also 1Peter 1:10-12 regarding the spirit of Christ inspiring the prophets to preach.)

b.       Thus, suffering Christians can also identify with Noah, who, like them, preached and practiced righteousness for God’s sake in the midst of a wicked generation.

                                                             2.      Peter reminds us that Noah and his family were saved apart from the rest.

a.       Notice the emphasis on the few who were saved (eight souls), indicating the ability of a few to remain right even when many are wrong.

b.       Peter’s meaning in this example is clear.  Noah and his family were a minority who were saved when the others were destroyed.  Christians compare to Noah in that they are also a minority who are saved.

C.      Notice the similarities between the salvation of Noah and the salvation of Christians (1Pet. 3:21-22).

                                                             1.      Noah and his family “were saved through water” (1Pet. 3:20).

a.       They were not saved from water, as if water was the problem with the world, nor were they saved by water, as if the water had some miraculous power.

b.       Water was the instrument through which God saved Noah and his family from the punishment brought upon the rest of the world.  Through water, the righteous were separated from the unrighteous.

                                                             2.      Likewise, Christians are also saved through water and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

a.       The salvation of Noah through water corresponds to (is a likeness, type, or figure of) that which now saves Christians, namely baptism, immersion in water.

b.       Notice that salvation through baptism is salvation through Christ’s resurrection.  The resurrection is what makes baptism powerful, and baptism is how we receive that power.

c.        Just as surviving through the water was the line of demarcation between Noah and the unrighteous, so also is baptism between Christians and the unrighteous.

                                                             3.      Notice that the operative function of baptism is not physical (cleansing of the flesh) but spiritual (an appeal to God for a good conscience).

IV.    LIVE FOR THE WILL OF GOD

A.      To keep that good conscience that was acquired through baptism, we must abstain from sin (1Pet. 4:1-3).

                                                             1.      Christ suffered so that we could be free of sin, so we must be “armed” with the same purpose.

                                                             2.      Suffering for righteousness’ sake while also participating in sin is a contradiction.  The consistent way of a Christian’s life is to suffer in the flesh, cease from sin, and live for the will of God.

                                                             3.      With this in mind, we must put “the desire of the Gentiles” behind us.

a.       Sensuality, lusts, and abominable idolatries must be things of the past.

b.       Notice that all categories of recreational alcohol use are prohibited by verse 3.

i.         Drunkenness is intoxication or alcoholism.

ii.        Carousals are the foolish actions that results from intoxication.

iii.      Drinking parties are drinking bouts and social drinking.

B.      Such good behavior will provoke sinners to malign us, but they will answer for themselves (1Pet. 4:4-6).

                                                             1.      Sinners are surprised when Christians refuse to participate in their evil deeds.

                                                             2.      Sinners are also offended when the light of righteousness exposes their own darkness (consider Eph. 5:11-13).  Therefore, they malign those who practice righteousness.

                                                             3.      Even so, sinners will have to give an account before God of both their evil deeds and their unfounded slander against His people.

                                                             4.      The gospel has been preached “even to those who are dead” so that they may “live in spirit according to the will of God.”   Every sinner has the opportunity to repent and live through Christ, but many reject this purpose and malign those who choose righteousness.

V.      CONCLUSION

A.      This passage of Scripture should help any Christian to overcome the fears of suffering for Christ and provide courage to make a defense for the hope of the gospel.

B.      In our next lesson, we will consider 1Peter 4:7-19 – “Trust in God.”