“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
(A Study in I Peter)
Lesson 10 - Overcoming Suffering:
Although these Christians have given up much, they have also gained something so valuable that it will help to carry them through the difficult times. Since any Christian, at any time, may be faced with the same kind of trials, or an entirely different set; a mastery of the mind set necessary to overcome is vital to us all.
1 Peter 3:13 “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?”
This rhetorical statement is not an indicator that we will never suffer, but if we suffer, there is a silver lining that lies ahead. That silver lining is access to God! This access was made possible by suffering. So, suffering can be fruitful to the one who overcomes.
At the beginning of this study, Peter is going to give us an illustration of fruitful suffering and how we can likewise overcome.
Text:
1 Peter 3:18-22 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”
For Christ Also Suffered: The opening statement is given for the appreciation of suffering for good. No un-just person could die on behalf of another like Him. The Apostle Paul would convey this same thought to the Roman Christians, note:
Romans 5:6-7 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.”
The Savior emptied Himself and took on the form of a servant ( Philippians 2:5-9 ). In this form, He was obedient to God, to His death, the death of the cross. This perfect Lamb of sacrifice was offered to God on our behalf, that He might bring us to God. No greater example exists of suffering for good (as the greatest good ever made known to man came through the vehicle of suffering).
Made Alive by the Spirit: The work of the Holy Spirit can often be seen in the wonderful accomplishments of God. An example is given in the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The resurrection was the sign to us all that there could be no doubt that He was the Son of God ( Romans 1:4 ); we will come back to the power of the resurrection in a moment.
But beginning with the end of verse eighteen, the work of the Spirit of God is the focal point. Now verses nineteen and twenty have caused many problems in trying to understand what is being said. So, keeping in mind the context of learning how to suffer for good, ask yourself, “How would I know that Christ died for me, when I was a sinner?”
Now, with that question in your mind, verse 19 is a figure of speech drawn directly from the prophecies of the Christ, preaching to those in prison (captivity of sin). Note:
Isaiah 42:7 “To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison , Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”
Isaiah 49:9 “ That You may say to the prisoners , ' Go forth , 'To those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' "They shall feed along the roads, And their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.”
Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord G od is upon Me, Because the L ord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives , And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;”
Isaiah spoke of a Servant of the Lord that would set captives free (approx. 750 years before – and these Christians of Jewish decent would have a knowledge of this). This was not a prison of earthly walls and bars, but a prison of sin and darkness that separates men from their God. This Servant of the Lord was the Messiah, note what Jesus would say at the synagogue of Nazareth :
Luke 4:18-21 "The Spirit of the L ord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the L ord ."
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Remember that the subject is the Spirit of God and the one work of the Spirit that touches more people than any other, is His work of revelation. It would be His revelation through the Apostles and prophets that the Christ would be preached to all in the prison of sin ( Matthew 28:18-20 ; Mark 16:15 -16 ; John 16:8-15 ; Acts 1:4-5 , 8 ). Now, the Spirit of God never speaks directly to sinners, but conveys the message of salvation in Christ Jesus, via human agents, note:
1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”
This preaching of Christ's death bringing us to God through human agents was the same method used in preaching to a lost world that unless they entered the ark of Noah they would perish. This statement of salvation in Christ is as true as the waters of the great flood, and is revealed the same way. In Peter's second letter to these same Christians, he would refer to Noah as a preacher of righteousness ( II Peter 2:5 ).
When Noah preached to the sinful people of the world the coming judgment of God, he condemned them when he and his household entered the ark and were saved by the flood (just eight souls, but even though they suffered in the work God had given them, they were saved in doing what was right – are you getting it now !!!). In the same fashion, these Christians would be saved, even in their suffering, provided they remained in Christ!
Antitype: The King James version uses a more appropriate phrase at the beginning of verse 21 , “Like figure”. The word anti to us means the opposite or agent against (like anti-aircraft guns; or anti-virus: etc…). Here Peter is simply trying to explain that baptism is a corresponding type, each setting forth the identical relationships of death in un-belief; or life in obedient belief, regardless of suffering. So then one can continue to understand that it is better to suffer for doing right than wrong!
Now Saves us: Although baptism is a corresponding type to the ark of Noah; Peter clearly states that it is now the vehicle by which we are saved in obedient faith. It is not an act of the flesh or a work of the Law (Moses' Law), but the answer of a good conscience to God (having been educated by the Gospel preached, it becomes an act of faith – obedient faith!).
Through the Resurrection: As I mentioned earlier, we would come back to the power of the resurrection. We noted earlier that the resurrection was the sign to us all that Jesus was truly the Son of God ( Romans 1:4 ). Here, Peter also tells us that the saving power of baptism lies in the resurrection of Christ.
Luke 24:46-47 “Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem .”
In Luke's account of the great commission, he records the words of the Lord who said it was necessary to die and to rise from the dead. The first, to provide a sacrifice to God that He would accept for the sins of man ( Hebrews 10:5-10 ). The second, to be the first to rise from the dead that He might bring forth many more in repentance and baptism (see: Romans 6:3-4 ; 8:29 ; I Corinthians 15:22-23 ; James 1:18 ; I Peter 1:22-25 ).
So, just as Christ was victorious over death; just as He was victorious over sufferings; just as He has gone into heaven and sits at the right hand of God and made victorious over all that caused Him to suffer and die, we too can find the same victory in Christ.
Everyone that is armed with this knowledge is armed to overcome suffering! Consider this! The next time someone tries to dismiss away the necessity of baptism. Remember that it is the vehicle of salvation, in the same way the ark was the vehicle that saved Noah and his household after they heeded the instructions of God.
We will continue the teachings of Peter towards overcoming persecutions in the next lesson.
Next: “ Arm Yourselves Likewise ”