1 Pet 3:8-22
Period of Grace – 1 Pet 3:8-9a
Peter concludes his instructions to Believers, explaining life in this present time of Grace. This period we’re currently in following the Cross will continue until He retrieves (snatches up, 1 Thess 4:13-18) His Church, beginning the time of Wrath. Until then, Peter explains grace towards others as we “were called for the very purpose that (we) might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9
This blessing is the Holy Spirit given to us in Salvation, through faith – “…in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14
Harmony with Others – 1 Pet 3:9b-12
Citing Psa 34:12-13, Peter explains how to employ a blessed and Saved life while we still live amongst sin, with a reminder that the LORD watches and hears the righteous and opposes those doing evil. The same is taught by James, “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16b
Paul wrote this same declaration to Titus:
“11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14
Stand Firm under Christ, Suffer as He did – 1 Pet 3:13-17
Living in the reality of being reborn in God through Jesus – while still assailed by the sin that envelops us – Peter urges grace, grace, grace. Emulating the same Grace as Jesus when suffering unrighteousness, we like Him shall strive to tamp down wrath and make as much way possible for the Spirit to do the work only He can do. Our response should act in support of Him as we would be “ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in” us, even patiently suffering wrongs against us “if God should will it so”. The whole of the equation in this Period of Grace rests in making the case for Christ to sinners and staying out of the way to let Him do His Work. When the Time closes, no one will be ignorant of the opportunity.
Christ’s Work/Actions Between Bodily Death and Resurrection, Ascent – 1 Pet 3:18-22
Christ’s Work on the Cross was not the end of His Work. What was seen on this side of the Creation:
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Matthew 27:50-53
On the other side of Creation unseen, while between His Body’s death and His Ascent to the Throne, Jesus in Spirit preached the Word to the most disobedient spirits in the underworld prison called Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4). These are not the fallen angels of Satan but the ‘sons of God’ in pre-flood Genesis 6 who fathered the Nephilim giants. They will be taken straight to the White Throne Judgement. (Jude 6-7, Rev 20:11-15)
The Gospel is vital and relevant to all, both the Quick (for Salvation) and the Dead (for Judgement). Jesus also preached to the disembodied souls of Hades (not the final place of eternal torment, the Lake of Fire) emptying the Paradise side (Abraham’s Bosom/Lazarus) to bring them to the Heaven that still awaits us who sleep in the grave before the Rapture. Post-Cross, the souls of the Saints proceed to the same place immediately to the Lord (2 Cor 5:8)
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says,
“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.” 9 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:7-10
Jesus’ total domination and reclamation of all Authority given by Father would be settled. As He already demonstrated His being the perfect Prophet, and is now exercising the office of High Priest, we await His return as King of all Kings ushering in the end of the kingdoms of Man.
17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Rev 1:17-18
Baptism in Allegiance to Him – 1 Pet 3:21-22
”Corresponding to that”, the chapter closes out with the reasoning for a Believer’s Baptism. While a physical act, it no more enacts a spiritual outcome than does fasting or a shorn head (Acts 18:18). Instead, it reflects an inner conduct of the heart that God recognizes. Baptism is a show of surrender to Christ the Lord. Fasting demonstrates a devotion to Him and a denial of the flesh to amplify the spirit’s focus. A vow is in devotion and obedience to God despite protests in ourselves.
The only Ordinances given by Moses – Circumcision and Temple Sacrifice – have been rendered obsolete and unnecessary by the New Covenant, entered through our death in Christ and so a release from the Law.
