Category: Thoughts

Studies in First Peter Part 23

“⁴In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they malign you; ⁵but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.  ⁶For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God” (I Peter 4:4-6).

Continuing the theme of leaving our sinful lifestyle in the past, Peter turns to the response of your former partners in sin to the change in your life.  They are scratching their collective heads.  What happened?  Why have you left this path of sensuality behind?  And they malign you for your lack of participation.

As a geophysicist, I love the term Peter uses to describe the lifestyle that we have left behind; a “flood of dissipation.”  In your freshman physics book, you will see the word “dissipation” defined as “the process of converting energy into heat or other forms of energy that are NOT USEFUL for performing work.”  Dissipation is wasted energy.  It performs no work.  It has no usefulness.  It is a total waste.

Think about that lifestyle you left behind.  “Dissipation” is a good one-word description.  The energy that went into it brought no return, only losses in so many ways.  And it washed over us like a flood, a flood that we see rising all around us.

Look around you today.  What do you see in the world at large?  I see a “flood of dissipation” with the flood waters at a record level.  I can’t think of a time in my adult life when the lack of a moral compass in our public life has been this pronounced.  From the greed, fraud, and outright lies at the highest levels of business and politics right down to the porch pirate stealing your package in the middle of the day, morality at a public level is in short supply.

What has changed in me over the years is that there is no anger in the previous paragraph, only compassion for a world without Jesus.  I grieve over the sin of the world, not in some judgmental sense that people are breaking God’s rules.  I grieve over the harm and pain that sin brings to those who indulge in it and to those closest to them.

Jesus is the answer to the world’s sin problem.  People need Jesus and His power within to turn from sin.  Jesus is the answer is not just a catchy phrase.  It is the truth.

This “flood of dissipation” will not go on forever without consequence.  Judgment is coming.  There was no judgment associated with Christ’s first coming (John 3:17).  He did not come to judge us FOR our sin, but to FREE us from our sin.  But a future judgment is coming for those who have never believed the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

“The gospel preached to those who are dead” may refer to those who died before the cross.  Maybe they understood the prophetic promise of a coming Messiah or the gospel was preached to them in the grave.  We really don’t have much here to make a sure-fire interpretation.  At any rate, God’s judgment will be righteous, we can be assured of that.

Just to tack on one more thought.  There is no fear of judgment now or at a judgment seat in the future for those who believe the gospel, those who are now part of the family of God.  All of our sins have been forgiven by Christ’s death in our place on the cross and by believing, we have received His gift of eternal life without judgment or fear.

Studies in First Peter Part 22

“¹Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ²so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.  ³For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (I Peter 4:1-3).

We know how “Christ has suffered in the flesh.”  He died.  He was killed.  His flesh, His body, was put through a painful death.  But how have we, as in “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;” how have we “suffered in the flesh?”

The short answer is that we died with Christ.  “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin” (Romans 6:5-7).

Having died with Christ, we have now “ceased from sin” (I Peter 4:1), have been “freed from sin” (Romans 6:7), and “consider ourselves to be dead to sin” (Romans 6:11).

Does “ceased from sin” mean that believers never sin?  No, we still commit sins.  But it means that we have been set free from sin’s overwhelming power.  We have been set free from sin as our natural response.  We have been set free from sin as our default mode.

Following that understanding of our death to sin, we are encouraged in verse two to live for the “will of God,” not the “lusts of men.”  Peter is instructing us to follow the maturing path forward that God has for us rather than going back to the fleshly way we were living before Christ.

“The time already past is sufficient” (vs 3).  What is Peter saying?  “You lived under the power of sin long enough.  The time for sin as your normal way of life is over.  Sin is no longer the road you should travel.  You USED to ‘pursue a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.’  But that is NOT who you are today.  This sinful lifestyle is now firmly in your rear-view mirror.  The time is already past.”

Because you have died with Christ.  Because you have been resurrected with Christ.  Because Christ is living His life through you.  You have what it takes – His divine nature in you – to leave this lifestyle of sin in your past.

The way forward?  Walking according to the Spirit.  Displaying the fruit of the Spirit.  Learning to love as Jesus loves.  This beautiful lifestyle of righteousness is what your future looks like.  And it starts the moment you believe the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Forgetting what lies behind, we press on in the love, acceptance, forgiveness, and power of Jesus.

Studies in First Peter Part 21

“¹⁸For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; ¹⁹in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, ²⁰who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.  ²¹Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you – not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience – through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²²who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him” (I Peter 3:18-22).

“Christ died for our sins once for all, the just for the unjust.”  This sums up the gospel about as succinctly as one can.  Christ died to take away our sins.  He is the righteous one – just.  We were the guilty ones – unjust.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  This death in our place, the just for the unjust, was an act of His grace powered by God’s incredible love for us.

Christ’s physical self was put to death on the cross.  He was then raised, made alive in the Spirit.  Then Peter, as if out of the blue, references Christ going to preach to the spirits of Noah’s day.  Who exactly these spirits were, I do not know.

Here are two thoughts on the spirits in prison from the study notes of the NET Bible.  This may refer to 1) Christ’s proclamation of His victory over evil to the fallen angels who await judgment for their role in leading the people of Noah’s day into sin.  Or 2) Christ’s preaching of repentance through Noah to the unrighteous humans, now dead and confined in hell, who lived in the days of Noah.

At any rate, the reference to the salvation of Noah through the flood is a picture of us being saved by the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  John the Baptist baptized with water, Jesus with the Holy Spirit.  “John answered and said to them all, ‘As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16).

Our true baptism that saves is not water baptism – “the removal of dirt,” but the true baptism of the Holy Spirit.  In that baptism we were immersed into the Spirit and the Spirit was immersed into us.  We are fused.  We and the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

A key component of that baptism, our salvation is “the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”  Our baptism is a picture of us joining Christ in His death and resurrection.  “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:3-5).

The resurrection of Jesus was the penultimate declaration of Jesus as the Son of God and as such proclaimed the success of His saving death in our place.  “Jesus was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4).

And having secured our salvation, Christ has now taken His rightful place “at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”  Amen!

Studies in First Peter Part 20

“¹⁵But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; ¹⁶and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  ¹⁷For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong” (I Peter 3:15-17).

Starting back in chapter 2 and continuing through these verses, Peter is laying out what “excellent behavior” (I Peter 2:12) looks like in various situations.  He writes about our reputation with outsiders, submitting to human authority, silencing ignorant and foolish critics, using our freedom for good, following Jesus’ example of suffering and not returning evil for evil, submitting to each other in marriage, living harmoniously in the body, and suffering without fear.

He wraps up this topic with these thoughts.  Recognize “Christ as Lord” in your new heart.  This is His new home.  He is in you.  He is on the throne and your old master sin has been kicked to the curb.  When you live in this reality, folks will see a hope in you that is supernatural.  Be prepared to explain where this hope comes from.

Here is an observation from my own life about how this works.  I used to feel uneasy about this verse, like I had to have some sort of apologetics answer ready about Jesus.  Some textbook iron-clad proof for who Jesus is.  Some intellectual defense of the gospel.  It really was unrelated to what was in me personally.  After all, what was in me was a lot of confusion.  I was more comfortable talking about who I wanted to be instead of who I was.  Who would want to know or who would be blessed by the confusion in me?

But now, basking in the grace of God, I am eager to talk about the hope in me because it is REAL.  Not only is it real, but it is life-giving, joyful, and powerful.  All that Christ has promised in the new covenant is not just someone I would like to be in the future, it is who I am NOW.  There is no pride in sharing that truth, only gratitude for the grace of God.  And I have seen this ease in talking about the real experience of the grace of God in my grace-captured friends as well.

Your good behavior not only shines a light on Jesus, but it puts your slanderers to shame.  Slandering you for doing good is the best they can come up with?  If suffering for your behavior is coming your way, it is better to be for righteousness.  “Your good behavior in Christ” is not legalism, it is the righteousness of Christ being expressed through you!

Studies in First Peter Part 19

“¹⁰For, ‘The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.  ¹¹He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.  ¹²For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil’ (quoting Psalm 34:12-16)  ¹³Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?  ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed.  Do not fear their intimidations, and do not be troubled “ (I Peter 3:10-14).

Continuing on this path of our good reputation, Peter quotes from Psalm 34 about keeping our tongue from evil, doing good, and pursuing peace.  Are these actions required to join God’s family?  No, we are saved by our belief in His Son.  Are these actions required to stay in God’s good graces?  No, God has promised to never turn His back on you.  Are these actions required for God to hear our prayers?  No, because righteous is who we are in our core identity, and God’s eyes are always “toward” us.

So what is Peter saying here?  This quote from the Psalms is similar to the wise sayings in the book of Proverbs.  They are wise approaches to life.  They are wise ways to live.  They are most likely scenarios.  They are not iron-clad promises.

Peter is saying that if you want to see good days and live a joyous life, do what you can to stay away from the sin that entangles us.  Live graciously.  Let grace lead you into godly living.  And the most likely outcome of pursuing this godly living is a peaceful life.  But again, these are not promised outcomes.

As Peter points out in verse 14, you may suffer exactly because of your righteous actions.  In that case, we are to face that persecution with courage; “do not fear their intimidations, and do not be troubled.”

But as far as it depends on us, let us seek to do good, to keep our tongue from evil, to seek peace, and to turn away from evil.  And may we experience life, love, and good days in that pursuit.