WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.520 1 Peter 3, verse 18. 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:20.539 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit, 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:34.280 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison because they formerly did not obey when God's patience waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:38.679 in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely through water. 00:00:40.120 --> 00:00:43.739 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you. 00:00:43.740 --> 00:00:54.340 Not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 00:00:54.800 --> 00:01:05.240 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. 00:01:06.180 --> 00:01:06.579 Amen. 00:01:08.579 --> 00:01:13.520 Well, opening day of baseball season was this week, and you know that I'm a big baseball fan. 00:01:13.739 --> 00:01:16.839 But you don't have to be a baseball fan to understand what I'm about to say. 00:01:17.699 --> 00:01:28.699 Have you ever noticed that diehard sports fans tend to speak about the experiences of their favorite teams as if they are on the team? 00:01:29.119 --> 00:01:30.139 Have you ever picked up on that? 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:35.799 It's really rare for us to talk about our favorite teams in the third person. 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:51.759 We don't typically say, they really got to get it together, or they really had a big win on Friday, or they really blew it on Sunday afternoon. 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:54.640 That's not typically how we speak about our favorite teams, is it? 00:01:54.819 --> 00:01:57.659 We typically speak about them in the first person. 00:01:57.659 --> 00:02:04.039 Not to say that they really blew it, but to say, man, we really blew it this week, right? 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:11.120 Or, man, we had a great win this week, or whatever the case is. 00:02:11.120 --> 00:02:18.539 As a fan, I contribute nothing to the victory of my favorite team. 00:02:18.539 --> 00:02:30.379 But my relationship with and my love for that team allows me to share in their victory that they have won. 00:02:30.439 --> 00:02:34.799 In some sense, when they win, I win. 00:02:35.519 --> 00:02:39.560 And in some sense, when they lose, I lose. 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:47.740 That's how tightly our passion goes, how far our experiences with our favorite teams go. 00:02:48.020 --> 00:02:57.199 Now, in a similar way, Christians speak of triumph over sin and triumph over death, 00:02:58.140 --> 00:03:03.240 actually having done nothing themselves to secure such triumph. 00:03:04.120 --> 00:03:05.599 Have you ever thought about that? 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:09.979 We talk about how we have victory over sin. 00:03:10.099 --> 00:03:11.879 We have victory over death. 00:03:12.019 --> 00:03:14.740 We have victory that will lead to eternal life. 00:03:14.840 --> 00:03:20.599 And yet, like the sports fan, we have actually done nothing to contribute to that victory. 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.900 We are not actually the victors. 00:03:26.299 --> 00:03:28.659 Jesus is our victor. 00:03:28.659 --> 00:03:36.180 And like the sports fan, we share in the victory that he has won on our behalf. 00:03:36.840 --> 00:03:49.659 Only our share in Christ's victory is infinitely greater than anything else we might experience through others in this life. 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:51.319 Infinitely greater. 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:59.859 Though we recognize that Christ alone has won, we have contributed nothing ourselves to that victory. 00:04:00.859 --> 00:04:07.219 By God's grace, we, by faith, are brought into union with Christ. 00:04:07.780 --> 00:04:11.859 And therefore, we inherit his victory. 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:24.980 And not only do we inherit his true victory, we receive all of the benefits as if we ourselves are the ones who have conquered. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:34.939 So, your favorite sports team and the superstars on that team, they may win their championship and they may be rewarded handsomely. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:40.699 And you may enjoy that in an emotional sense, but you have no share in the benefits of that victory. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:43.319 Other than to say, my favorite team won. 00:04:43.779 --> 00:04:45.259 Not so as a Christian. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:46.899 It's different. 00:04:47.019 --> 00:04:47.920 It's greater than that. 00:04:48.740 --> 00:04:55.659 As a Christian, we have been brought in union with Christ so that when we look at his victory, not only do we say Christ has won, 00:04:55.660 --> 00:05:05.460 but he has allowed me to have a full share in all of the saving benefits that he has won on my behalf. 00:05:06.760 --> 00:05:09.060 Christ is our victor. 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:14.220 He has won the victory for us. 00:05:15.320 --> 00:05:18.640 And this is Peter's point in verses 18 to 22. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:23.240 You want to think of the context here, how it's placed in the letter. 00:05:23.240 --> 00:05:32.560 Having just told the suffering Christians in Asia Minor that an eternal inheritance awaits them beyond this time of exile 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:38.060 and that they must persevere in following Jesus despite persecution, 00:05:39.500 --> 00:05:53.160 he now anchors all of those exhortations firmly in the good news of Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension or exaltation. 00:05:54.240 --> 00:05:58.360 And Peter's train of thought in these verses is actually quite clear, 00:05:58.500 --> 00:06:03.400 even though we can get diverted on a couple of questions that we may pull up in this text. 00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:05.960 What Peter's trying to do is actually pretty obvious. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:07.579 Here's what it is. 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:09.180 Jesus suffered. 00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:11.540 Jesus rose. 00:06:12.699 --> 00:06:13.680 Jesus reigns. 00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:15.699 That's his train of thought here. 00:06:15.699 --> 00:06:18.319 He starts with suffering in verse 18. 00:06:18.599 --> 00:06:21.740 He continues with resurrection in verse 18. 00:06:21.879 --> 00:06:25.139 He diverts to an illustration of how we might share in that. 00:06:25.139 --> 00:06:31.659 Then he comes right back to resurrection and finishes in verse 22 with reign, exaltation. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:32.800 Jesus suffered. 00:06:33.779 --> 00:06:34.719 Jesus rose. 00:06:35.659 --> 00:06:36.579 Jesus reigns. 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:37.719 That's the train of thought. 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:42.500 And of course, this is the essence of the Christian's hope, 00:06:42.840 --> 00:06:45.600 which he's just told us in the previous paragraph. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:52.500 We must always be prepared to display in the joy and the hope that we have in our hardship 00:06:52.500 --> 00:07:00.759 and then to defend whenever those people around us notice the joy and the hope that we possess in our hardship. 00:07:01.480 --> 00:07:03.660 And what is really at the heart of all of that? 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:05.360 Here's the hope. 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:14.600 Jesus in his suffering has satisfied fully and sufficiently God's wrath against sinners. 00:07:14.600 --> 00:07:22.420 Jesus has triumphed over death, our greatest enemy, in his resurrection. 00:07:23.580 --> 00:07:31.480 And Jesus has the authority and power to deal decisively with all of our enemies, 00:07:31.620 --> 00:07:36.500 whether they be human enemies in this life or as Peter points out in verse 22, 00:07:36.500 --> 00:07:46.600 spiritual enemies, enemies unseen, demonic powers and authorities who rule and reign in this world. 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:48.540 And what's the point? 00:07:49.660 --> 00:07:58.959 That as we suffer for righteousness sake, Peter once again causes us to fix our eyes entirely on Jesus Christ, 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:05.980 who is our hope, who suffered as we do, yet won something wonderful. 00:08:06.500 --> 00:08:08.800 In his suffering that we could never win. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:10.519 He is our victor. 00:08:11.720 --> 00:08:15.480 Now I want to show you three truths of Christ's victory in this text. 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:18.279 I want to point out the grounds of his victory. 00:08:18.939 --> 00:08:22.959 I want to show you the Christians share in that victory, 00:08:23.079 --> 00:08:26.439 how we might actually become victors ourselves in Christ. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:31.779 And then I want to show you the assurance of Christ's victory that's here in the text. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:35.480 Let's start with the first one, the grounds for Christ's victory, which is in verse 18. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:36.860 Let's look at it again together. 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:43.620 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, 00:08:44.220 --> 00:08:51.879 that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:54.259 Now, the first word here is important. 00:08:54.420 --> 00:08:56.379 And oftentimes in these verses, it is. 00:08:56.379 --> 00:09:06.460 For is the signal that what Peter now says is intended to be the grounds for everything else that he's been saying in this section. 00:09:07.740 --> 00:09:10.259 Suffering has been the main idea. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:15.759 And now he's drawing our attention to Christ's suffering for us. 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:18.639 He's been talking about our suffering for Christ. 00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:24.759 And now at the end, he says, now let's consider Christ's suffering for us. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:30.379 So that we understand, even in Peter's understanding and what was the understanding of these Christians, 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:40.620 that suffering for Christ, suffering for the faith, when we do that, we share in Christ's sufferings. 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.580 We follow in his steps. 00:09:43.580 --> 00:09:50.540 And the outworking of that, as we see in the New Testament, is that if we share in Christ's sufferings, 00:09:50.800 --> 00:09:55.720 we will also share in Christ's glory. 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:59.960 Now, let me just read you an excerpt from Romans chapter 8. 00:10:00.440 --> 00:10:02.500 This is Paul's picking up on this idea there. 00:10:03.080 --> 00:10:03.840 He says, 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:22.480 Now, here's the key that Paul puts in there. 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:23.139 He says, 00:10:23.800 --> 00:10:27.740 Provided that we suffer with him, 00:10:28.940 --> 00:10:37.620 so that the result of that perseverance and suffering will end in us being glorified with him. 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:39.539 And then he says, 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:48.399 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not even worthy to be compared to the glories that will be revealed to us. 00:10:48.399 --> 00:10:53.139 When we suffer for the faith, we walk in the footsteps of Jesus. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:55.220 We share in his sufferings. 00:10:55.459 --> 00:11:02.000 And when we share in his sufferings, we are promised by him that we will also share in his glories. 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:05.360 So Peter tells us right at the very beginning, 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:10.539 there is something to Christ's suffering and our suffering that we need to link together, 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:13.360 that we need to understand in conjunction together. 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:20.500 Indeed, all of our sufferings should be understood in light of Christ's suffering. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:27.120 And Christ's suffering is something that is repeatedly highlighted throughout the letter. 00:11:28.180 --> 00:11:34.340 Maybe it would be helpful for us just to see the string of passages that Peter uses here to speak of Christ's suffering. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:35.580 Let's just walk through them. 00:11:35.800 --> 00:11:37.220 Look first at chapter 1. 00:11:38.519 --> 00:11:39.980 Chapter 1, verse 10. 00:11:39.980 --> 00:11:46.080 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours, 00:11:46.860 --> 00:11:54.279 inquired what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted what? 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:58.580 The sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:01.259 Move your eyes down to verse 18. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:06.360 Knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:09.019 not with perishable things such as silver and gold, 00:12:09.019 --> 00:12:12.319 but with the precious blood of Christ, 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:15.559 like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:19.620 Look now at chapter 2 and verse 21. 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:28.159 For to this, that is suffering, for to this you have been called because Christ also suffered for you. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:31.819 Flip over to chapter 4 and verse 1. 00:12:31.820 --> 00:12:40.960 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking. 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:44.560 Look again at chapter 4 and verse 13 now. 00:12:44.559 --> 00:12:53.759 Rejoice in so far as you share in Christ's sufferings that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 00:12:53.939 --> 00:12:55.579 Chapter 5 and verse 1. 00:12:55.739 --> 00:12:56.219 Peter says, 00:12:56.299 --> 00:13:03.119 I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:09.419 as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed. 00:13:09.419 --> 00:13:16.799 Our sufferings, Peter says essentially, is to always be viewed in light of Christ's sufferings. 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.000 And what is the natural outworking of that? 00:13:19.179 --> 00:13:20.399 Well, it should be perseverance. 00:13:21.219 --> 00:13:28.360 We persist in the faith because Christ suffered for us and defeated death on our behalf. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:31.120 We keep our focus on the gospel. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.759 And that's the whole train of thought working through this section. 00:13:35.379 --> 00:13:37.659 Yes, we may suffer for Christ's sake. 00:13:37.779 --> 00:13:40.460 But what do we do fundamentally when that happens? 00:13:40.659 --> 00:13:43.800 We remember that Christ has suffered for our sake. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:48.860 We share in his sufferings so that we might also share in his victory. 00:13:49.500 --> 00:13:54.820 But then again, we're reminded here in verse 18, as Peter often reminds us, 00:13:54.820 --> 00:14:00.700 that Christ's suffering is unique and distinct from ours. 00:14:01.820 --> 00:14:03.220 He says, 00:14:03.580 --> 00:14:09.720 Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous. 00:14:09.780 --> 00:14:11.480 Now, that's different than the way that we suffer. 00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:21.900 That he suffered once for sins is drawing our focus on the atoning nature of Christ's crucifixion. 00:14:21.899 --> 00:14:31.000 Jesus, the righteous one, suffered in the place of those who are unrighteous. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:31.919 Why? 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.779 He tells us. 00:14:34.299 --> 00:14:43.039 So that he, Jesus, the victor, might bring us, the unrighteous ones, to God. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:51.299 So that being put to death in the flesh, Jesus satisfied the wrath of the Father against sinners. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:59.799 And we can be assured of the sufficiency of that sacrifice because the Holy Spirit raised him from the dead. 00:15:00.079 --> 00:15:01.159 That's what Peter says. 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.799 Christ suffered, but his suffering is different. 00:15:03.799 --> 00:15:13.159 He was the righteous one who suffered for the unrighteous so that he could establish peace and reconciliation between sinners and a righteous God. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:14.639 And how did he do that? 00:15:15.019 --> 00:15:23.559 By being put to death in the flesh in his crucifixion and then subsequently raised by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:15:23.939 --> 00:15:27.339 What is the grounds of this victory that Christ has won? 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:30.599 What is the grounds of this victory that we hope to share in? 00:15:30.600 --> 00:15:33.960 It is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:15:34.440 --> 00:15:37.940 It is his atonement that he made in the shedding of his blood. 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:44.680 And it is the show of sufficiency in that atonement that we see in his resurrection. 00:15:45.480 --> 00:15:51.960 We have peace with God through the victory Christ has won in his death and resurrection. 00:15:52.600 --> 00:15:55.200 Now, why is Peter bringing this up again? 00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:02.800 It is the fact that Jesus died and rose. 00:16:05.800 --> 00:16:11.040 Have you ever gotten over the fact that Jesus died and rose? 00:16:11.120 --> 00:16:12.640 Does that mean anything to you? 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:17.740 I heard somebody the other day, they asked an apologist. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:25.100 They said, what is it that just, you're so attracted to Christianity? 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:31.580 I don't know that his answer was really a helpful answer, but here's how he responded. 00:16:31.680 --> 00:16:39.180 He said, you know, I just have this personal policy that whenever someone predicts their own death and resurrection and then follows through on it, 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:41.039 I'm just going to kind of go along with what they say. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:46.299 You know, that's kind of the essence of what we're getting at here with Christianity. 00:16:47.339 --> 00:16:56.099 When we're awakened to the significance of what Christ's suffering actually was and what it accomplished and the truth of his resurrection, there is something to that. 00:16:56.339 --> 00:16:57.899 We can't get away from it. 00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:59.759 Peter can't get away from it. 00:16:59.959 --> 00:17:01.259 Why is he bringing it up again? 00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:14.500 Well, he's just reminded the suffering Christians here that though they may suffer for righteousness sake in this life, he's acknowledging this life might get really, really hard for you because you're a Christian. 00:17:15.619 --> 00:17:18.119 He said, though, you will be blessed in the judgment. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:23.240 Now, how will they be assured that that blessing and judgment will actually come? 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:27.559 It won't be because they look at their own life and say, well, I'm doing pretty good. 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:31.440 Now that I'm a Christian, I'm living a really good life and I think God will honor that. 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:32.940 That's not the assurance. 00:17:33.480 --> 00:17:34.599 What's the assurance? 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:38.480 That Christ died for my sins and rose from the dead. 00:17:38.779 --> 00:17:39.759 That's the assurance. 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:44.819 How can I be assured of a future blessing, of a future inheritance? 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:48.859 Not because of you, but because of Christ the victor. 00:17:50.159 --> 00:17:55.240 Peter's just told them that no matter how difficult it gets, they must not fear their enemies, 00:17:55.240 --> 00:18:01.019 but they must continually, faithfully follow Jesus as Lord. 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:08.359 He's just exhorted them to display true gospel hope and defended and asked when asked. 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:15.599 And now in this section, he's grounding that instruction in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:27.159 He's grounding our hope in Christ the victor so that we can endure because Christ also suffered once for sins that he might bring us to God. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.579 That's the grounds of our hope. 00:18:28.879 --> 00:18:30.139 That's how he won victory. 00:18:30.639 --> 00:18:36.259 And if that isn't true, then we have no victory in which we might share. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:40.579 So the grounds for Christ's victory, his death and his resurrection. 00:18:41.019 --> 00:18:42.379 Let's look at the second thing here. 00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:49.379 We see next the Christians sharing in Christ's victory. 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:52.379 The Christians share in Christ's victory. 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:54.579 Let's read verses 19 to 21. 00:18:54.579 --> 00:18:59.579 Christ was made alive in the spirit. 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:02.879 That is, the Holy Spirit raised him from the dead. 00:19:03.679 --> 00:19:09.859 In which, in the spirit, he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison. 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:17.199 Because they formerly did not obey when God's patience waited in the days of Noah. 00:19:17.699 --> 00:19:24.259 While the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely through water. 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:29.759 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:40.980 Not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:19:41.980 --> 00:19:49.259 Now, if Jesus suffered once for sins to bring us to God, how can we then share in that victory? 00:19:49.519 --> 00:19:53.259 How can that victory be ours when we're not the ones who want it? 00:19:53.259 --> 00:20:01.500 How do we receive the benefits of the salvation Christ has won in his resurrection? 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:06.220 This is fundamentally, this is the question that Peter is answering here in these verses. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:08.140 He's doing it with an illustration. 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:13.680 But the simple answer is this, just so that we know before we dig into some of the complexities here. 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:25.480 The simple answer is this, we receive the benefits of Christ's victory through faith in the salvation that he has provided. 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:37.019 We receive the benefits of the salvation that Christ has won through faith in the salvation that he has provided. 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:42.860 And of course, the outworking of that means this faith includes repentance. 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:46.380 There's a turning away in order to turn to Christ. 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:48.140 That's represented here as well. 00:20:48.140 --> 00:20:51.320 But there's also a seal to this. 00:20:52.080 --> 00:20:58.860 A seal, a signifying act that we have turned and trusted Christ. 00:20:59.320 --> 00:21:05.200 And we see here that that is baptism, which is really important to this text. 00:21:06.360 --> 00:21:09.600 Now, let's dig a little deeper to see how Peter's making his argument. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:17.719 When Peter thought of the circumstances of these Christians in Asia Minor, notice his mind went to who? 00:21:18.639 --> 00:21:19.079 Noah. 00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:21.579 That's a surprise, right? 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:23.500 You're reading through this letter. 00:21:23.959 --> 00:21:25.159 Suddenly Noah appears. 00:21:25.379 --> 00:21:26.819 That's kind of unexpected, right? 00:21:27.379 --> 00:21:28.399 What does that tell us? 00:21:28.459 --> 00:21:32.539 That tells us that Peter is contemplating what these Christians are going through. 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:40.200 And he begins to think, you know, this is a lot like what was happening with Noah and what they're experiencing now is a lot what is happening. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:45.720 He uses Noah as an illustration of their own life, of their own sufferings, but of their own salvation. 00:21:45.960 --> 00:21:47.420 That's really what's happening here. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:57.559 Like the people to whom Peter wrote, Noah was a religious minority who feared God and trusted God's word. 00:21:57.559 --> 00:22:14.099 And throughout the time that he built the ark, we understand Noah to have had to provide an answer to others who were asking about what they perceived to be a really foolish thing on his part. 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:18.200 Well, you're saying, what's going to happen, Noah? 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:21.960 You're building what, Noah? 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:25.440 Why on earth would you do that? 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:28.600 Why would you trust this God? 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:33.980 And what is Noah that the writer of Hebrews calls him that preacher of righteousness? 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:35.580 What is he doing there in that time? 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:45.920 He's providing an answer for those who come and ask about this hope that he may have of this coming judgment that they don't believe will actually come. 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:48.279 That sounds a little bit familiar, doesn't it? 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:53.160 This is how we're to understand verse 19, I think. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:23:06.100 When Peter says that Jesus went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, I think what he means to say here is that in the same power of the spirit that raised him from the dead, 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:15.660 Jesus preached God's judgment and God's salvation through the prophetic voice of Noah. 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:22.900 Jesus preached through Noah in the power of the spirit. 00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:27.300 Now, Peter's already given us a clue in this letter about how this works. 00:23:27.779 --> 00:23:29.259 Flip back over to chapter 1. 00:23:32.519 --> 00:23:36.660 He's telling us all throughout the letter how he reads his Old Testament. 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:40.019 Look at verse 10 again of chapter 1. 00:23:40.100 --> 00:23:40.880 We read it a moment ago. 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.560 Let's read it again. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:52.360 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully. 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:57.060 And we understand Noah to be a prophetic voice in the Old Testament in Genesis. 00:23:58.660 --> 00:23:59.519 Verse 11. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:15.440 Now, let's pause there for a second. 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.759 Peter's cluing us in here, isn't he? 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:28.500 That the spirit of Christ was active in proclaiming the shadow of the gospel through the prophets of old. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:39.640 They understood the spirit of the Christ, the Holy Spirit of God, speaking through them prophetically as they pronounced the word of God. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:42.640 Now, I think that's what he means Noah was doing. 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:49.980 That as Noah was preaching this hope and preaching this judgment and preaching this potential for salvation on the ark, 00:24:50.140 --> 00:24:56.560 it was the spirit of God in the prophetic voice of Noah speaking and preaching through Noah in those moments. 00:24:56.759 --> 00:24:58.300 Now, keep reading in chapter 1. 00:24:59.120 --> 00:25:01.400 He links it for us in verse 12 to now. 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:10.780 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you in the things that have now been announced to you 00:25:10.779 --> 00:25:16.180 through those who preached the good news to you, the gospel to you, by who? 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:20.000 By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:22.799 Things into which angels long to look. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:30.639 Now, I think this is the explanation for that kind of the obscure and mysterious voice, the verse of verse 19. 00:25:31.819 --> 00:25:35.200 That in the same power of the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:39.279 the spirit was preaching prophetically through the prophets of old, 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:40.940 and that included Noah. 00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:46.819 Those who disobeyed Noah's preaching, spirit-filled preaching, 00:25:47.539 --> 00:25:50.599 were judged in the waters of the flood. 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:57.799 While those who obeyed the spirit-filled preaching of Noah were saved in the ark. 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:03.079 Peter understood the story of Noah as we get back to chapter 3 now. 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:07.139 Peter understood the story of Noah typologically. 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:14.860 That is, it was a shadow pointing forward to salvation in Jesus Christ. 00:26:15.560 --> 00:26:22.180 The waters of the flood represent God's judgment on sin, God's judgment of sinners. 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:29.200 The ark represents God's providential means of salvation. 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:40.360 Noah and his family represent those who believe God's word regarding his coming judgment and his means of salvation. 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:45.039 So you see, there is judgment coming. 00:26:45.720 --> 00:26:46.500 That's the flood. 00:26:46.500 --> 00:26:54.680 God, God, not Noah, God has provided a means of salvation in an ark. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:27:03.059 Those who will believe God's warning of judgment and will turn to his provision of salvation do what? 00:27:03.339 --> 00:27:06.880 They get on the ark and they're saved. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:14.000 Peter now links that to believers' baptism. 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:16.860 Now look at it again in verse 21. 00:27:17.880 --> 00:27:26.920 Baptism, he says, which corresponds to this, corresponds to this whole typological look at the story of Noah, 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:29.360 now saves you. 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.580 The ark saved Noah. 00:27:31.020 --> 00:27:34.440 Baptism saves you, he says. 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.440 Baptism saves you, he says. 00:27:35.440 --> 00:27:38.259 Well, that's confusing, isn't it? 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:40.940 Well, we can understand this. 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:48.640 He doesn't mean that there is a saving effect to the physical act of baptism. 00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:49.700 That's not what he's saying. 00:27:49.779 --> 00:27:51.720 In fact, he clarifies it in the next phrase. 00:27:52.200 --> 00:28:00.120 Baptism now saves you, in case you misunderstand, not as a removal of dirt from the body. 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:08.639 It's not the thing physical that is providing some type of justification to you. 00:28:08.759 --> 00:28:09.799 That's not what I mean. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:14.279 Rather, he's emphasizing what is signified in baptism. 00:28:14.579 --> 00:28:20.079 What is signified by the one who is being baptized into Christ. 00:28:21.179 --> 00:28:24.439 Now, if you'll just allow me, I diverge in here for just a moment. 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:28.980 Let's get some clarity here before we move on to the way he's using this as an illustration. 00:28:31.220 --> 00:28:35.940 Baptism, we understand, is not a justifying act. 00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:42.160 That is, justification is when God declares us righteous. 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:47.500 And we are not declared righteous by God based on anything we do. 00:28:47.500 --> 00:28:53.500 We are justified by faith alone in what Christ has done. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:57.720 Not any works that we would do, even religious works that God commands. 00:28:58.880 --> 00:29:01.420 So, baptism is not justifying. 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:04.539 However, and please hear me clearly. 00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:12.920 It is, still yet, essential to one's conversion. 00:29:12.920 --> 00:29:19.620 Not as a justifying work, but as a seal. 00:29:20.560 --> 00:29:27.800 A signifying act of what God is doing in the heart of the individual who has come to him in baptism. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:31.539 Let's think of it in contrast for a moment. 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:37.220 I don't know when this happened or I don't know why it's happened this way. 00:29:37.220 --> 00:29:46.160 But typically, in modern evangelicalism, when we think of conversion, we think of the seal of one's conversion. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:52.039 Or the ultimate signal of one's conversion in what we call the sinner's prayer. 00:29:52.960 --> 00:29:53.120 Right? 00:29:54.079 --> 00:29:56.000 We say, well, you're saved by faith. 00:29:56.140 --> 00:29:57.079 You repent of your sins. 00:29:57.160 --> 00:29:58.259 You trust in Christ. 00:29:58.640 --> 00:29:59.819 And that is sealed. 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:04.880 That act of faith and repentance is sealed in what we call the sinner's prayer. 00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:07.540 Please don't be mad at me. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.700 There is no sinner's prayer. 00:30:11.420 --> 00:30:12.940 There's no sinner's prayer in the Bible. 00:30:13.220 --> 00:30:13.940 It doesn't exist. 00:30:14.120 --> 00:30:14.880 It's not there anywhere. 00:30:15.280 --> 00:30:15.420 Okay? 00:30:16.800 --> 00:30:25.580 But somewhere along the way, we have taken baptism and church membership and communion and all of the benefits of what comes as a result of our conversion. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.940 We set them over here as this thing. 00:30:28.320 --> 00:30:29.660 Kind of a separate thing. 00:30:30.040 --> 00:30:32.480 But over here is what true conversion is. 00:30:32.480 --> 00:30:37.019 And it's repentance and it's faith, which is signified and sealed by a prayer. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:39.920 And we show this in our evangelistic efforts. 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.160 Right? 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:42.420 We teach somebody the gospel. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.620 We tell them about Jesus. 00:30:44.140 --> 00:30:46.480 And they say, well, what must I do to be saved? 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:48.180 And we say, well, let's pray. 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:49.579 And you just cry out to the Lord. 00:30:50.220 --> 00:30:51.759 Tell them that you're sorry that you're a sinner. 00:30:52.539 --> 00:30:56.380 That you are trusting in Christ as a sufficient atonement. 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:59.400 And as they go through that prayer, we say, okay, now you're a Christian. 00:30:59.980 --> 00:31:00.160 Okay? 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:02.080 I'm not saying the sinner's prayer is bad. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.660 I think it can be really helpful. 00:31:04.200 --> 00:31:12.140 All I'm saying is that the thing that the New Testament shows as the seal of that conversion is not a prayer. 00:31:13.080 --> 00:31:14.080 It's baptism. 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:16.040 It's baptism. 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:24.000 So that as we go through our New Testaments and we begin to see Peter and the other apostles are preaching, people are convicted of the heart. 00:31:24.159 --> 00:31:29.420 And they many times will respond to the apostles and they'll say, Peter, what must I do to be saved? 00:31:29.759 --> 00:31:31.180 And what is it that Peter always says? 00:31:32.700 --> 00:31:35.779 Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:38.079 What is it that Paul says to the Philippian jailer? 00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:40.099 What must I do, Paul, to be saved? 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:42.019 He says, repent and be baptized. 00:31:42.879 --> 00:31:48.740 Not because going into the water and coming out of the water has some type of mystical saving effect. 00:31:48.879 --> 00:31:55.879 But the New Testament understands baptism the way that we have more recently understood the sinner's prayer. 00:31:56.919 --> 00:32:02.639 That the seal of that, the signifying act, is not to say a particular prayer. 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:09.939 It's to go into the waters of baptism that Jesus commanded to be the seal and the sign of our salvation. 00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:15.679 Which means in the practical outworking of that, how are we to understand baptism? 00:32:15.839 --> 00:32:17.859 How are we to practice baptism even as a church? 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:19.139 A couple of things. 00:32:19.919 --> 00:32:27.279 One, we must defend and confirm justification by faith alone. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:34.259 That it's not baptism itself, the physical act of it, that is a justifying work in your life. 00:32:34.259 --> 00:32:41.599 In other words, we can truly say someone can trust Christ, not be baptized, and go to heaven. 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:45.279 Because it's not that physical act that is justifying. 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:51.039 We can also say someone can be baptized and go to hell. 00:32:51.680 --> 00:32:52.140 Why? 00:32:52.740 --> 00:32:54.379 Because it's not baptism. 00:32:54.599 --> 00:32:56.879 It's not a physical act that is justifying. 00:32:56.960 --> 00:32:58.559 It's not contributing to their justification. 00:32:58.559 --> 00:33:03.859 So we must defend and confirm justification by faith alone. 00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:17.839 Second, following from that, we must affirm and defend baptism, not as kind of this optional thing you can do. 00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:20.339 Like here's the base subscription over here. 00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:22.299 You repent and believe and do the sinner's prayer. 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:24.259 And here's the plus subscription over here. 00:33:24.259 --> 00:33:26.400 Which is baptism and church membership and communion. 00:33:27.579 --> 00:33:29.440 The Bible doesn't understand it like that. 00:33:30.579 --> 00:33:38.119 We must affirm and defend baptism as an essential seal and sign of one's conversion. 00:33:38.619 --> 00:33:51.200 Again, not as a justifying act, but as the thing that Jesus has said, this is what shows, this is what professes that you actually are following me. 00:33:51.200 --> 00:34:02.299 Third, we must not cheapen the ordinance of baptism with gimmicks. 00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:06.200 We must not cheapen it with gimmicks. 00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:11.260 I am all for goals that are evangelistic in nature. 00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.360 We want to share the gospel. 00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:14.980 We want to preach the truth. 00:34:15.240 --> 00:34:17.199 We want to pray for God to bring fruitfulness. 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:28.639 But as soon as we turn baptism in a profession of faith into a gimmick, that is, on this particular day, we want to have 100 baptisms. 00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:32.559 So let's do everything we can to get 100 people to get in the water on this particular day. 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:42.419 We've started to cheapen something that Jesus taught us was a serious sign and seal of one's genuine conversion to the faith. 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:45.199 We need to be careful with that. 00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:50.039 And the outworking of that, to take it even further. 00:34:51.460 --> 00:35:00.719 We need to be really careful and wise as we rejoice and bring people into the act of baptism in our church. 00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:12.899 That's why we don't do spontaneous baptisms, which is to say we get to the end of a service and just say, okay, if anyone wants to be baptized today, come on up. 00:35:12.899 --> 00:35:15.079 We're going to get you in the water, right? 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:17.639 We're going to get you in the water. 00:35:17.639 --> 00:35:23.779 I don't know that that's a careful and wise way to handle such an important thing. 00:35:24.439 --> 00:35:25.480 What do we want it to do? 00:35:26.679 --> 00:35:31.539 We want to say, if you want to be baptized, let's talk about what the gospel is. 00:35:31.579 --> 00:35:33.379 And we want to hear that you actually believe the gospel. 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:41.780 We don't want our church to put an affirming seal of salvation on someone who doesn't follow Jesus. 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:43.700 We need to be careful about that. 00:35:44.360 --> 00:35:49.740 Which means that we need to be really careful even when we start thinking about baptism for our kids. 00:35:49.739 --> 00:36:06.859 As a parent, I want nothing more than for my children to love Jesus and to understand the truth and to be faithful to the Lord. 00:36:06.860 --> 00:36:10.460 I want that so much. 00:36:10.860 --> 00:36:13.660 I can tell you I don't want it more than Jesus wants it. 00:36:14.500 --> 00:36:15.780 But I want it. 00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:24.660 I also understand as a parent that particularly when they're younger, they want to be like us. 00:36:25.780 --> 00:36:28.519 They trust us more than they trust anyone else. 00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:33.420 And they will believe everything that we believe, whether it's true or not. 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:35.380 Because they trust us. 00:36:37.199 --> 00:36:46.139 And my concern is that sometimes we might be so quick to rush our kids into something like baptism. 00:36:47.139 --> 00:36:50.800 Because we think if this is the thing that actually does it for them. 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:57.240 And that my mind and my soul can rest if I can just get them into the baptismal pool. 00:36:57.380 --> 00:37:00.960 And we lead them through a sinner's prayer when they're quite young. 00:37:01.420 --> 00:37:03.380 And of course, they're affirming of those things. 00:37:04.600 --> 00:37:07.080 And we end up hurting them in the long run, I think. 00:37:08.039 --> 00:37:14.700 Because we've put a seal of assurance of salvation on their lives that I don't know that they actually quite understand yet. 00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:17.960 And I think we need to be careful about that. 00:37:17.960 --> 00:37:22.980 I'm not suggesting that we say, okay, when you turn 18, you're finally allowed to get baptized. 00:37:23.159 --> 00:37:24.019 That's not what I mean. 00:37:24.760 --> 00:37:33.519 I only mean to say that when it comes to this, we must affirm every inclination of faith that our children have. 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:39.780 We must affirm when they want to be like Jesus, when they want to follow Jesus. 00:37:39.780 --> 00:37:50.840 But we also must be careful to acknowledge that when they come to Christ, that they're truly coming to Christ, not coming to us. 00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:56.519 And attaching themselves to Christ by virtue of their love for us. 00:37:57.140 --> 00:38:01.540 But that they're actually owning their faith, not coming along with ours. 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:04.639 That was a big diversion. 00:38:05.500 --> 00:38:06.480 But I think it's important. 00:38:07.400 --> 00:38:10.739 Baptism is not justifying, doesn't make you saved. 00:38:11.300 --> 00:38:18.840 But the Bible does present it as a very essential part of one's conversion, the seal and the sign of conversion. 00:38:19.079 --> 00:38:22.460 And we need to hold it and honor it the way that the Bible does. 00:38:22.679 --> 00:38:24.139 Now, let's move on from that. 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.039 Like the flood. 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:27.179 Let's think about the illustration now that Peter's doing. 00:38:27.179 --> 00:38:34.219 Like the flood, the waters of baptism represent death. 00:38:35.339 --> 00:38:37.619 They represent the judgment of sin. 00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:40.279 Paul tells us this in Romans 6. 00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:46.819 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 00:38:47.919 --> 00:38:52.559 We were buried, therefore, with him by baptism into death. 00:38:52.559 --> 00:39:00.239 In order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 00:39:01.000 --> 00:39:04.099 So the waters of baptism, what is that symbolizing? 00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:04.980 What's it signifying? 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:07.639 Death and death in Christ. 00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:19.659 And if the water points to death and judgment, Jesus then is the providential means of salvation to carry us through the waters of judgment. 00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:21.500 We might say it this way. 00:39:21.599 --> 00:39:22.599 Perhaps you've said this before. 00:39:22.659 --> 00:39:23.299 You've heard it before. 00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:28.879 Jesus is the ark of our salvation. 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:31.099 He's the ark of our salvation. 00:39:31.440 --> 00:39:36.079 He is the ark that delivers us through the waters of judgment. 00:39:36.440 --> 00:39:38.099 How does he actually do that? 00:39:38.099 --> 00:39:46.980 Well, he does it by taking the judgment of sin upon himself so that when we come to him in faith, we are buried with him in baptism. 00:39:46.980 --> 00:39:53.639 That is, our sins and our flesh are put to death with Christ on the cross. 00:39:53.940 --> 00:39:54.400 Why? 00:39:54.559 --> 00:39:56.380 What's the saving effect of that? 00:39:57.039 --> 00:40:09.619 So that when we are brought out of the water, it is not only our death in Christ that is signified, but it is that through his resurrection, we now share in his life. 00:40:09.619 --> 00:40:15.400 So whenever we go over to Kathy and Terry's house and we have a baptism, you've heard me say it before. 00:40:15.539 --> 00:40:17.639 When they go in the water, what is it that I say? 00:40:18.219 --> 00:40:20.079 Buried in the likeness of his death. 00:40:20.199 --> 00:40:21.960 When they come out, what is it that we say? 00:40:22.759 --> 00:40:24.559 Raised in the likeness of his resurrection. 00:40:24.839 --> 00:40:25.920 What does that actually do? 00:40:25.960 --> 00:40:26.759 It's why we don't sprinkle. 00:40:27.299 --> 00:40:28.579 It's why we don't do pour overs. 00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:29.259 Why? 00:40:29.260 --> 00:40:35.080 Because the immersion in the water is significant to what it's representing. 00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:37.440 We are buried with him in his death. 00:40:37.720 --> 00:40:39.140 Our old man is put to death. 00:40:39.380 --> 00:40:41.900 Our sin is put to death on the cross of Christ. 00:40:42.280 --> 00:40:44.480 We are raised in his resurrection. 00:40:45.060 --> 00:40:46.720 That is where our hope is. 00:40:48.340 --> 00:40:53.980 Noah and his family received the salvation of God through faith. 00:40:54.220 --> 00:40:55.900 They believed the message of judgment. 00:40:55.900 --> 00:40:59.639 They believed God's provision of salvation in the ark. 00:40:59.800 --> 00:41:03.539 And their faith is seen in the fact that they got on the boat. 00:41:04.440 --> 00:41:05.559 They got on the boat. 00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:08.059 They believed God. 00:41:08.160 --> 00:41:10.059 They boarded the ark before the judgment came. 00:41:10.139 --> 00:41:12.200 And so it is with those who share in Christ's suffering. 00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:13.960 That's a long way of answering that question, isn't it? 00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:15.880 How do we share in Christ's suffering? 00:41:17.559 --> 00:41:18.980 We believe God's word. 00:41:20.340 --> 00:41:24.800 And we trust in what God has provided for our salvation. 00:41:25.900 --> 00:41:27.579 Which we found in verse 18. 00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:33.220 Is the atoning death of Jesus Christ and his subsequent resurrection. 00:41:34.119 --> 00:41:40.940 Which is then signified, not provided, but signified in baptism. 00:41:42.840 --> 00:41:46.059 This is how one shares in Christ's victory. 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:48.300 Through repentance and faith in him. 00:41:48.300 --> 00:41:50.580 Now that brings us to the third and final thing. 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:56.380 We see in verse 22 the endless assurance of Christ's victory. 00:41:56.920 --> 00:41:59.100 The endless assurance of Christ's victory. 00:41:59.480 --> 00:42:00.100 Verse 22. 00:42:01.120 --> 00:42:05.480 Christ, after his resurrection, has gone into heaven. 00:42:05.580 --> 00:42:06.400 That's his ascension. 00:42:06.720 --> 00:42:07.300 Acts 1. 00:42:08.340 --> 00:42:09.519 He has gone into heaven. 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:12.800 He is at the right hand of God. 00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:16.820 Angels and authorities and powers. 00:42:17.440 --> 00:42:18.259 Having been what? 00:42:19.980 --> 00:42:20.460 Subjected. 00:42:21.019 --> 00:42:21.719 Subjected to him. 00:42:21.940 --> 00:42:23.679 Now we're familiar with that word now, aren't we? 00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:27.699 We've heard it a number of times in this section in Peter's letter. 00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:32.699 In the last two chapters, he's been instructing our subjection. 00:42:33.460 --> 00:42:37.199 He said that we are to be subject to certain authorities. 00:42:37.199 --> 00:42:47.439 And of course, the context of that is we are to be subject to them even when they are wicked and sometimes abusive toward us on account of our faith. 00:42:48.319 --> 00:42:50.699 That's the context of the suffering in this letter. 00:42:50.980 --> 00:42:53.259 So why would Peter bring this up here? 00:42:53.399 --> 00:42:55.819 Why would he talk about this kind of subjection here? 00:42:55.899 --> 00:42:57.000 You can see it, can't you? 00:42:58.659 --> 00:43:01.699 What gives us hope in our suffering? 00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:07.239 That all of those who would persecute us now are subject to one who is greater. 00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:09.439 Every one of them. 00:43:11.019 --> 00:43:19.139 While he instructs us to submit to earthly authorities, Peter reminds us that all authorities, spiritual powers even beyond our comprehension, 00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:24.319 are subject to the rule and the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:27.519 They may threaten, they may afflict us now. 00:43:27.880 --> 00:43:35.539 They will ultimately answer to the victor who has won our salvation and will judge all of our enemies. 00:43:36.820 --> 00:43:40.340 What an assurance and comfort that must have been to these suffering Christians. 00:43:41.460 --> 00:43:42.840 They are struggling. 00:43:43.820 --> 00:43:51.180 They probably feel like they're barely holding on at this point because of the suffering that they're enduring for the sake of Christ. 00:43:51.179 --> 00:43:59.460 And now Peter reminds them, not only has Christ truly provided your salvation, signified in your profession of faith and baptism, 00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:05.199 but he sits at the right hand of God and he rules over every power. 00:44:05.819 --> 00:44:07.179 They're all subject to him. 00:44:07.259 --> 00:44:13.339 And as we go to 1 Corinthians 15, we understand the last enemy to be defeated, death. 00:44:13.579 --> 00:44:14.980 It's all subject to him. 00:44:14.980 --> 00:44:21.519 Our victory in him is assured by his exalted place at the right hand of the Father. 00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:25.740 And here is that crucial part of the gospel message that is often neglected. 00:44:27.320 --> 00:44:36.599 It is the exaltation of Jesus, signified in his ascension to heaven, that assures us of his victory and of our share in it. 00:44:37.440 --> 00:44:42.780 Now to know that our Lord and Savior sits even now upon the throne should comfort us. 00:44:42.780 --> 00:44:48.019 That was always a part of Peter's preaching in Acts chapter 2. 00:44:48.740 --> 00:44:52.620 This Jesus God raised up and of that we are all witnesses. 00:44:53.760 --> 00:45:02.060 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:05.980 he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 00:45:05.980 --> 00:45:13.820 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, 00:45:14.519 --> 00:45:16.599 this Jesus whom you crucify. 00:45:16.679 --> 00:45:18.639 This is how the apostles preached the gospel. 00:45:19.920 --> 00:45:22.480 What will assure us in our time of exile? 00:45:22.900 --> 00:45:25.619 Well, certainly the truth of Jesus' death and resurrection. 00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:28.659 But let's not forget about his eternal reign. 00:45:30.099 --> 00:45:33.440 His is not a victory that must be defended at another time. 00:45:33.440 --> 00:45:35.880 No, he is Lord forever and ever. 00:45:36.700 --> 00:45:39.019 And one day every knee will bow before him. 00:45:39.280 --> 00:45:43.720 So we can take heart that our Lord reigns on the throne. 00:45:44.139 --> 00:45:46.159 And he reigns over all of our enemies. 00:45:47.079 --> 00:45:48.139 Now let's wrap it up. 00:45:49.420 --> 00:45:57.539 The grounds for victory are the atonement for sin that Jesus made on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. 00:45:57.539 --> 00:46:08.320 The assurance of that victory is that he visibly ascended into heaven where he now sits enthroned at the right hand of the Father. 00:46:09.599 --> 00:46:23.039 However, the share in that victory is only for those who will acknowledge that Jesus is the ark of salvation sent by the Father to bring us through the waters of judgment. 00:46:23.039 --> 00:46:28.360 And as I quoted before in Acts chapter 2, that's exactly what happened. 00:46:28.759 --> 00:46:32.699 The people heard that message of Jesus' death and resurrection and exaltation. 00:46:33.159 --> 00:46:36.139 And they were cut to the heart, Peter, Luke says. 00:46:36.320 --> 00:46:39.300 And they asked Peter, what must we do? 00:46:39.820 --> 00:46:40.559 What do we do now? 00:46:40.559 --> 00:46:43.159 And he says, repent and be baptized. 00:46:43.380 --> 00:46:57.000 And then it says, all who believed his word, all who believed and were justified by faith, perhaps even crying out to God in a sinner's prayer, were then baptized. 00:46:57.279 --> 00:46:58.119 That was the seal. 00:46:58.960 --> 00:47:03.019 And they were added to the church and then welcomed to the table. 00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:06.880 Jesus is the victor. 00:47:06.880 --> 00:47:12.340 The question, though, is he your victor? 00:47:13.880 --> 00:47:18.900 And what I mean is, are you personally sharing in the victory that he has won? 00:47:20.539 --> 00:47:21.740 And you say, how can I? 00:47:22.579 --> 00:47:23.780 Will you come to him in faith? 00:47:25.300 --> 00:47:30.240 And when you come to him in faith, you will have a full and eternal share in his life. 00:47:30.800 --> 00:47:35.720 And what does that mean for the rest of us that have trusted in him and are trusting in him? 00:47:35.719 --> 00:47:37.899 Well, it means we can take courage. 00:47:38.819 --> 00:47:41.000 This is the hope that we are to display. 00:47:41.639 --> 00:47:43.839 And this is the hope that we are to defend. 00:47:45.000 --> 00:47:52.399 And we are to persevere in that, keeping our eyes on Jesus, patiently waiting for his return. 00:47:52.400 --> 00:47:52.980 Let's go. 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980 00:47:52.980 --> 00:47:52.980