Rock Solid Hope - A Study of 1 Peter Lesson 6 - Hope In the Absolute Victory of Christ
“That’s just your interpretation…” Sometimes people use this as an excuse to just throw up their hands and act like the Bible is unclear, and no one can claim they know what it says. On the one hand, God has spoken clearly and we can claim to know what his Word says. On the other hand, no one can read the Bible without having to interpret it. Today we’ll practice interpreting challenging, yet important and powerful phrases from 1 Peter 3.
1 Peter 3:13-16 Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you should happen to suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not be afraid of what they fear, and do not be troubled. 15 But regard the Lord, the Christ, as holy in your hearts. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 But speak with gentleness and respect, while maintaining a clear conscience, so that those who attack your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame because they slandered you as evildoers.
1. “Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?” Evaluate the following interpretations of this phrase: a. If you try your best to do good, no one will harm you.
b. If you try your best to do what is good, most people will not try to harm you, and even when they do, you can have confidence that God is with you.
c. If you try your best to do what is good, you’ll never need to fear anything. 2. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.” Evaluate the following interpretations of this phrase: a. Whenever anyone asks you a question about God, you better have the right answer, or they won’t come to faith in him.
b. If you put your hope in God, all kinds of people will constantly be asking you about it, and you’ll be converting many. c. When people see the unusual hope that you have in Christ, it will at times cause them to ask you about it; and you can simply share why you have this hope.
3. When is it hard to speak “with gentleness and respect” when talking about your reason for hope? 1 Peter 3:17-18 Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, 18 because Christ also suffered once for sins in our place, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit.
4. The way God brings you to himself is by Jesus suffering for doing good. One way God uses you to bring people to himself is by you suffering for doing good. In your life, when has God used a “suffering messenger” to bring new people to himself?
5. “Jesus was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit.” Evaluate the following interpretations of this phrase: a. Jesus was physically killed, 3 days later he experienced a spiritual resurrection. b. Jesus was killed by people, but brought back to life by God’s Holy Spirit. c. When Jesus died, he was choosing to live a humble “fleshly” human life. When Jesus rose from the dead, he choose to live a exalted, glorified, “spiritual” kind of human life.
6. Sometimes a great principle of Biblical interpretation is “Let Scripture interpret Scripture.” Here are a few other Bible verses which help us understand 1 Peter 3:18. -
Romans 1:3-4 This gospel is about his Son—who in the flesh was born a descendant
of David, 4 who in the spirit of holiness was declared to be God’s powerful Son by his resurrection from the dead—Jesus Christ, our Lord.
1 Timothy 3:16 Great is the mystery of godliness: He was revealed in flesh, was justified in spirit.
7. Peter (and Paul in the other verses) are referring to a teaching called “Jesus’ 2 states of existence as God-man”. In his state of humiliation Jesus decided to lay aside the full use of his divine powers, and instead live a humbly “fleshly” human life. In his state of exaltation Jesus has now decided to once again make full use of his divine powers, he now lives a exalted “spiritual” kind of human life.
8. Why does this all matter? What would you say to this kind of comment: “If I believe in Jesus, why doesn’t my life seem to get better? Seems like God could do a lot more good in my life if I was free from suffering and weakness. What’s the deal? When will the glory come?”
1 Peter 3:18-20 He was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit. 19 in which he also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison. 20 These spirits disobeyed long ago, when God’s patience was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.
9. “He also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison.” Evaluate the following interpretations of this phrase: a. After Jesus’ death, his soul went to hell to suffer more before his resurrection. b. After Jesus’ death, his soul went to hell to preach to the spirits in hell so that they could have a second chance to repent and have life.
c. After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the resurrected Jesus then went to proclaim his victory to the spirits in hell.
10. “Let Scripture interpret Scripture.” A few other verses which are helpful: -
Colossians 2:15 After disarming the rulers and authorities, he made a public display of them by triumphing over them in Christ.
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2 Peter 2:4 “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment.”
11. Why do you think Jesus would consider it necessary to proclaim his victory to the spirits in hell after his resurrection? 12. Why do you think Peter chose the people of Noah’s day as an example of spirits in hell who heard Jesus’ victory proclamation? Why not pick any of the other spirits in hell?
1 Peter 3:20-22 In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 He went to heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
13. The ark of Noah, what did it accomplish? 14. How is baptism similar to the flood of Noah’s day and the ark? 15. Baptism doesn’t clean dirt from the body, but gives “the guarantee of a good conscience before God.” Evaluate the following interpretations of this phrase: a. Baptism is your way of pledging to good that you will do your best to keep your conscience clean before him.
b. Baptism connects you to Jesus’ resurrection; and that resurrection is your legal claim of a good conscience before God.
c. Baptism connects you to Jesus’ resurrection; and as you more live in the reality of your new life in Christ, your conscience naturally becomes more and more clean as you sin less and serve God more.
16. Jesus “went to heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.” Evaluate the following interpretations of this phrase: a. Jesus is far away in heaven at God’s right hand. If he needs to get things done, he commands angels and they take care of his business.
b. Jesus is always near, though invisible. He is always actively advancing his Father’s will. He has angels and other powers available to get things done.
c. Jesus did his main work on earth, now he’s far removed, just waiting to come back one day and get involved in the affairs of this world again.