Victory in Suffering

For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
1 Pet 3:17, NKJV)

The last half of 1 Peter 3 is written in the context of a discussion by the Apostle Peter on suffering. Specifically, Peter is talking about suffering unjustly -- those times when we are walking with Christ in righteousness and people are persecuting us because of it:

This could be as simple as someone falsely accusing you -- "You lied to me!" Our first response might be to strike back in anger, "How can you say that -- besides you're always yelling at me for no reason!" The Bible says that it is better to suffer for doing good than to do evil and suffer the consequences. When you strike back in anger at a false accusation, you do evil and will certainly suffer for it. (This is the principle of reaping what you sow -- Gal. 6:7) It is better to trust God's judgment and certain justice in such suffering than to take revenge.
It could be much more severe such as being imprisoned because you trust in the LORD Jesus Christ. Clarke Kennedy, my missionary friend with Operation Mobilization, sent an email that several of his friends in Saudi Arabia were recently jailed because they were Christians. The Saudi government, usually allies of the U.S.A., have begun to persecute people who are not Muslims. Their suffering is intense right now. As the Bible tells us, we need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ as though we ourselves were imprisoned with them.
Then again, the suffering could be so severe that your life is on the line. This is happening right now in Sudan where Christians are sold into slavery, tortured, or just plain murdered. Definitely we need to be praying for our brothers and sisters in this land.

Should you renounce Christ in order to be spared the suffering and indignity of such persecution? Should you engage in sin to avoid suffering? Should you strike back when persecuted? Absolutely not! Yet such suffering, even when it is only humiliation or mocking, is hard for most people to take, much harder to endure for any length of time. So how shall we endure the suffering we will face for doing good because we love Jesus?

Main Thought: The suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross was, in reality, the greatest victory ever won. In the ultimate injustice, in the ultimate suffering at the cross, the only One who was truly good triumphed over sin, death, and all the evil forces of darkness.

When we arm our arsenal of faith with this assurance, we find the strength to endure unjust suffering and do what is right anyway.

18 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. (1 Pet 3:18-20, NKJV)

This is one of the more puzzling passages of Scripture for it first declares the most wonderful news the world has ever heard: Christ died for sins, once for all, the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God! (v. 18) This much is crystal clear:

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was not in vain -- He accomplished the complete payment of the penalty (death ... Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23) for ALL sin for ALL time. He suffered ONCE for sins!
The purpose of Jesus dying on the cross was not just to erase sin but to bring reconciliation between sinners with no hope and our Holy God with great mercy.
To trust in the LORD Jesus Christ as your Savior means you believe He died once for ALL YOUR SINS to bring YOU to God. When you trust Him in this way, you find complete forgiveness and gain eternal life.

Based on this, Peter proceeds with a description of Jesus preaching to "spirits in prison" (v. 19) who were disobedient in the days of Noah. (v.20) This passage has received many varied interpretations by both respected and off-the-wall Bible teachers. There is agreement among most commentators that:

The message was a personal proclamation of Christ (due to the construction of the Greek sentence).
The message proclaimed was the victory described in verse 18.

Below is a brief description of the three most common options (*1) given for understanding this text:

Option	Description	Comments
(1) Preaching to disembodied unbelievers from Noah's day.	This teaches that between the death and resurrection of Christ, He went (through His human spirit made alive by the Holy Spirit) to preach to the unbelievers awaiting final judgment in Hades.	The passage clearly states it is those who were disobedient during Noah's day -- why would Christ proclaim His victory only to some of the unbelievers? This is certainly a possible explanation but cannot explain this important point.
(2) Preaching to the fallen angels who were disobedient in Noah's day.	This teaches that the "spirits in prison" were fallen angels imprisoned by God for overstepping their bounds in Noah's day. (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 1:6) Christ proclaimed His victory on the cross to them.	Those who hold this view insist that the Gen. 6:1-6 passage speaking of the "sons of God "refers to fallen angels who had sexual union with women, the "daughters of men". This approach either grants angels (a) the power to create human life capable of reproduction or (b) the power to both possess humans and alter the conception process to produce half-man / half-angel creatures. Both of these options are problematic.
(3) Preaching to unbelievers in Noah's day.	This teaches that the Spirit of Christ spoke through Noah to the unbelieving world prior to the Flood. Noah, a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter. 2:5) proclaiming the message of God's judgment and His mercy to come through Christ.	This follows Peter's description in 1 Peter 1:10-12 of the prophets who diligently sought to know more about the salvation to be gained by Christ through His suffering. It was the "Spirit of Christ" speaking to the prophets.

Any of these, with some cautions on option 2, are within the halls of orthodox faith. The first option leaves us with real questions about the purpose of Christ while the second suggests confusing doctrines on the nature of man, angels, and the sovereignty of God. The third option is clear and consistent with Peter's epistle and the rest of Scripture as well.

When trying to interpret a difficult Scripture passage, the principles that are important to keep in mind are:

Let the context rule the definition of terms and words -- be a careful reader of the passage, realizing it is just part of a chapter in a book that is part of the whole of Scripture.
Let the plain sense of Scripture speak -- if poetry, in figurative terms; if history, in factual terms; if doctrinal, in dogmatic terms.
Let Scripture interpret Scripture -- check and verify a potential interpretation against other passages or verses on the same topic.
Let the clear passages guide understanding of the difficult passages -- the cults are famous for building dogmatic teachings on obscure, hard-to-understand verses.

So Christ, speaking to and through Noah, proclaimed God's judgment on sin and His promise of mercy through the suffering of Christ and the glories to follow. The men of Noah's day ignored 130 years of this message being faithfully proclaimed to them. Noah suffered untold persecution during this time -- right up to the point that God shut him and his family in the Ark and the rain started to fall. Then it was too late. The message of salvation is the message of Christ's death on the cross for our sins-- once for all. Don't miss the Ark of Jesus Christ.

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. (1 Pet 3:21-22, NKJV)

This passage is also interesting in that the waters of the Flood, typically associated with God's judgment, are referred to symbolically as the waters of baptism which save you. The question that crops up in the church from time to time: "Can water baptism alone save you?" and "Must you have faith in Jesus Christ AND be baptized in order to be saved?" No.But many still teach that faith in the LORD Jesus Christ is not enough-- that you MUST be baptized in water before you are really saved. This is a common but not universal teaching among churches with the "Church of Christ" banner.

Peter relates here that there is a baptism that saves us -- but it is NOT the "removal of the filth of the flesh" which is water baptism. This is a clear passage which refutes the idea that water baptism is required for salvation. While Christ commanded baptism for His disciples, it is an act of obedience to Him as LORD once you have entrusted your life to Him. What does save you is the "answer of a good conscience toward God "which is the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes you a "new creation" inside and comes to dwell in your heart the moment you put your faith in Jesus Christ.

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-- whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-- and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Cor 12:13, NKJV)

This is the baptism Peter has in mind -- whereby the Holy Spirit puts you into the body of Christ, His church. This is what provides you with a good conscience toward God. A good conscience towards God requires the forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with the One who is truly good. (v. 18)

Peter concludes this point with the fact that the resurrected Christ now has all authority in heaven and earth. All is subject to Him who sits in the seat of power -- at the "right hand of God" (1 Pet. 3:22, NKJV). His victory was won on the cross. His power and authority is established forever.

Though He endured the suffering of stubborn, rebellious people in Noah's time, and suffering through His prophets, apostles, and disciples, remember that He now sits on the throne of Heaven exalted above all rule and authorities. As in Noah's day, there is a limit to His longsuffering nature. We may endure persecution, humiliation, and rejection for the sake of Christ, but Christ is the One who has won the victory for us and sits far above those who mock Him and us.

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2, NKJV)

Wicked people will mock you on account of your faith. Be of good courage-- Christ, the Perfect One was mocked also. He was crucified because they could not tolerate His holiness in their midst. How will people respond to you when you reflect the holiness of God in their midst? Some will recognize the Spirit of God at work in your life and be attracted to it. Many will do their best to ignore what you stand for. Still others will rise up in opposition to you because of Christ. Quite often, this is the source of suffering for many Christians.

A common tactic of the enemy is to attack your own shortcomings and sin. Christians do sin sometimes. As the bumper sticker reads, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven". I must admit this is partially true-- our position in Christ is one of perfection and holiness because of the perfect sacrifice of Christ. Practically, though, we still sin sometimes. Sometimes, it's a whopper of a sin. Yet the daily work of Christ in you is to make you holy in practice as you are in position. But how do you respond to such an attack on your old sin nature?

Peter says to arm yourself with the same mind as Christ who endured such suffering and persecution in order to save as many people as would turn to Him. To "arm yourselves" (1 Pet. 4:1, NKJV) means to take up a weapon which you know how to use in case of battle.

Set your mind on the victory that Christ has already won at the cross for you. Remember your sins were forgiven and will not be held against you by God.
Set your sights on the will of God not the lusts of the flesh. Remember that the Holy Spirit who brought you into the body of Christ has the power to help you live for Christ and is your seal of redemption. (Eph. 1:14)

What can man do to you? The worst anyone can do is kill you. But in killing you -- think about this -- they put you in a place where you no longer sin. "For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin" (1 Pet. 4:1, NKJV). Since the suffering in the flesh refers to the death of Christ on the cross, if you suffer in the flesh this means that you have given your life for Christ and thus have ceased to sin. You will be with Jesus.

Reflect on YOUR life: This passage is intended to boost your confidence and assurance in what Christ has done for you on the cross. Since He endured the shameful suffering for you on the cross and at the hands of wicked men since the dawn of time, He is able to defendyou, strengthen you, uplift you, and protect you in even the worst of suffering. He has placed you on His side -- and His is the winning side. Suffer for doing good -- Jesus who vindicated Himself will surely vindicate you.

End Notes:

*1 A fourth option, taught by some cults and false Bible teachers, is of a "second-chance gospel". This says that Christ preached the gospel to those in Noah's time since they never had the chance to hear it. This, of course, contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture that each person dies once and then is judged by God, not given a "second-chance". One must wonder, also, about even the fairness of such a view since nothing is said of other unbelievers receiving such a measure of grace.