1. 1 Peter 3:18

2. --------------------
Why this verse?
Doctrinal approach to Christmas:
Glorifies Christ:
Crucifixion.
Descent.
Resurrection.
Ascension.
Guarantees the believer victory in suffering:
“One of the shortest and simplest, and yet one of the richest summaries given in the New Testament of the meaning of the Cross of Jesus” J. M. E. Ross

3. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
What:
For Whom:
Why:
How:

4. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
What: He came to remove sin!
Died: an evil world!
Died: the required price!
Sins: a heavy load.
Once for all: Finished!

5. What: He came to remove sin!
Comments:
“For 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”
What: He came to remove sin!
A Christ-hating world: “The unbeliever does not hate benevolence in itself, but if it is coupled with the Name of Christ it aroused his murderous anger. He applauds good conduct, but bitterly hates good conduct in the Name of Christ.”
A load of sin: “The use of the plural – ‘sins’ – points to the mass of sins that He bore on behalf of others in His death.”

6. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
What:
For Whom:
Why:
How:

7. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
For Whom: sinners!
Substitution: Penal, substitutionary, vicarious, sacrifice!
Character contrast: Just – unjust.
The Balance: One Just – many unjust.

8. -----------------------------------------
Comments:
“For 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”
For Whom: sinners!
The One is worth more than all:
“The righteous for the unrighteous directs attention to the character of the Sufferer as well as those who benefit from His sacrificial death.”

9. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
What:
For Whom:
Why:
How:

10. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
Why: Bring us to God!
Man’s greatest need: not political, social.
Individual’s greatest goal: bankers? ballplayers?
The God of grace: Makes dust godly.
The reality: God will do it!

11. -----------------------------------------
Comments:
“For 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”
Why: Bring us to God!
Philippians 1:6: “He Who began will perfect it.”
Ephesians 5:1: “Be imitators of God as beloved children.”
1 John 3:2: “When He appears, we shall be like Him.”
Numbers 14:16: “Because the LORD could not bring this people into the land He slaughtered them.”

12. A Very Clear Verse: 1 Peter 3:18
“For 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”
What:
For Whom:
Why:
How:

13. -----------------------------------------
A Very Clear Verse:
“For 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”
How: a gloried Body!
No article in Greed: general, descriptive.
Came as a Servant, the Body presides:
- Mark 4:38: “He Himself was Asleep on the cushion.”
- John 19:28: “I am thirsty.”
Rose in glory, the Spirit presides:
- John 20:26: “Jesus came, the doors having been shut.”
- Acts 1:9: “He was lifted up as they were looking on.”

14. Very Controversial Verses: 1 Peter 3:19-20
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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.”
Where did He go?
And why?

15. Dr. Stephen Lawson on: 1 Peter 3:19-22
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Where did He go? He went somewhere!
Death.
Descent.
Declaration.
Demonstration.
Domination: ascension, exaltation, coronation.

16. Dr. Stephen Lawson on: 1 Peter 3:19-22
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Where did He go? He went somewhere!
‘went’ ‘gone’ – same word.
When? Between His crucifixion and resurrection.
‘spirits in prison’ – always to angelic beings.
‘disobedient . . in the days of Noah’ – a specific transgress.
‘proclamation’ - not the word for Gospel preaching (4:6).
‘angels subjected to Him’ – reference to evil angels.

17. -----------------------------------------
Commentary:
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Hebrews 12:23: ”to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.”
Most demons on the loose, Luke 8:31: “They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.”
Special incarceration, 2 Peter 2:4: “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.”

18. Where did He go? He went somewhere!
Commentary 1 Peter 3:19-22
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Where did He go? He went somewhere!
‘went’ ‘gone’ – same word.
When? Between His crucifixion and resurrection.
‘spirits in prison’ – always to angelic beings.
‘disobedient . . in the days of Noah’ – a specific transgress.
‘proclamation’ - not the word for Gospel preaching (4:6).
‘angels subjected to Him’ – reference to evil angels.

19. -----------------------------------------
Commentary:
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
2 Peter 2:4-6: ”For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah (6), a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (19) to . . .“
Jude 6-7: “And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, just as Sodom and Gomorrah (19) . . .”

20. -----------------------------------------
Commentary: 1 Peter 3:19-22
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Other views:
Christ in Noah:
2nd Chance view:
‘proclamation’ - not the word for Gospel preaching (4:6).
‘angels subjected to Him’ – reference to evil angels.

21. “Evil Angels” – the oldest view: 1 Peter 3:19-22
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Other views:
“The oldest identification of those imprisoned spirits understood them as the fallen angels of Genesis 6” D. Edmund Hiebert, 229.
The Apostles’ Creed (390 AD):

22. The Apostle’s Creed (390 AD)
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell; The third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Catholick Church; The Communion of Saints; The Forgiveness of sins; The Resurrection of the body, And the Life everlasting. Amen.
Latin: Descendit ad infernos
Greek: κατελθόντααεις
τάάκατώτατα

23. -----------------------------------------
Synthesis: 1 Peter 3:19-22
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Four Key verses:
Identity of the spirits, Genesis 6:4:
Upper/Lower Sheol, Abraham’s bosom: Luke 16:23, 26.
Abraham’s bosom, ‘paradise,’ Luke 23:43.
No more Abraham’s Bosom, Ephesians 4:8-9.

24. Synthesis:
“in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, who 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 Through the resurrection of Christ, Who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him”
Identity of the spirits, Genesis 6:4: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”
Upper/Lower Sheol, Abraham’s bosom: Luke 16:23, 26:
“In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me ’ - But Abraham said: ‘And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’
Abraham’s bosom, ‘paradise,’ Luke 23:43: ”Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
No more Abraham’s Bosom, Ephesians 4:8-9: ”Therefore it says,
‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.’ (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?”

25. Dr. John MacArthur
“The demons may have been celebrating their seeming victory in the wake of Christ’s death and burial – only to soon to be profoundly and permanently disappointed when the living Christ Himself arrived” 1 Peter, 210.

26. Fight the good fight (2 Timothy 4:7)
Suffer fighting sin, not participating in it!
“For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong” 1 Peter 3:17.
Application:
Be zealous.
Don’t be afraid.
Evangelize.
Keep a good conscience.
Suffer fighting sin, not loving sin.

27. Merry Christmas!

28. Exalt the Name of Christ!
Majesty worship His Majesty  Unto Jesus, be all glory, Power and praise  Majesty, Kingdom authority  Flow from His throne,  Unto his own, His anthem raise.  So exalt, lift up on high The Name of Jesus Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King Majesty, worship His Majesty  Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all Kings.

29. my Jesus, I Love You
My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine; For Thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou; If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now. I love thee because thou hast first loved me and purchased my pardon on Calvary's tree; I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, 'tis now. I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death, And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath; And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

30. Soli Deo Gloria!!!