Peter Goes Way Back...1 Peter 3:18-22...some fall shots too

 

This has been my view from the deck as I watch the colors "pop" across central Wisconsin.  We have also been experiencing some "frosty" mornings.

Here is the start of one evening in the deer blind and then comes the close of the evening with Mr. Moon making his appearance.  It was a beautiful couple of hours to be still in the sometimes hectic world that we live in.  One more picture before the sermon recap to make you smile.  Here is little Roy!

Peter gives us the greatest example as he directs his readers, the 1st century Gentile Christians who are being heavily persecuted, to Jesus' very example of suffering for doing good in following His Father's will in regard to our salvation.  He then directs them to the example "way back" of Noah and the days prior to the flood.  

Some say that verse 19 "...in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,..." is one of the hardest verses in the New Testament to interpret.  I found at least 4 different versions of how to understand what Peter is talking about.  I think what was most helpful to me was the revelation that you can either tie v.19 back to v.18 and Jesus' activities around the cross and resurrection or you can tie v.19 forward to v.20 and Noah's proclamation of righteousness in his time prior to the flood and during the building of the ark.  

The Bible is a book to study for a lifetime.  It is amazing that we have God's very words that continue to feed our souls each time we open up the pages.  We dive into the historical context to gain a right interpretation and then that interpretation is to be applied to our historical context.  

We live in a day, like Noah's and like the 1st century, where the society is running from God or trying to replace the God of the Bible (even within the church).  We live in a day when there is increasing pressure upon those who continue to hold unto what God has said in His word to conform to the world's ever changing standards rather than God's unchanging ones.  

One example would be God's definition and creation of marriage.  The world has offered a different definition that contradicts God's.  Human laws are being made that correspond with the world's definition and they are spilling over into the Christian arena.  Will we keep standing upon what God has said no matter the consequences?  Our 1st century forefather Christians did continuing to say "Jesus is Lord" in gentleness and respect over "Caesar is Lord."  The physical consequence at times was death.  Definitely we are not there but are we willing to accept the physical consequences in our day of holding unto our spiritual blessing of eternal life with Him?  

Be a mandate holder of 

1) proclaiming the excellencies of Him who brought you out of darkness and into His marvelous light; 

2) following in His steps with His words and His ways; 

3) blessing others with words and actions that keep them in view for their salvation; and 

4) giving a defense of the hope within you that comes not from you but from the Father above through Jesus Christ.  

Adam