presence of the Holy Spirit. We see the perfect example of this in the manner in which our Saviour met temptation in Matt. 4 and Luke 4. The Lord quoted from Scripture. The effectual use caused Satan to flee. As we come to the close of this important book we find wonderful promises through suffering (vrs. 10-11). Here we are told that we will be perfected by suffering. It will cause us to be established and strengthened. Paul reminds us that tribulation works patience, and pa tience works experience, and ex perience works hope, and hope brings recognition of the love of Cod to our hearts. God's desire is our spiritual maturity which comes through trials and testings. We have gone through the crucible of suffering allowed by God for our good. No wonder the close of the epistle offers a benediction to God, "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Again the remind er that though the saints may un dergo suffering, yet in the future there will be ultimate triumph. As Peter concludes this book, through the help of Silas (another name for Silvanus) he does so with the greet ings of those who are with him. He admonishes them to continue regarding one another in brotherly kindness and love. Let us continue to remember that God has called us to salvation, submission, and selflessness. He may yet call us to suffering. All of these are a part of the true grace of God as He brings us to a place of maturity for His sake. In our study of I Peter we come to a passage which has caused a
great deal of questioning (3:18-21). The apostle has been talking about Christ's suffering and His death on the cross. He would have us con sider those in Noah's day who were disobedient to the Word of God. They would not repent when the patriarch preached. This leads to a reference to our union with Christ in baptism, which estab lishes us in His resurrection. You may be sure that this section has nothing to do with purgatory. Such, in fact, is never taught in Scripture. The passage also does not indicate that man will have a second chance after death. Others erroneously hold that between His death and resurrection Jesus Christ, in a dis embodied state, went to preach to certain spirits in Hades. At such a time those there were not given another opportunity for salvation but only heard Him tell of His tri umph. This would make it sound like He was gloating over them! The best interpretation is found in the phrase, "quickened by the Spirit." It refers basically to the Holy Spirit who made His body alive. He was raised by the power of the Spirit. The teaching appears to be that Jesus Christ preached in the past by the Holy Spirit to the men of Noah's time as recorded in Gen. 6:3. It may have been a spiritual ministry where Christ Him self was preaching through Noah (I Peter 1:11). By this same Spirit His body was raised from the dead. The spirits of the disobedient of Noah's day are now in prison. For the Christians of Peter's day this was a reminder that their persecu tors who were disobedient to the Word of God would fall under the Lord's judgment if they did not re pent. Their spirits would also be in Page 23
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