Bringing Us to God (Part A)

When death comes my way when it's cold, do lies on my brow bring me to God. That's what I want is only one that can do it. That is the Christ, one who was spat upon strong and mock and crucified. There's no other way to bring us to God.

Salvation is everything. That's what it's all about that's full-time, full-time commitment. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston.

Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of first Peter chapter 3 as he begins his message bringing us to God. Your continuing in first Peter chapter 3. If you have your Bibles please turn verse 18 is where we will begin reading for Christ also suffered once for sins just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom he, by whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient, when once the divine, long-suffering, waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water. There is also an anti-type, which now saves us baptism, not the removal of the flesh, the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God and angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to him, bringing us to Christ that is where hopefully the emphasis will lie this morning on this passage of Scripture before our beginning verse which is verse 18 in verse 17 he had said to these persecuted Christians, it is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good then for doing evil, and then you get to chapter 4 verse one he says. Therefore, Christ suffered for us in the flesh course.

We started in verse 18 Christ also suffered once for sins suffering suffer that word is one that is standing out what is what is it all about what is what. What does suffering have to do with the children of God, the preaching of the gospel. It's what it has to do, that's what the point that Peter is trying to make is the LU being persecuted right now, but the preaching continues in season and out of season.

If it's in the season of peace and calm. You preached the truth you preach the gospel if it is during time of persecution when evil is exalted, you preached the truth to preach the gospel.

This is the way that Noah did it. This is the way Christ did it. This is the way we do it and persecution comes in many forms. There is of course that hateful persecution that we can be subject to, and then there is the persecution of luxuries. The flesh just persecutes the appetite of the spirit. And so we we have a lot to do here in this life. We Christians meaningful work. Bringing us to God. That was the role of Jesus Christ. That was what Noah did and that is what we do. Verse 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 not of wasted suffering there people that suffering is just waste the end they get hell and we are to do all that we can in the power of the spirit to intercept those souls that are on the wrong course through this life because they have rejected Jesus Christ. So the sufferings of the sun all about bringing lost souls to God for salvation.

He was abused right before the cross, they found him innocent and condemned to death. So they abused him, spat on him.

They smacked him they mocked him. Then they crucified that not then they killed him. Then they crucified him.

They wanted himself first and then while he was dying.

They mocked him even more.

Those especially who should've been knowledgeable of the Scriptures and the fulfillment of the Scripture through his life they led the charge.

Isaiah says he is despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. And we hid as it were our faces from him. He was despised. We did not esteem him will, of course, is is writing 7/700 years before the birth of Christ. Christ, of course refill this verse.

It spoke of him and through the ages people have rejected him. Of course his own people what Isaiah says, and we hear that means the Jewish people. We we should've known better but we did not esteem him there people to this very day. Not esteeming the Christ. Unfortunately, many times Christians give them all the ammunition they need to reject Christ is sufferings were prophetic.

They were also voluntary. Christ did not find himself in a bad situation. He put himself there for us voluntary suffering.

I almost never volunteer to suffer. Maybe you do. Maybe something wrong with you, although it all hurt we do with of course love is involved, we would suffer for a loved one, and that's what God has done through Christ. It was vicarious. He suffered in our place.

The judgment that is there other sufferings that belong to us that he's not going to suffer for us, though, he suffers with us, but this suffering that he took upon himself was to remove the dirt of judgment that would be upon us on that day. When we leave this life. It was also victorious. There was fruit that came out of it was not wasted. One of the reasons why he will reference the eight souls saved on the ark is that it wasn't wasted. Noah did achieve fruit from all the preaching that he did and he had over 120 years to preached just that part about the judgment to come.

Not to mention things before the and so once for sins. Peter tells us, Christ is not, nor will he ever again suffer injury for sin.

Though he suffers what we go through his spirit sees what we go through. Of course he suffers that much, but not not suffering for sins to remove the judgment. There is no perpetual suffering of Christ on our behalf. Romans six verse nine knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead, dies no more death no longer has dominion over him, you're really death never did have dominion over him because they didn't kill him.

He gave up his spirit. He dismissed his humanity when he was good and Kathy to dismiss it. I love the Lord Jesus Christ because of his splendor because he is awesome. He says once for sins now there are a great many who attend churches who refuse to face brazen sin in their own lives or the lives of others and this is a big problem because it helps Satan impenitent sin in many circles just goes online. Nobody checks that like an invasive weed just takes over and then then there are those that demand that the blatant sin be accepted.

While they rudely trampled upon the commandments of Christ trampled upon the word consisting others say nothing about it. They tried to take the shame out of sin. We don't do that shyness since it is shameful we both were born again note for well there are even those foolish enough to advocate for those who are blatantly sinning in churches. Don't you dare, don't you dare call them out you better ignore the Dragon in the room, Christ died for our sins, not for us to dismiss them as though they were meaningless. Every piece of pain and humanity is due to sin is the record of pain and humanity until Adam and Eve sinned. First Corinthians is this just one spot Paul hit it harder and second Thessalonians chapter 3, but I'll just take this one in first Corinthians reasons, but now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother is any Christian continues who is sexually immoral, covetous, that is, to the lustful fault of it or not, idolaters are or a revile or or a drunkard or an extortion, not even to eat with such a person always and I listen you got somebody sing a Christian, but they brazenly live like they're not Christians cut off now is not saying those who struggle with these things he's talking about those who just don't care. They insist when I'm saying Jesus died for me dive you to keep your sin like that you're not saved.

So we are careful about these things. Hopefully all of us together not judge mental holding to what the Scripture says for the just. He continues in verse 18, that Christ died, the just for the unjust, what we sinners, we owe a debt to God. We cannot pay that debt is obedience. We can pay it by nature, we sin when I'm not at I'm a sinner I'm born one. I'm going to sin, and so are you. But Christ paid the debt he didn't know he didn't owe this have to do it we know and understand that this is part of our messages. As of this is the gospel. Christ did not come into this world as the incarnate Jesus, born in Bethlehem, he did not assume humanity onto his deity just to show us how to live it and not become humans on a show you how it's done.

That was part of it that was not the main part of it not become the incarnate Christ to relieve pain-and-suffering from every life he came in touch with just a few thousand that he he did in his day, probably in innumerable amount. What about all the other generations, whom he did not touch and heal and cleanse. It did not come just to teach us about God to sympathize with us. He entered this world to suffer to bleed and to die for sinners by us back to redeem us and so we read in Peter's clear on this, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. How powerful is that bring me to God. That's what I want when death comes my way when it's cold, do lies on my brow bring me to God.

That's what I want and is only one that can do it and that is the Christ, the one who was spat upon and struck and marked and crucified. There is no other way to bring us to God.

Salvation is everything.

That's what it's all about that's full-time, full-time commitment to work out our salvation to carry it out to behave as though we have been bought the blood of Christ. Hebrews chapter 2, for it was fitting for him, that is Jesus, whom all things, and by whom are all things and bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering.

He is the captain of our salvation. The blood of Christ. It can and it does cleanse and cancel out the judgment of sin being put to death.

He says in the flesh. Maybe as I'm reading this you sing it I got it so I this is basic Christianity get to the part about preaching to souls in the underworld over them come to that in a minute another visit. Wow, what so will stick to hang around for a little bit would get to it. He says being put to death in the flesh where those who do not believe him killed him for daring to be so righteous in their face not intentionally does live righteously.

They took it that way all of our guilt and sin and suffering for sin and shame all transferred to him in the Old Testament when the Jew wanted to bring a sin offering or burnt offering to God they would take it to the tabernacle with the altar was with the priest was with the Shekinah was and they would take their sacrificial animal, and they would lay their hands on that beast before that beast was slaughtered on their behalf. Their sin was being transferred to that animal. Christ is fulfilled that type his holiness, his righteousness, his goodness and acceptance is transferred to us so that when God looks at us. The sin is gone, washed away in the blood of Christ, he is made us acceptable in the heavens. Through his sacrifice at the cross, he would die that we would limit live he took on our sin, he transferred it to us to himself and his righteousness to us. That is, salvation. He says, but made alive by the Spirit again. They could kill the incarnate body by his permission but they could not kill him. As I mentioned, he dismissed his soul when he was good and ready sovereign to the end. But this made alive by the Spirit of God will. This is very important to understanding what's now coming. Verse 19, by whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison who formerly were disobedient, when once the divine long-suffering's waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls were saved through water well Peter you know the thing is when you write when you write spiritual things, it's usually because you fought them out and often you've already preached them so you form your theology in your presentation. It would not be out of character with Christian pastoral behavior to say that Peter lightly was preaching on these things when he wrote the letter, when he dictated the letter and Silas is writing it down so that means it Peter understand what he is saying his audience. Maybe totally there with him because he may have heard sermons like this from Peter or others who preach that at the time, but by the time 2000 years of rolled by with little confused.

We come to such verses is this who is this in prison and what spirit is preaching what is going on here really not that complicated of a passage of Scripture. Now I'm not a sci-fi Christian. I do not try to read into versus things that are sensational would really don't make any sense. For example, those of you familiar with Genesis 6 Giants and the women nothing New York Giants. It there are those it believes there that there were intimate relationships between the Giants and the women help with these giants I mean more than a female Giants make a lot of problems now though they were spiritual beings and I have got these wet highbred you know spiritual beings having physical relationships with human beings and then having physical offspring to now challenge the virgin birth because later on you going to be able Seattle. We know that the virgin birth was of got you just create problems that are there. They were the keyboardist the net for limb.

They were the giants of society, not physical, Giants, but there are many Christians that in good Bible teaches otherwise good in other passages, the God of the gospel in their shop cookies, but on some passages.

The best of them get a little weird. This is also one of them. No bring some of that out in a moment. So where he says, by whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison because Peter is talking about the crucifixion and death of Christ, who was raised by the spirit. That's what he says there are many of the commentators that keep it. Keep this passage. Verse 19 connected to the crucifixion of Christ, supposing that when he died he went to the underworld and there he preached, which is really kind of pointless to deliver the saints for sure hell was not fully populated more people, people of this very moment.

Hell is being populated, they would've missed the sermon pointless.

But anyway, that's just another part of this we can be too quick to accept the sensational when the symbol is most proper, and I think all of us have met God loving God fearing Christians who believe anything very quickly that is weird in Erie. I would counsel against that because usually it is at the cost of reason that does not help the preaching of the gospel or the strengthening of the individual. Peter's reference to know what is the key to understanding what is going on here is not talking about Christ after the crucifixion going in preaching into the underworld is talking about Christ being raised by the spirit that same spirit was in no and Noah preached to those who were then alive in his day, 420 years. He preached he was a preacher of righteousness, Peter will tell us, and those who rejected that message are in prison. Spiritually, they are dead they are gone and they are not in heaven that's the point that Peter is made so that's the short answer. The spirit of Christ was an order preaching to the antediluvian's those before the flood. Now here's one otherwise good commentator is what he says about this verse between Christ's death and resurrection his living spirit went to the demon spirits bound in the abyss and proclaimed that in spite of his death he had triumphed over them.

I don't really that I'm not alone would be nice if I was like the only one that discovered the true meaning and I could see all those guys are wrong, but not me. I'm special.

But that's not the case. John Wesley Wesley, that great great man of God from England ministry failed here United States.

He suffered a lot before 40 got together but anyways he writes about this by which spirit he preached through the ministry of Noah spirits in prison on holy men before the flood, who were then reserved by justice, the justice of God is in prison until he executed the sentence upon them all now also reserved the judgment of the great day. And so that's what I agree with that. Wesley is another. I won't name the ones that are still living or have been not living long, having died recently. Peter is describing what happened in the days of Noah. It was the spirit of Christ to preach through Noah to the unbelieving generation before the flood they were not disembodied spirits.

At the time, but living men and women who rejected the warnings of Noah and were destroyed by the flood. So now they are spirits in the prison of Hades is not a teaching to divide you and says no, no, I want deep enough. I want to Erie one bit that okay have added but that again is not something to divide on I think if you take that route. You going to be confused by a lot of other things though and so I would caution against it in verse 19, will develop a little bit more as we go forward, where he says, verse 19, by whom also he went. Peter speaks of the spirit of the Holy Spirit in Christ spoke to Noah as I mentioned Christ was very active before the manger.

Christ was alive and functioning before he was born to bet that it only sell happy birthday did you have a birthday is eternally self existent.

He's always been. He always will be.

He is the Alpha and the Omega, and I know it's a sentimental thing and I'm not telling you sinning by saying, and if you want to keep doing it, that's fine, but he's always been and is always been active so has the Holy Spirit, so has the father. These three are one and they are not there, indivisible first Peter chapter 1 of this salvation, the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you who show them these things, the prophesied of course he goes on Peter searching what, or what manner of time. The spirit of Christ, who is in them.

That's what he says was indicating when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow Christ was in the prophets says that he revealed to them things about his ministry on earth as we start off reading from Isaiah 53 verse three Christ gave them that just as Christ gave to Noah, his messages Christ gives to us our message and that's the point.

You Christians are being persecuted but Christ is still ministering to you. The Holy Spirit is not withdrawn from you. You are still expected to conduct Christian business in the midst of these things. This is the point entire section about preaching in the face of ridicule and persecution verse while Romans chapter 8 but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you know if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ is not his.

You see the Holy Spirit.

The spirit of Christ can separate you go mad trying to join together move. We are so glad you tuned in today to study the book of first Peter on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and we are blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you'd like more information about this program or want to listen to additional teachings from Pastor Rick please visit our website cross reference radio.com. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

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