1 Peter 3: 18-22
For Christ died for sins once and for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand–with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
A Thought
We are all sinful members of the unrighteous group that Peter is now addressing. Christ, the only righteous one, suffered death once and for all to enable us to be brought back to God in his righteousness. Christ’s body was lifeless on the cross but he became alive by the Spirit and went into the lower part of the earth where he preached to the captive spirits held there. We, who will believe and accept what Christ has done for us in his life, death and resurrection by the Spirit, should also be baptized in water to show our pledge of a good conscience toward God. We will also receive the same Spirit of God that we also will be resurrected alive with Jesus Christ who now sits at the right hand of God with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for the privilege of being in a right relationship with you. Thank you for your Spirit that lives within us that will resurrect us to life eternal with you and Jesus Christ. Help each of us to submit our lives to righteous living made possible by the gift of grace through Jesus the Christ. We ask in his name, amen.
