Rev. David Holwick ZA
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
August 31, 1997
1 Peter 3:18-22
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I. In a disaster, it's nice to have one.
A. Troubles with MIR space station.
1) Damaged solar cells, onboard fire, leaking unit...
2) In case of emergency, an escape vessel is always ready.
Only way home.
Twice now, manual told them to bail out, but they didn't.
Once they all leave, the station will be junk.
But it's nice to know the escape vessel is there.
B. What is your escape vessel?
1) We live in a troubled world.
a) We have only one chance to live right.
2) Jesus can be our escape vessel.
II. A little bit of theology.
A. Someone has suffered so we don't have to.
1) Jesus died for our sins. Mark 10:45
a) Early emphasis: Jesus' death had a redemptive purpose.
2) Once for all.
a) Not repeatable, cannot be added to.
b) New Catholic emphasis on "Mary co-redemptrix."
1> Her suffering has atoning value, as well.
2> A wonderful example of faith, but only Jesus can
die for your sins.
A> Mary cannot.
B> You cannot. (self-loathing, punishment)
3) Righteous for unrighteous.
a) We deserve worse than we get.
b) Unjust but gracious.
4) To bring you to God.
a) He wants us to have a relationship with him.
b) It's not just evil people who need to be "saved."
B. Death in body, alive by Spirit.
1) Two parts to Jesus? No. EBC
a) Doesn't refer to Holy Spirit or his human spirit.
b) Physical life (death), contrasted with supernatural life.
1> Jesus suffering physically, just like we can.
2> But he is different now. Glorified, victorious.
2) His spiritual mission.
a) In his glorified state, Jesus did something dramatic.
b) It is also one of the most obscure passages in Bible.
III. Preaching to the "spirits in prison."
A. Weird applications.
1) Apostles' Creed: "He descended into hell..."
2) Questions to answer:
a) What meaning does "preach" have, and when did he do it?
b) Who are the spirits?
c) What is the prison?
B. Various theories. EBC
1) Pre-existent Christ preaches to Noah's generation.
a) Through person of Noah.
b) But event seems to be after Jesus' death, not before.
2) Christ, after crucifixion, descended to place of the dead.
a) He offers salvation. Best (cf 4:6)
1> Second chance for salvation after death?
2> Popular with liberals and sects (JW's, Mormons).
b) He announces condemnation to Noah's generation.
c) He announces good news to the saved.
1> But "spirits" doesn't fit humans well.
3) Christ proclaims to fallen angels his triumph on cross.
Kelly, EBC
a) "Spirits" mean fallen angels.
1> Gen 6:1-4? (Best) Probably not. (Mounce)
2> Better, previous defeat of Satan and his horde.
b) Preach is better "proclaim, announce."
1> Foreign to see salvation offered to angels. EBC
2> The cross disarmed evil forces. Colossians 2:15
C. Final question: Does it really matter to me?
1) Celeste's quizzical response.
2) NT answer: not all our struggles are obvious.
a) Jesus can help us in supernatural areas we cannot see.
IV. Noah's Ark.
A. Why he pops up here.
1) Ancient Jews associated rebellion of Satan with evil earth
of Noah's day.
2) Satan's rebellion not dated in Bible, but probably much
earlier.
B. God's patience with evil humanity.
1) Noah's story is more than critters.
a) Just as God judged supernatural realm, he judged earth.
1> "Earth filled with violence."
b) Correlation with our generation and Second Coming ??
2) God wants everyone to be saved, but he has his limits.
a) "Patience" may allude to the preaching of Noah.
b) Only his family responded after 100 years.
c) Would YOU have listened?
V. Water saves?
A. The teaching of "baptismal regeneration."
1) Church of Christ, Orthodox, (Catholic?)
a) You are saved when you are baptized, and cannot be
saved without it.
b) Reason Catholic nurses will baptize stillborn babies.
2) Salvation is by grace, but God requires a response.
a) Faith.
b) Repentance.
c) Baptism?
B. Church of Christ argument. (Rev. Mark Copeland)
1) Jesus' command in Mark 16:16.
a) Those who repent and are baptized will be saved.
b) (But lack of belief is what condemns.)
2) The preaching of Peter in Acts 2:38.
a) "Be baptized for the remission of sins."
1> Same grammatical construction in Matt 26:28 -
Jesus said His blood would be shed for many
"for the remission sins."
3) Paul's account of his own conversion - Acts 22:10-16
a) "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized
and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
C. Not water, but faith. 3:21
1) Not the bathing, but the pledge.
a) Reason we have baptism candidates give testimony.
2) The spiritual reality is where the power is.
a) Baptism gets power from Jesus' resurrection.
VI. Get on board.
A. Don't blow your chance.
1) Only a few listened to Noah.
2) Judgment is coming.
3) Jesus is the only valid escape vessel.
B. Our victory is assured.
1) Those who oppose us will be defeated.
2) Jesus overcame the evil forces.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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