Christ Died for the Unjust (1 Peter 3:18)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date:  01-19-04

My Worship Time                              Focus:  Christ died for the unjust

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  1Peter 3:18

            Message of the verse:  “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;”  (NASB) 

            The verse is referring back to verse 17, where Peter has written that if God willed it to suffer for doing right was better than for suffering for doing wrong.  In this same way Jesus Christ died for doing what was right, for it was the will of His Father that He do this, for the just to die for the unjust, so that the unjust could be saved.  Most Bibles that I have read refer to the spirit as the Holy Spirit in this passage, but I believe that Peter is referring to the spirit of Jesus Christ and not the Holy Spirit.  Dr. Wiersbe wrote that the spirit of Christ probably died when He was made sin for us.  The verse goes on to say, “mad alive in the spirit,” in the NASB.  This probably does not refer to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because the resurrection has to do with the body.  These passages that are in the paragraph are very difficult to understand.

            One point that I do not want to miss in this verse is that Jesus Christ died, the just for the unjust, so that He would bring us to God.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The truth of the Gospel is in this verse, and it is a truth that I never want to forget, but I want to be reminded of it each day of my life, that Jesus Christ, the just died for me, the unjust, so that He would bring me to God.

The Word of God was so very refreshing to my heart as I read it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  I trust the Lord to give me the words that He would have me to speak tonight at our prayer meeting, and I trust the Lord to bring to this prayer meeting those whose He wants there.

Memory verse for the week:  1Peter 3:15

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.