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.

Maintain a good Conscience (1 Peter 3:16-17)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date:  01-15-04

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Maintain a good conscience

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 3:16,17

            Message of the verse:  “16 ¶ and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.  17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”  (NASB95)  “16 ¶ But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.  17 Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!”  (NLT)

            In order for believers to have an affective wittiness to the lost they must maintain a good conscience.  The word conscience means to “know with,” and it can be described as a window that lets in the light of God.  Windows can become dirty and not let in the light as well as when they are clean, and this can happen to the conscience.  The Bible describes different types of consciences, a defiled conscience is described in Titus 1:15, and a seared conscience is described in 1Timothy 4:2, Hebrews 10:22 describes an evil conscience and Acts 24:16 describes a good conscience.  “So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.”  1Corinthians 8 describes a weak conscience.

            Having a good conscience is helpful when believers are persecuted for the cause of Christ because they know full well that what they are doing is right.  Our great example, of course, is Jesus Christ who was crucified because of doing what was right.  Peter tells his readers that it is better to suffer for doing what is right than for doing what is wrong.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is good to be reminded that I need to maintain a good conscience in order to be effective wittiness for the cause of Christ, and that I am to be gentle and not abrasive with my witness for the Lord.  It could be said that “spiritual Windex” is keeping a short list with the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God was challenging to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Maintain a good conscience.

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. 

Doing What is Right (1 Peter 3:13-15)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date: 01-14-03

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Doing what is right

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 3:13-15 

Message of the verse:  13  Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?

But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."  15  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”  (NIV)  “13  Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?  14  But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry.  15  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.”  (NLT)

            Peter is saying in these verses that believers are to do good and right things in their lives and not to fear the consequences, but to fear the Lord.  In verse 13 Peter writes that if we do good we will probably not be harmed for it, but even if we are then we should do good anyway, and again it is because we desire to fear the Lord and to follow what He wants us to do, and to trust Him in these situations for He knows best.

            Another reason for doing good in tough situations is that it is a good wittiness to the unbelieving world, as Peter states we can give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but if you do not fear the Lord and give into temptation, then you will miss the opportunity to wittiness for the Lord.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I know that there have been to many times in my life where I have not followed the principles in these passages, and yet there have been times when I have and the Lord has indeed blessed my life because of it.

The Word of God was refreshing to me and it was also very challenging to my heart.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord to give me the ability to finish up the work that Sharlotte and I have started at Beth’s house.  To trust the Lord to speak to Mary as to what college He wants her to attend.

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.

       

Love Life (1 Peter 3:10-12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY

                                                                                                Date:  01-13-04

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Love Life

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Peter 3:10-12

            Message of the verse:  “10  For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.  11  Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.  12  For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."  (NKJV)  “10  For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.  11  Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others.  12  The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil."  (NLT) 

            The word “for” at the beginning of verse 10 is there to show that he views the quotation as giving reasons for obeying the exhortation of verse 9.  Peter goes on to tell his readers that they are to love life, (these verses are mostly a quote from Psalm 34:12-16).  The people that Peter was writing to we at the beginnings of being persecuted for their faith and now Peter writes to them that they should have an attitude of loving life, this may seem strange, yet if you truly look at life as a gift from God, and as believers we can be assured that God it truly in control of all things then we can love life.  Peter goes on to tell his readers that they need to refrain their tongues, and this is a problem for many people to do.  James had much to say about the tongue, both good and bad, in his letter.  Next Peter tells his readers that they must do what is good and hate evil.  Dr. Wiersbe says that it is not good enough to avoid sin because it is wrong; we ought to shun it because we hate it.  Next Peter tells us that we are to pursue peace.  The Life Application Bible has this to say about this verse:  “To often we see peace as merely the absence of conflict, we think of peacemaking as a passive role.  But an effective peacemaker actively pursues peace by building good relationships, knowing that peace is a by-product of commitment.  The peacemaker anticipates problems and deals with them before they occur.  When conflicts arise, they are brought into the open and dealt with before they grow unmanageable.  Making peace can be harder work than waging war, but it results in life and happiness.” 

            Spiritual meaning for my life:  I was really impressed by this quote from the Life Application Bible, and it seemed to me that the Lord really wanted me to read it this morning.  When my tongue gets me into trouble it is hard to have peace, so I need to continually allow God to control my tongue.

The Word of God was refreshing to me this morning as I read it, and it was also convicting and a challenge to me.

My Steps of Faith Today:  To be a peacemaker in its truest way.  To trust the Lord with giving me the wisdom to be a peacemaker, and to trust the Lord to remind me of this important lesson He is teaching me.

Memory verse for the week:  Psalm 119:105

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.