VERSE OF THE DAY
1 Peter 3:18 (New Living Translation)
Share Audio
Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
Christ Gave all he had suffering for our sins once in a lifetime punishment he did no wrong but sacrificed for us as we were sinners sacrificed on the cross he took the ultimate punishment to save us all. Suffering in physical death but raised all to life giving him life in the spirit
What Does 1 Peter 3:18 Mean? ►
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
1 Peter 3:18(ESV)
Verse Thoughts
The Lord Jesus Christ is the righteous One -the sinless Man that suffered and died for the sins of the whole world. He suffered and died once for all the unrighteous race of humanity so that He might bring all who believe in Him into eternal fellowship with God.
As fully Man He was required to die as a man, body, soul and spirit – but as the sinless Son of Man Who willingly gave His life as a ransom for many, He paid the purchase price that God demanded, and received the full fury of God’s wrath, for those three astonishing hours. His blood paid the price for all sin and His sacrifice redeemed all Who would believe on Him. But His resurrection was the infallible proof to you and me His sacrifice was accepted by God.
For three dark hours the Lord Jesus was dead spiritually. For three black hours within time and eternity the Son was separated from the Father and disconnected from the Spirit. It is finished, was His triumphant cry and so He breathed out His life. He breathed out His spirit, which returned to God.
But for 3 days and nights His soul would descended into the place of the dead, in the bowels of the earth, and for 3 days and nights His body lay shrouded in a rich man’s tomb.
Christ was put to death in the fleshly realm when He shed His blood on the cross for you and me, but He was quickened by the Holy Spirit and made alive in the spiritual realm – with body of flesh and bone. – so that we too might have newness of life in the spiritual realm – forever.
My Prayer
Thank You Lord Jesus for suffering and dying for me and for the indescribable agony that You bore on the cross when You were separated from the Father for the first time in eternity, for three dark hours. Thank You Father that Christ’s sacrifice for sin was accepted, so that by believing on Him I too might have life eternal. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.
Source: https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/1-peter-3-18
1 Peter 3:18-22
21st August 2020

Audio:
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Peter’s first letter may be written from bitter experience, but it is never without the greatest assurance. Like many of us, Peter faced rejection, opposition and persecution. He suffered. However, the true grace of God gave him a totally new way to understand his present experience. It is suffering now, for turning away from evil and doing good as a Christian. But such suffering should never lead us to question the certainty of our glorious future.
In the midst of our fiery trials, whatever shape they may take, Peter anchors our assurance today in three ways.
Jesus suffered but then did rise victorious from the grave. Hold on to this! Angus Macleay puts it like this in his brilliant commentary, “Though his suffering led to death it was followed by his resurrection”. His death was followed by his resurrection. This is Peter’s main assurance to every Christian as they endure today. He begins and concludes our section with the ascension and victory of Jesus. In his death alone, we have the greatest relief that he died for us. In my place, condemned he stood. The righteous for the unrighteous. But in addition, he has risen from the grave and by so doing he has brought us a sure and certain hope. He now reigns on high and his rule is cosmic. He will forever remain unchallenged. Those spirits who formerly disobeyed the gospel now know it. Those rulers, authorities and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places now know it. Even the unruly hearts of men and women in this present time now know it as they receive or reject the gospel. As certain as the sun is to follow the night or as heat comes after a flame, so our suffering will give way to subsequent glories for Jesus Christ has risen from the grave.
God waited patiently and then brought Noah through the judgment. Again, the focus here is on future rescue. Noah and the destruction of the world by water form an important part of Peter’s theology, making an appearance both here and in his second letter too. He links the events of the past to the future and by so doing gives us an example of how to live now in the present. Noah was ridiculed, put to shame, marginalised and ignored. Yet he trusted God and obeyed him. He relied on God’s provision (the ark) and God brought him through the judgment (the deluge). Likewise, despite being slandered, isolated, rejected and opposed, the Christian who trusts God today and obeys the gospel, relying on God’s provision (Jesus) will be brought through the judgment (the fire). It is still suffering today, but glory later. Just as happened in the past, so it will be in the future.
Baptism lastly, is a sign that can then steady the Christian to anticipate the future. Identifying as a Christian, specifically by undergoing the public rite of baptism would have been a bold and courageous step for anyone to make. It could easily have involved the rejection of your family, the loss of an inheritance, the confiscation of your property, the beginning of the end. Macleay again is so helpful, “Baptism is a sign that you have appealed to God for deliverance before his judgment comes and is effective if you have done this in good conscience trusting in the resurrected Jesus Christ.” Despite all that the world can take from us, despite the waverings and doubts that beset us, Peter counsels to look at our baptism that can steady us to anticipate our future salvation.
Jesus endured for us and then was glorified. Noah obeyed when few others did and then was brought through the waters. Our baptism may be costly but then can bring us great confidence. As the old hymn writer puts it, “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of the Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.”
Prayer:
Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: Grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen.
What does 1 Peter 3:18 mean?
Peter has just stated that Christians are sometimes called to suffer, by the will of God, for doing good. Here, he again reminds his readers that’s exactly what Jesus Himself did for us. This is a concise summary of what exactly happened when Jesus died on the cross.
First, He suffered, which is quite an understatement in the context of Roman crucifixion. Next, His suffering was for sin—not His own, but ours. And, importantly, Christ suffered and died only once. Jesus was the sacrifice for sins but, unlike the annual animal sacrifice for sins in Old Testament, Jesus was the final sacrifice for sin. God required no more blood, no more death.
Then Peter reveals that Jesus’ sacrificial death was as a substitute—the righteous (Christ) for the unrighteous (us). Why did He do it? To bring us to God. Without Jesus’ death for our sins on the cross, we could not come to God. Because of it, all who trust in Christ are brought to His Father. What was the result? Physical death, but not permanent death.
Following His crucifixion, Jesus was “made alive in the spirit.” Bible scholars offer multiple explanations for what this phrase might mean, especially in light of the following verses. The most obvious explanation is that Jesus was resurrected from the dead by the Holy Spirit, something clearly taught in the rest of Scripture. Another explanation is that while Jesus was physically dead, His own personal spirit—Himself in Spirit form—somehow was made alive before His physical resurrection to accomplish what is described in the following verses.
Context Summary
1 Peter 3:8–22 addresses all believers, commanding Christians to be unified and to refuse to seek revenge when wronged. Peter quotes from both David and Isaiah to show that God’s people have always been called to reject evil and to do good. This is true even when we are suffering. In fact, it may be God’s will for His people to suffer, in part, to demonstrate His power. Our good example can convict others into repentance. Christ, too, suffered, died, was resurrected, and ascended to power and authority in heaven.
Chapter Context
Peter continues teaching about Christian submission to human authorities, now addressing Christian wives. Believing wives must be subject to their own husbands, even if the husband is not a follower of Christ. By doing so, they might win them to Christ through the example of their own changed lives and hearts. Christian husbands must honor their wives. All believers must live in unity together and refuse to seek revenge. In part, God means to use our hopeful response to suffering to provoke the world to see His power in us. Christ, too, suffered and then died, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven
Living Water Ministries 