“A Hard Crowd to Preach To”

1 Peter 3:19 KJV [19] “by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;”      Our verse today is fascinating. Who are these spirits? Why did Jesus go and preach to them? Why are these spirits in prison? These are all hard questions that come to mind when we read this verse. I’m not saying I have all the answers to these questions, but I can assure you that the One who preached to them does.       To begin with, we know that they are not the lost souls of men. Peter does not refer to men as spirits, …

“And Can It Be?”

 1 Peter 3:18 KJV [18] “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”      Peter takes us back to the cross in this verse by reminding us that Jesus suffered and died once for the sins of humanity and was the supreme sacrifice for man’s sins. In the Old Testament, the blood of animals was shed regularly, but it could not save man from sin. It would only put the sin debt off for another year. The …

“Thy Will Be Done”

1 Peter 3:17 KJV [17] “For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”      When we think about suffering in the will of God, we must first think of our Savior. Jesus suffered on the cross as no man has ever suffered. However, Christ was not a criminal, even though He died between two thieves. The scene that day at Calvary was horrible, yet Christ suffered and died in the perfect will of God. The men beside Him were suffering for their evil doings, while He was suffering …

“A Clean Conscience”

1 Peter 3:16 KJV  [16] “having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”      The wealthiest men are not those having material goods or notoriety but those who have a clean conscience. It is priceless to pillow your head at night and know you have a good conscience toward God. You might wonder how you can have a good conscience and maintain it once you have obtained it.      Let me first say that it comes through knowing Jesus Christ. Salvation is …