Baptism and the Resurrection

1 Peter 3:18–22

Let’s take a look at 1 Peter 3:18-22, a part of the Bible that’s not often talked about, but still very important. To really get what Peter is saying, we need to understand the main message he’s trying to get across. By diving deeper into the themes of context, baptism, and resurrection, we can learn more about Peter’s teachings.

1. Context

What Peter’s trying to say in his book is that Christianity is unique because it uses our struggles to shape us into better people. The good news of the gospel isn’t about being perfect, but about depending on God and saying sorry when we mess up. Peter also talks about Jesus preaching to spirits in prison, showing that we need to look at different parts of the Bible to understand our beliefs fully.

2. Baptism

Think about Noah and the flood: the story shows us that hard times can lead to salvation, just like the ark and the floodwater. When life gets tough, we need to stick to what Jesus taught us, letting our struggles make us stronger. When we get baptized, it’s like we’re stepping into our own ark, promising to follow Jesus and knowing that we’re forgiven, even when things get hard.

3. The resurrection

The idea of obeying God, even when it’s hard, is deeply connected to the resurrection. Even if obedience leads to death, resurrection always comes next. Jesus coming back to life shows us that his death paid for our sins, making him our Savior and King. Plus, Jesus isn’t just someone who suffered, he’s also the Lord who rose again, showing us the special Christian belief that God’s salvation includes making the physical world better.