How does a person come to God?

How can a person come to God?

 The answer is found in the verse directly below.

1st Pet 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

In the above verse, we see the reason Jesus came to the earth, and suffered on the cross, it was once for sins.  He is just, and we are unjust. Meaning, Jesus was innocent, faultless and guiltless. We were unrighteous, and sinful. So, Jesus who is innocent, died on the cross for those who were guilty of sin.

The reason He did this, was "that He might bring us to God" People often wonder about why Jesus came to the earth, but here's the answer in black and white. It was so that He could bring us to God. 

The word bring, means, to lead, to open a way of access, for one to God. To make one acceptable to God. To approach God. 

Jesus Himself said, concerning Himself,   “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

So, this is why He came and died on the cross, and it's how we can come to God, it's through Jesus, it's by putting our faith in Him. He wants to bring you to God. 

A few last comments about the remaining verses in 1st Peter 3:19-22 See those verses below.....

1st Pet 3:19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,

1st Pet 3:20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

1st Pet 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1st Pet 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Three things are being said here. 

#1. Jesus preached to the spirits in prison. The word preached here, is not the same word as used to speak of preaching the gospel, so as to invite people to be saved. But, rather, it's used here simply to speak of a proclamation of fact. Jesus went and proclaimed to the spirits of those who had died before He came, but were unbelievers, He went to where they were being held ( and are there today by the way ) and He announced His death on the cross, and His rising from the dead, and the victory that brought over sin. 

#2. In mentioning water, Peter then explains that water baptism, does not saved you, but, it's a symbol of having died with Christ, and then risen, it's something one does in obedience to the command of Jesus, and it shows that they have come to Christ for salvation, and are now in a new life in Christ. 

#3. Jesus is now in heaven, seated to the right of the Father, and the angels and authorities, and powers have been made subject to Him. He is the Lord of Lord's, and is in control of all that exists anywhere, and in all places. 

Thank You Lord for this blessed chapter. 

Application/Promise

1. Jesus will bring you to God if you let Him.

2. He is the only way to God. 

3. Believing in Jesus means, you will be brought to God.

4. Jesus has paid for your sins.

5. You don't need to pay for your sins.

6. But, you must believe in Christ now, to go to the Father.

7. Have you believed in Jesus?

8. Will you do it now?

9. He will bring you to the Father if you let Him. 

Encouragement for those who suffer.

For those who are suffering..promises, teaching, and encoruagement

1 Peter 3:13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.”

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

1Peter 3:16  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

Peter asks a question about suffering, and then gives us God's promises and instruction on the matter. 

The question...... Who is he will harm you if become followers of what is good? The implied answer, is no one. So, on one level this is true. Following the Lord means there will be protection from God in your life.

The statement.........But even if you do suffer for rigtheousness sake, you are blessed. So, here Peter in a sober, honest way says, but even if you do suffer, you are blessed. Jesus spoke about the blessings that accompany suffering and persecution. See Matt 5, and so did James, See James 1, 5.

The instruction and encouragement.... "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled" This is taken from Isa 8:12...Where God was telling His people who were facing a pending invasion, not to be afraid of the invading armies. 

Then, more instruction and encouragement........Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Or set the Lord apart in your life, above all else. Make Him first, Respect God, Keep your eyes and heart upon Him, and walk with Him, obey Him, do His will etc. etc. 

Several other things are said also........Tell others of the hope that is in you......having a good conscience, and in closing Peter says, It is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing good then for doing evil.

There is much to think about here, and much to be encouraged by, and much to put into practice in our lives when suffering in the will of God.

You may want to just take a moment and go over the verses carefully, and note...

1. God makes promises to you about suffering. 

2. Even if you do suffer there is blessing. 

3. Do not be afraid of their threats.

4. Do not be troubled by their threats. 

5. Set the Lord apart in your life. 

6. Remember, you have a living hope.

7. Tell others about that hope.

8. Keep a good conscience. 

9. Suffering is often God's will for us. 

May God encourage you in this passage, and bring you great comfort and peace, and strength. 

Do you want a good life? Here's how to have one !!!

Do you want to love your life and see good days?

1Pet 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

1Pet 3:9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

1Pet 3:10  For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

1Pet 3:11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

1Pet 3:12 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.”

Peter had been directing his remarks to various persons in the body of Christ, but, here he speaks to all. And, it's another exhortation, it's a call to Godly and loving, gracious and appropriate behavior in God's eyes. 

1. Be of one mind 

2. Having compassion for one another;

3. Love as brothers.

4. Be tenderhearted.

5. Be courteous;

6. Not returning evil for evil.

7. Or reviling for reviling.

8. But on the contrary blessing. 

Tenderhearted, means, to have strong bowels, or compassion. 

Courteous is to be friendly.

Reviling, is to rail at, to heap abuse upon. 

Blessing, means praise, benefit. 

Peter concludes this section of speaking to all, with an explanation, that God has called us to blessing, or benefit. But, if we desire God's benefit, then we must refrain our tongue from evil, and our lips from deceit, and we are to turn away from evil, seek peace, and pursue it. 

God's eyes are upon the righteous, and face is against those who do evil.

Father, what a blessing Your Word is. And, how we need to let it into our hearts, our lives, and our minds, and be transformed by it. 

Application/Promises

1. Let's be what God calls us to be.

2. Let's not be what our flesh wants us to be.

3. Who does not want blessing from God.

4. We must position our hearts to be blessed.

5. Somethings must go, and some things must be.

6. God's Word tells us exactly what they are.

7. God's eyes upon me, is my desire.

8. Lord, bless my life today. 

God's help for husbands.

God's Word to husbands, "here's how to live with your wife"

See 1st Peter 3:7.

1st Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Here, Peter is including the husbands, to live and act in the same way as the wives, and the servants whom he had addressed earlier in the 2nd chapter. The main idea had been to live in a humble, and respectful way to those around you, especially towards those God had placed in leadership roles. 

Thus he uses the word likewise. Of course, simply meaning, in the same way, or equally. In other words, there was something said to the wives, and now in the same way, here's God's Word to the husbands....

He says a number of things to them.

Dwell with them with understanding, or in an understanding way, or be considerate of your wives. Recognize who they are in a respectful way. That's the first thing. Be understanding toward you wife. 

Then, giving honor to the wife. Or value your wife, defer to her, respect her, reverence her. Recognizing that ( physically she is weaker ) then you are. Be respectful to your wife. 

Lastly, he says, ( making a statement about both ) that the husband and wife are joint heirs together of the grace of life. He is apparently speaking here to a couple, where both the husband and the wife are saved, and walking with the Lord. They each share in this position of being heirs together of God's grace. He is calling them to recognize what God has made them both to be and His children. 

In his very last remark, he mentions that prayer can be hindered between a husband and wife. That is, if the man will love and serve his wife, they could pray together. But, it's hard to pray together, when your not together with your wife on the basic level of respect and love. Lack of understanding and respect towards you wife will make it difficult to pray together. Perhaps mostly for her. She would not be inclined to want to pray with her husband. But, she would be, if she is being loved and cared for properly. 

May God give continued blessing to you, and help you to enjoy your marriage, and be a blessing to one another. In Jesus name, Pastor Bob Grenier

Application/Promises

1. Husband and wives can live in peace and joy.

2. It takes the Lord to make the difference.

3. He will do it if you let Him.

4. Humility and service to each other are key.

5. Husband and wives are to serve each other.

6. Joy comes through obedience to God's Word. 

7. May your prayers be blessed by God. 

More help for wives with unbelieving husbands.

More help for wives with unbelieving husbands...

See 1Peter 3:1-6

1Pet 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

1Pet 3:2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

1Pet 3:3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--

1Pet 3:4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1Pet 3:5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

1Pet 3:6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

What God tells the wives to do, can be done. It's possible for them to be submissive. Also, there are more wives then we know with husbands who don't obey the Word, either secretly, or openly. 

And, it's easy to underestimate how powerful a wife's conduct can be to influence her husband towards the Lord. But, God says it's so.

Husbands can't help but see what their wives are doing, and how they are acting. They live right there under one roof together. 

These verses are not saying a wife should not wear make up, or make sure she looks fashionable on the outside, i.e make up and hairstyles. These verses are not advocating doing nothing to the outside.

But, these verses are explaining that a woman can adorn that inner person, so as to be beautiful and to be a great tool in the hands of God. 

There are two things that can be done to the inner person that are mentioned here. Both are said to be incorruptible. 

#1 A gentle spirit. 

#2 A quiet spirit. 

Gentle here, means, humble, meek. 

Quiet means, peaceable, tranquil. 

Peter says, this is how the women in former times, the holy women trusted in God and adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. 

And, he uses Sarah as an example, she was the wife of Abraham. At times in their relationship, Abraham was not leading his family by trusting God. He had become fearful and made some rash and unwise choices, that put Sarah in great danger. She had alot of reasons to be fearful. But, she trusted the Lord. 

Peter concludes this teaching by saying, that the wives to whom he was writing would be the daughters of Sarah, if they chose to act as Sarah did. And encourages them to do good, and not to be afraid with any terror. 

A wife's husband can act in a way to make the wife afraid. But, God can help the wife to deal with that. And may it be so for any wives reading this today, that are in a situation as described in 1st Peter 3:1-6

Application/Promises

1. Many wives are in this situation.

2. Many wives have seen the Lord work mightly.

3. This is God's Word to wives in this situation.

4. Your holy conduct can be powerful.

5. Your conduct can be more effective then words.

6. May your husbands be affected by God's grace.

7. May God help you wives by His grace. 

Help for wives whose husbands don't believe.

What wives are to do, if their husbands don't obey the Word of God.

See 1st Peter 3:1-7


1Pet 3:1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,

1Pet 3:2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.

1Pet 3:3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--

1Pet 3:4  rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1Pet 3:5  For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,

1Pet 3: 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

Peter had been speaking to servants about how they were to relate to their masters, not only the good ones, but also the harsh ones. And, he told them two things. One, be submissive with all fear or respect. And two, be patient in suffering, even if you did not do anything wrong, still be patient. 

Peter picks up that same idea here in Chapter 3, but, now is applying it to christian wives, who were in a situation, where their husbands did not obey or believe the Word of God, and he instructed them, as to what they were to do in this matter. 

What's a wife to do in this situation? 

Be submissive. 

Have pure or chaste conduct.

Be respectful.

Adorn the hidden person of the heart. 

Trust in God. 

What else is Peter saying to them?

That the wive's Godly conduct, can be used by God to win their husbands over to the Lord. That is, without the wife saying anything, her Godly witness, can be a powerful instrument for change in their husbands lives. 

Peter is also ( not ) saying, don't worry about how you look, but rather it seems he is saying, don't just concentrate on, or depend on your outer looks. But, concentrate on who you are as a person, that inner person, adorn that person on the inside with Jesus Christ. 

We will pick this up tomorrow. But, thank God for what we have looked at today. And, if there are any wives who may be reading this today, may they find great encouragement in their lives, and may God work mightily in their marriages and in the lives of their husbands 

Application/Promises

1. This is God's way to win the husband

2. This let's God work through a yielded life.

3. Character is a powerful tool in God's hands.

4. God's way here is more powerful then talking. 

5. A woman's inner person can be changed

6. A gentle and quiet spirit are precious to God.