Intro

Our text today is a very encouraging text for disciples of Jesus. It calls us to live within the reality of His death, resurrection, and ascension. Having said this, these verses are some of the most difficult to interpret in the New Testament. About them, even Martin Luther said, “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.”

One commentator has written that there are 180 variables or nuances to be considered in 1 Peter 3:18-22. Covering all of this in 30 minutes would demand covering 6 variables a minute, 1 every 10 seconds.  This is impossible! So, we need to exercise wisdom and focus on the clear teaching of the passage.