Good afternoon. I hope you’re receiving fresh manna from this series. That God will awaken your heart and mine to the deeper things of Christ and the signs of the times.
That the cares of this life and the veil over the world – the culture of this age – will not blind our hearts to the truths of God’s word, the journey of those who have gone before us, and the certainty of God’s plan to establish Christ’s Millennial rule.
Be encouraged in the things of God. The certainty of Christ and the power of his kingdom will remove the kingdoms opposed to you and me. It is a journey Jesus is pleased to take and lead you and me through.
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As God encouraged Noah to prepare an ark and waited patiently until it was completed,
and as God fathered his son Jesus Christ, anointing him with the oil of gladness and “…gave him the name that is above every name…”, (NIV, Philippians 2:9)
and as Christ encouraged and led Peter to a place he would not naturally go – the revelation of Jesus Christ in grace – for the joy of relationship with Peter in holy union, (1 Peter 1:13 – 16)
so, to, shall you and I be encouraged by Christ, comforted and reassured by his grace, love and care (doing more for us than we can ask or think), in our struggle with sin and the weakness of our frame, as Christ makes us ready for intimacy and holy union with him.
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This series is centered on Christ, his “coming,” here and now, today, to take us deep in him – to prepare and make ready a people for the habitation of the Lord.
Peter, in particular, is an example of that journey.
Peter’s journey begins in earnest after Christ’s resurrection from the dead at the hands of Rome and the Jewish leadership (John Chapter 21, Part 5 in this series).
During the course of Peter being fathered by God – the revelation of Christ to him in grace (led by Christ to a place he would not naturally go) – he reflects and draws parallels with the story of Noah and Noah’s generation.
Peter’s journey is our journey, and his reflection on the examples of the ancients, and the fulfillment of their “types” by the Lord Jesus Christ, is just as important, if not more so, for us today in the 21st century.
Heavens View, 1 Peter Chapter 3 verses 18 through 22
Peter’s letter(s) express heavens view of our predicament and hope – wounded and broken, suffering under the weight of sin, lacking resources for remedy – desiring to enlist our interests and desires away from the appetites of this world to the love, grace, and care of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The writings of Peter in 1 Peter Chapter 3 verses 18 through 22 is not only an account of Christ’s experience, Noah and the “disobedient,” but an account of Peter’s experience – his testimony to the “disobedient” of his day.
Peter conveys the connection of the ancients to Christ, him and us. He connects the old, new, and future to you and me – a prophetic word to those in the generations to come – who will testify of God’s work of grace.
I pray you and I would be among those who testify of God’s work of grace and care and not be among those who fall short and miss the mark of Christ.
Peter heralds the relationship of Noah to Christ, and Christ to Peter, and Peter’s writings to you and me, we might be mindful and alert to those who have gone before us, their example and outcome.
Peter desires we cultivate a heart for the treasures of Christ and union with him – freedom from sin and the lust and appetites of this world – walking in heavenly places, mindful of what’s at stake for you, me, our loved ones, and those we can influence.
Peter is saying, “You wrestle with the same carnal appetites and desires those in the past faced, and in light of the grace and revelation of Christ available to you, be mindful you do not forfeit some or all of your inheritance in Christ.”
Peter is saying Noah and the “disobedient” is not primarily a story of a flood, but a journey in God, the same as ours today, except, we have the fulfillment of the “type” they portrayed and meant to portray.
“Look, you have the fulfillment of the promise, Jesus Christ, and access through him into baptism – you might put to death the carnality of the lower nature and walk in newness of life.”
Peter desires to cultivate the heart of the ancients and the heart of Christ in us, to submit to the hardships and discipline of the Lord, receiving Christ’s care and grace as he removes the shackles of sin, cleansing and healing our wounds.
Peter is writing to impart awareness – the pursuit and building of worldly treasures will surely fail as they did in Noah’s day and in kingdoms past.
Peter uses Noah as an example, a warning, to prepare and make ready a habitation for the Lord, and the certainty kingdoms of this world will not prevail.
(Jesus warns not to eat and drink with the drunken, and Paul exhorts not to be sons and daughters of darkness but of the light. These warnings are not much different than Peter’s reference to Noah and the “disobedient.”)
These and other warnings are given to motivate you and me, and every generation, to cultivate a heart of dependence on Christ, connection and union with him.
We only have so much time. The focus of the world, the cares of this life, the culture of this age, is anything “but” concerned about how much time we have.
The kingdom of this world, the power of this age, is blinding the hearts and minds of many. I pray we would not be among those who leave Christ for the uncertain riches of this world.
Peter is so mindful of the struggle with sin, the certainty of God’s plan, and the weakness of our frame, he reaches beyond us, to the new heaven and new earth, referring to Noah in both his letters, lest we forget our calling and Christ’s commitment to us.
Peter’s exhortation applies more today than ever before. Every generation has its baptism in Christ, but oh, the importance of going deep in God and submitting to his work of grace and care as we approach the doorsteps of the Millennium.
Hebrews 3:14 admonishes us to hold firm in our day of salvation. Jesus is personally committed to you and me and to the fulfillment of the plan of God in your life and mine. Be encouraged.
Christ and the Apostles – A Banquet for us to Eat and Drink
Jesus doesn’t lead us where he, himself, has not previously been led by his heavenly Father. Christ knows the path to his likeness, and knowing us intimately, knows the care and resources we need to accomplish his plan and purposes.
He knows what it takes and how to heal and cleanse us. He knows how to best accomplish this, and the order. Christ is methodical in his cleansing and healing of you and me.
We do not have to be among the “disobedient.” The treasures and richness of Christ are available that we might run the race well, like Noah, Christ, and Peter.
Remember, Christ is the firstborn, pioneer and perfecter of our faith. What God accomplished in him, he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, will accomplish in us.
Jesus Christ is the tree of life in the center of the garden of God, and the apostles are living creatures in God’s garden, the outcome of their lives providing seed-bearing fruit for you and me.
The spring of life-giving water, Jesus Christ, will never run dry. If you’re in the wilderness with Christ, be comforted – the fruit of Christ and the well of living water is with you. Christ will teach you how to eat and drink from him.
Bedrock, the Written Word, 1 Peter 3:18
First and foremost, the New Testament captures the journey of Jesus Christ and the work of perfection of God in him. The work of God in Christ is threaded throughout the Scriptures and is the heart of the gospel, the highlight of the New Testament.
It is with this in mind, Peter writes of the connection between, Christ, “put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit,” (NIV, 1 Peter 3:18), and Noah, “the disobedient,” and “baptism.”
Paul comes at this from a different angle. He writes extensively in the book of Romans comparing the first Adam with the second Adam, Jesus Christ.
Both apostles show our corporateness and the unfolding story of God’s plan for redemption starting in Christ and culminating in those called and chosen by Christ.
The New Testament is first and foremost the plan of salvation and work of God in Jesus Christ, and us in Christ, and not vice versa.
God’s work and perfection of Christ, his only begotten son, is the glorious and foremost news of the New Testament.
We will go a little deeper in the journey and story of Jesus Christ in the next post. His journey and story are ours, and ours is his.
Blessings, Drake
(NIV) Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblical, Inc.™