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.