- What day of the week does Ascension always fall on?
- How prepared are you to give the reason for the hope that you have?
- Why and when did Jesus descend into hell?
- Baptism save you. Who is doing the "pledging" in baptism?
- When will Jesus come back again? ...October 21st?
1 Peter 3:15-22 (NIV84)
15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 It is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
If you look back over the course of church history. Christmas – the birth of our Savior has always been a big deal. Easter, the recent celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead has always been high on the list. And the third really big festival that the church has always celebrated is… Ascension. The problem is that the 40th day after Easter Sunday every year always falls on a Thursday. The rest of society isn’t on board with Christianity like they are with Christmas. So this third great festival of the church year kind of gets forgotten. Today we will remember one last time that Easter means no fear. On this festival of the Ascension we’ll see that Easter means no fear of judgment. Judgment the rest of your days, yes even on the Last Day, Judgment Day.
Our text starts with verse 15, but you’ll be happy to know that in verse 14 Peter says. 13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” He’s talking about having no fear! Ah, but why? The people around you and their threats are very real. I know that might mean – they won’t be your friend. You won’t be invited to a party. You might feel alone – the only one who doesn’t do it. You don’t fear because you know who is in charge. Set apart Christ as Lord. Don’t trust yourself. How’d that go the last time you tried to pump yourself up. Trust in someone – the only who will never let you down.
Now you have a crippling phrase. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Are you always prepared to talk to the cult member who darkens your door – these are the Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses? Are you always prepared in school when a random science factoid provides an opening for the obnoxious atheist to slam your stupid faith? Are you always prepared? No. I’m not. Do you know how many times people have asked me something – this happens very quickly when folks find out I’m a pastor? On a field trip. Traveling on an airplane. The most recent one was at the soccer party. What about that guy in Californian? What about him… We’ll hit him later. First off – know that you don’t have to have all the answers. All Peter is saying is can you tell people where you found that hope?
I turned 35 on Friday. And for my birthday meal I wanted frozen pizza. Normally it’s the cardboard crust Tombstone – great. But Jenna found Frescheta rising crust on sale for less than the standby Tombstone pizza’s their at Food Lion. That was very easy to do. Peter is pointing out that witnessing your faith – the reason for your hope – is no different. This next verse is just as important.
But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. Nothing sounds worse than a braggart. If I were to have asked you what you had for supper Friday, and then proceded to tell you how much better my frozen pizza was that might come off as a little haughty. Know that it can be intimidating for people to talk to you. If you are confident in your faith, you do look and sound like you know everything. Peter acknowledges that you can’t stop people from talking, but you can keep your conscience clear. Just as a sharp conscience can condemn you for your sin, it can defend your heart when you are wrongfully accused.
When you – lifelong WELSer – you who know your doctrine backwards and forwards. You know that Jesus our great prophet and priest – has taken his throne in heaven as our king as rules all things for our glory. You know this. So when someone who is not confident in his or her faith is talking to you – when they say something that isn’t perfect, don’t stomp over their confession of faith. There was a professor at the seminary who had a way of taking even the worst answer from a sem student and turning it around so that he could find some good. Never did he say – that’s totally wrong. He’d say, “Mr. Guldberg, you’re right, Jesus rose from the dead, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t go down to hell to suffer; he did that on the cross.” You can gently and with respect correct people, that’s good, but remember to build up your fellow Christians. Don’t tear them down. One of the reasons Easter means no fear is because you can scatter that fear with the gospel. The next verses are great examples.
18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. You don’t work to reach God. You don’t decide to come to God. You do sin and run the other way, but Jesus died for you once for all so that you might be brought to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. This verses places Jesus descent into hell – that we often confess in the creed – he descended into hell – that happened after Jesus resurrection. Even though it says that he preached to them. Don’t think Jesus is given the damned a second chance. Think of Jesus doing the Lambeu Leap in the wrong stadium. He is rubbing it in their faces. I won. It’s over. Why did Peter pick Noah? He mentions Noah in the previous chapter as an object of persecution – I’m sure a few people pointed and laughed as he built a big barge in he back yard. Peter is about to use Noah’s rescue as an illustration of Baptism. Before we leave this verse, why don’t we need to be afraid of the final judgment? Easter means No Fear because you will never go to hell. Satan lost; you belong to God. Peter is going to tell you more.
In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. You don’t know how many people either have never heard of this verse or who twist it on its head. This verse says baptism now saves you also. Not because it cleans the pores and degreases your hair, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. This word pledge works fine as long as you understand who’s doing the pledging in baptism. God gives us the good conscience. God is the one who washes the sins away. As in the Sacrament of the Altar, God is the one who works. We only benefit.
It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Peter points you back one more time to the resurrection. Easter is the proof that everything Jesus promised is true. That it really happened just as he said. But now to the why? Why did Jesus leave us? Did he abandon his church when he ascended into heaven? No.
First he promised. Never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you. But it sure looks like he left. He’s no longer walking around the earth, is he? This is true, but remember Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” This is VERY confusing to SO many people. Jesus did not come to the world to make it a better place. Jesus didn’t come to rid the world of disease or end world hunger. Jesus came to redeem the world from sin death and the devil. This he did perfectly.
If he would’ve stayed, our ministry of telling the world about it’s redemption accomplished by our King would have been impossible. Through out Jesus’ ministry even his own disciples didn’t understand his purpose. On the Mt. of Ascension his disciples asked if he was going to restore the kingdom. Jesus had to leave. We have work to do.
That work is not easy. The recent events only make it more difficult. Harold Camping has a radio ministry in California. He also has stashed away millions in his bank account by people who support him. He claimed that the world would end on Saturday, May 21st. He was so sure of this that he put some of his money where his mouth is. He launched a nation wide billboard campaign to tell everyone that the world was going to end on that Saturday in May. The problem is that he multiplied a few numbers that regularly occur in the Bible together and came up with the exact date of May 21st. Jesus tells us that no one knows the day except God alone. He says that the day will come like a thief in the night. Most thieves I know don’t take out a billboard warning that they will rob you blind on the third Saturday in May. No one knows the day. Instead Jesus warns us to watch and be ready for his return. If there is something you need to do, if there is someone you need to speak with, God says, “Now the day of Salvation.” Don’t wait, even if the world ends, what makes you think that you’ll have another chance to speak.
If you haven’t heard, the world didn’t end on May 21st. Harold is still setting dates. He says that Jesus came – secretly – and that the world has already been judged. No need to tell anyone the good news of Jesus anymore, according to him it won’t make any difference. According to him the new day is October 21st. On that day the world will end.
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