Not Ashamed of the Gospel
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:13-4:6
13 Who will harm you if you are devoted to doing what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. “Never be afraid of their threats, and never get upset. 15 Instead, exalt[a] the Messiah”[b] as Lord in your lives.[c] Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. 16 But do this[d] gently and respectfully, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak evil of your good conduct in the Messiah[e] will be ashamed of slandering you. 17 After all, if it is the will of God, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.18 For the Messiah[f] also suffered[g] for sins once for all, an innocent person for the guilty, so that he could bring you[h] to God. He was put to death in a mortal body but was brought to life by the Spirit,19 in which he went and made a proclamation to those imprisoned spirits 20 who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when God waited patiently while the ark was being built. In it a few, that is, eight persons, were saved by water. 21 Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear[i] conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus, the Messiah,[j] 22 who has gone to heaven and is at the right hand of God, where angels, authorities, and powers have been made subject to him.
Good Managers of God’s Grace
4 Therefore, since the Messiah[k] suffered in a mortal body,[l] you, too, must arm yourselves with the same determination, because the person who has suffered in a mortal body has stopped sinning, 2 so that he can live the rest of his mortal life[m] guided, not by human desires, but by the will of God. 3 For you spent enough time in the past doing what the gentiles like to do, living in sensuality, sinful desires, drunkenness, wild celebrations, drinking parties, and detestable idolatry. 4 They insult you now because they are surprised that you are no longer joining them in the same excesses of wild living. 5 They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 Indeed, this is why the gospel was proclaimed even to those who have died, so that they could be judged in their mortal flesh like all humans and live in the spiritual realm like God.