Peter has already addressed the conduct of the Christian in his epistle, admonishing us, "...be holy in all your conduct..." (1:15), to have "...your conduct honorable among the Gentiles..." (2:12) and "...chaste conduct..." (3:2). And yet enough has not yet been said of the Christian's conduct. The apostle continues in our present text, considering the sufferings which may accompany righteous conduct, and our Lord, who also suffered, as an example unto us.

SUFFERING IN THE SERVICE OF GOD (3:13-17)
Peter begins with a question, "And whom is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?" In general, those who do good receive favour from others. Solomon penned, "When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7). Paul wrote, "...rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same." (Romans 13:3).

But, it is also acknowledged throughout the New Testament that one might suffer in doing good (Matthew 5:10-12; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 1:29; James 1:12). Consistently, we are told that those who so suffer are blessed. Sufferings might cause one to fear, and thus turn from doing good, but Peter commands that we not be afraid. Instead, we are to "...sanctify the Lord God in your hearts..."

To sanctify means to purify, to cleanse or be separate from profane things. Those who suffer for righteousness' sake have already sanctified their hearts, but the rise of persecution could discourage them from continuing in righteousness. Peter would have us heighten our focus, be sure of our course, sanctify our hearts yet more. In doing so, when we endure trials for our faith, we will be equipped and "...ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you..."

What a great thing the Christian's hope is. It is our hope of eternity with the Lord in heaven (Colossians 1:5, 27; Titus 1:2) that compels us to walk sanctified lives. This hope is an anchor for the Christian's soul in a world without hope (Hebrews 6:18-19). It may be that our confession of hope in Christ in the midst of troubles will encourage those who at one time were opponents of the Lord to turn from sin and walk in the ways of righteousness (1 Peter 2:12).

CHRIST'S SUFFERING ON OUR BEHALF (3:18-22)
Lest we think it something unreasonable to suffer for righteousness sake, Peter reminds us of the Lord's suffering on our behalf. "...He suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God..." Jesus suffered for us (Isaiah 53:4-6) when we did not deserve it (Romans 5:6-8), leaving us an example that we should follow in (1 Peter 2:21-24).

Consider that His suffering on our account ended in death. I am reminded of the words of the Hebrew writer,

"...consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners
against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged
in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving
against sin." (Hebrews 12:3-4)

Though He suffered unto death, Peter immediately reveals that though He "...was put to death in the flesh..." He was "...made alive by the Spirit..." On the day of Pentecost, this same apostle preached concerning Him: "...God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it." (Acts 2:24).

But what did the Lord do during the time He was dead, before being made alive by the Spirit? He "...went and preached to the spirits in prison..." Several have given explanations of what this might refer to; some inferring that a second chance was given to the people of Noah's day, others saying that Jesus, "in the Spirit" preached through Noah to the people before the flood. This writer believes the text refers to the resurrected Christ, while ascending to heaven, proclaiming His victory over death. This best fits the text in that:
1. The preaching was made by Jesus Himself, not Noah;
2. The preaching was made by Jesus after "being put to death in the flesh";
3. The preaching was made by Jesus after He was "made alive by the Spirit"

But let us not get weighted down in this matter, but continue on. In calling to mind those spirits (angels) who were disobedient in the days of Noah, Peter also draws our attention to 8 persons who were faithful – Noah and his family. These eight "...were saved by water." From this thought, the apostle then speaks of our own situation, namely that "...there is an antitype which now saves us..." There is a like figure; something similar; something today which corresponds to Noah's family's salvation by water – baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:12-13).

See that Noah was saved, not by water alone, but through active obedience in faith. In like manner, we are not saved by water alone (as some make the charge of baptismal regeneration), but through active obedience in faith. As the water distinguished those who were saved from those who were lost in Noah's day, so today, receiving Scriptural water baptism distinguishes those who are saved from those who are lost.

FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST (4:1-6)
Again, returning to the thought of our Lord's suffering, Peter commands, "...arm yourselves also with the same mind..." As He suffered in the flesh (3:18), we also should be ready to suffer in the flesh (2 Timothy 3:12). In the preparation for such, we need to focus our minds upon the will of God, the consequence being that we cease from sin (Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:17; Romans 6:11). Enough time has been spent in ignorance and sin (Acts 17:30; 1 Peter 1:14) It is time now for us to live for the Lord God. Paul tells us we should "...redeem the time..." (Ephesians 5:15-17; cf. Colossians 4:5).

Some may speak against us, thinking "...it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation..." We have already seen in Peter's writing that people of the world will speak evil of those who serve the Lord. Our duty is to make sure that it is for righteousness' sake, and not justly. We must keep in mind, and ought to remind those who are around us, a day off judgment is approaching. Those who do evil will give an account in judgment (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Indeed, even the children of God will appear in judgment (1 Peter 4:17-19). On that day, the dead will be raised and along with the living, they shall be brought into judgment (John 5:25-26; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Friend, let us be ready to endure suffering for the Lord's sake. Jesus is our great example, for He endured suffering on our behalf. He suffered, even unto death, but now lives forever. If we will arm ourselves with the same mind, know that we too may suffer, even to death, but in the hereafter, we will be raised to live eternally with the Lord.