Seeds for 06/03/2024 - 1 Peter 4:6
Scripture:
For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
Observation:
Yes, this is at first blush (and maybe even second or third) an odd sounding verse.
The context is the accountability that all face before God, who is a righteous judge of all, “the living and the dead.”
The Apostles’ Creed says that after Jesus died and was buried, “He descended to the dead.” Peter said in the last chapter that Jesus went and preached to the imprisoned spirits.
Though it seems strange to picture Jesus preaching to those already dead, wouldn’t that be just like a God whose grace is expansive even while His judgments are just?
Wouldn’t that be just like a God who, though beyond dimensions, broke into the dimensions of His creation in order to reveal Himself in full and save His wayward image-bearing creatures?
Wouldn’t that be just like the God who wants all to be saved?
That Jesus preached to “those who are now dead” reminds and assures me of the comprehensiveness of the invitation to be reconciled to God through the grace offered in Jesus. This is the same relentless grace that is offered to you and me.
Application:
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the relentlessness of grace. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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