Author Archives: Stephen Nielsen

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About Stephen Nielsen

I'm an author, a self publisher, and a painting contractor. I live in beautiful Minnesota, USA . Welcome to my blog site.

Christ Proclaimed His Triumph to the Spirits in Prison

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1 Peter 3:19-20

19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

It seems that during the three days that Christ was in the tomb, when his body was dead and His spirit was alive (v. 18), He went in His living spirit to where demon spirits were bound (put there during the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark for their wickedness). And He proclaimed to them His triumph over sin and death, and thus over their evil efforts against God’s plan for our redemption (read Col. 2:14-15).

Christ Died for Us

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1 Peter 3:18

18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Christ suffered and died not because of any sin, for He was a just man His entire life; but He suffered for all of us who are unjust so that He may bring us to God—having our sins paid for. His body was put to death by sinful men, but His inner spirit lived on.

Looking back at verse 17, we can be glad if we suffer for doing what is right; for that is what Christ did. Hence, we are identifying with Him. He suffered and died being entirely righteous. But He went beyond that; He suffered and died for all of us who were guilty of sins. He suffered for our sins.

It is Better to Suffer for Dong Right than Wrong

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1 Peter 3:17

17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

If one suffers for doing what is right he will have nothing to correct or feel guilty about. But if one suffers because of a sin, he must ask for forgiveness and correct his behavior.

Be Kind to Your Accuser

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1 Peter 3:16

16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

Keeping a good conscience means that we will not do anything back to our accuser, or say anything cruel to them. In that way, they will have nothing to say again to us, only to be ashamed for what they already said to us.

Make Christ Lord In Your Heart

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1 Peter 3:15

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

Carrying on from verse 14, Peter tells those who are being intimidated, not to fear them but to sanctify (or to set apart as holy) Christ, and to put Him as Lord in their heart. This will make them ready to make a defense for the gospel. Thus, for everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope we have (or for everyone who is critical of us), we will be ready to give them an answer. And then Peter emphasizes that we are not to be harsh with them as they are with us; as he states in verse 9, to not return evil for evil. We are instead to be gentle with them with reverence (or respect).

We Need Not Fear or Be Troubled

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1 Peter 3:13-14

13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

When Peter says, “Who is there to harm you?” he is encouraging them to trust the Lord, and so, not to fear; for He will be with them (Isa. 41:10). If they, being righteous, suffer and fear intimidation they need not be troubled, only blessed by the Lord (Peter refers to Isa. 8:12-13).

The Way of Righteousness and Peace

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1 Peter 3:10-12

10 For,

“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,

MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.

11 “HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;

HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.

12 “FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,

AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,

BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”

In these verses, piggy backing on verse 9, Peter quotes from Psalm 34:12-16. I suppose, being aware of so much evil around him, Peter knows that the way of righteousness and peace is so much better.

God’s Message for All Who Fear ICE – From Romans 13:1-5

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Obey the government, for God is the one who has put it there. There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the policeman does not frighten people who are doing right; but those doing evil will always fear him. So if you don’t want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along well. 4 The policeman is sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for he will have you punished. He is sent by God for that very purpose. 5 Obey the laws, then, for two reasons: first, to keep from being punished, and second, just because you know you should. (TLB)

These words of Scripture apply to us today for all who fear ICE. They are here, placed in power from God. They are here as policeman to enforce our laws. If you have not kept the law then you should be afraid. But if you have not done anything wrong you have no reason to fear.

Peters Appeal to all Believers

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1 Peter 3:8-9

8 To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

After Peter’s exhortation to be submissive, he gives this appeal to all believers: to be of one mind, understanding of each other, to love one another, to be kind to each other, and to be humble. Then (in verse 9), for those more apt to be proud, he tells them not to return evil for evil, but instead, to give them a blessing (Rom. 12:21). God desires that we all will be blessed. He wants to bless us through each other.

Husbands to Be Understanding

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1 Peter 3:7

7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Husbands are to be submissive in the same way as the wives; but not to her as a leader over him (he is to be the leader). His submissiveness is to God in his duty of understanding that she is a woman who is not as strong (physically) as a man. Also, he must honor her as a fellow heir of God’s gift of life. And if he does this (if he understands her and honors her) his prayers will not be hindered. I take this to imply that if a man is not submissive in his duty to his wife he will be in disobedience to God, and thus God will reject all of his prayers. We can’t expect our prayers to be heard if we go against God’s will, especially in regard to our wives.