First I found this Scripture:
(1Pe 3:19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
And then recently, just on the next chapter, I found this:
(1Pe 4:6) For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Now notice the synonymous phrases, "preached unto the spirits in prison" and "the gospel preach also to them that are dead." Suddenly I'm thinking about Purgatory. : ) But seriously, I have reason to believe that even the realm of the dead is within reach of the gospel, and somebody is also preaching there.
Let's read that again from verse 17:
(1Pe 3:19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
And then recently, just on the next chapter, I found this:
(1Pe 4:6) For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Now notice the synonymous phrases, "preached unto the spirits in prison" and "the gospel preach also to them that are dead." Suddenly I'm thinking about Purgatory. : ) But seriously, I have reason to believe that even the realm of the dead is within reach of the gospel, and somebody is also preaching there.
(1Pe 3:17) For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
(1Pe 3:18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
(1Pe 3:19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
(1Pe 3:20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
(1Pe 3:21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Up until verse 17, Peter is preaching on good works. At verse 18, Peter compares the sufferings of a just man to Christ's sufferings and gives doctrinal insights on what was accomplished by the sufferings of Christ. And then verse 19 the Apostle expounds further on what was ALSO accomplished by Christ's suffering/death in the flesh (by implication).
Verse 20 expressly identifies who were the spirits in prison and then in verse 21, the Apostle gives another doctrinal insight this time on baptism (which is another topic).
Adding up 1Pe 4:6, one thing becomes crystal clear to me. Whether we be dead or alive, there is only one criteria of the judgment of God and that is, whether or not we receive the gospel of Jesus Christ (whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life).
As a personal note, I am not forcing anyone to accept this: Even the dead will have enough opportunity to hear the Gospel. That's how good God is. : )
(1Pe 3:18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
(1Pe 3:19) By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
(1Pe 3:20) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
(1Pe 3:21) The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Up until verse 17, Peter is preaching on good works. At verse 18, Peter compares the sufferings of a just man to Christ's sufferings and gives doctrinal insights on what was accomplished by the sufferings of Christ. And then verse 19 the Apostle expounds further on what was ALSO accomplished by Christ's suffering/death in the flesh (by implication).
Verse 20 expressly identifies who were the spirits in prison and then in verse 21, the Apostle gives another doctrinal insight this time on baptism (which is another topic).
Adding up 1Pe 4:6, one thing becomes crystal clear to me. Whether we be dead or alive, there is only one criteria of the judgment of God and that is, whether or not we receive the gospel of Jesus Christ (whosoever believes on Him shall not perish but have eternal life).
As a personal note, I am not forcing anyone to accept this: Even the dead will have enough opportunity to hear the Gospel. That's how good God is. : )
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