An overview for Sunday School teachers and Bible study leaders, of Lifeway’s “Explore the Bible” lesson of I Peter 3:13-22, for Sunday, April 6, 2025, with the title, “Our Defense.” A video version of this overview is available on YouTube at:

INTRO

??? When you think of the word “apology,” what do you think of??? (Have you/someone you know, made an “apology” lately?)

But there is another use of the word “apology,” that has nothing to do with saying “I’m sorry”! The Greek word “apologia” means to give a formal defense of one’s beliefs, position, or actions.

One of the most famous early Christian “apologists” was named Justin. He lived from about 100-160 A.D. — just after the time of the New Testament. During his life he was called “Justin the Philosopher.” One of his early works was the “Dialogue,” in which he shared his own testimony of having encountered many worldly philosophies, but finally an old man shared with him the Christian message, and he was saved. In the “Dialogue” Justin shows how the Christian faith is superior to all the worldly philosophies. Justin’s writings became well-known throughout the Roman world, and he himself went to Rome where he testified about the Christian faith to philosophers and others there. As a result he was denounced and then beheaded about 160 A.D., and he has since become known in history as “Justin Martyr” because of his martyrdom for the faith. Justin Martyr is regarded as one of the first, and best “Christian apologists” in history. 

You might ask your group: ??? Can you name any more contemporary “Christian apologists”???

(Some would include: Josh McDowell (and now his son Sean), C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, Lee Strobel (of The Case for Christ and related books) and many others.

Point out that these “apologists” are not out there “apologizing” for our faith; rather they are defending the Christian faith, and showing that it is indeed reasonable and worth one’s attention and commitment.)

Then you might transition and say: In today’s lesson in I Peter 3 we see how God calls all of us to be “apologists” for our faith, through the way we live and speak. 

(You could also consider using the video clip from the NCAA women’s March Madness tournament that I mention in :15 as an alternate introduction)

CONTEXT

We’ve been studying through the Book of I Peter, and have seen how Christians should live as witnesses in the world, in light of our salvation and the great inheritance God has waiting for us with Him in heaven. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve seen how all Christians should follow Christ’s example of submission — and how our Christianity should affect every kind of relationship in our lives. This week we continue our study by picking up in Chapter 3:22, where Peter continues to talk about our witness in the world, especially in the light of suffering and persecution. 

OUTLINE

I. Our Witness For Christ Through Trials (:13-17)

II. Christ’s Ministry To Us Through Trials (:18-22)

TEXT

I. Our Witness for Christ Through Trials (:13-17)

A. Make Christ Lord in your trials: (:13-15a)

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, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts …”

As Peter begins this section, he refers again to the trials that Christians face. His words in :14 are undoubtedly a reference Jesus’ last Beatitude, Matthew 5:10-12, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” He says, if you do have to suffer for doing what is right, don’t be afraid of it, rather know that there’s a blessing for it.

And he continues that point, saying, “And do not fear their intimidation … but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.”

There is a marked contrast here that I believe is very important:

— He says “don’t fear their intimidation” — the word here is literally “fear.” “Don’t fear their fear.”

— Rather, on the other hand, “Sanctify Christ as Lord.” 

Do you see the contrast? He says don’t fear their fear; rather make Christ Lord. 

The point here is that whatever you fear, dominates your life. Many of us have fears like that. Our fear is like a “giant,”  that controls our thoughts, our actions, our attitudes. So in a very real sense, that thing you fear is the “lord” of your life. It overshadows everything else.

So Peter says here, “Don’t fear their fear” — in other words, don’t be afraid of them and whatever they might bring against you. Don’t let them dominate and control your life with their fear.

Instead, he says, “sanctify (set apart) CHRIST as Lord in your hearts.” He’s saying, don’t let THEM basically be the “lord” of your life by allowing them to control you through thier fear; instead make JESUS your Lord — so that no person or fear or anything else will dominate your life more than He will. Let only Jesus be your Lord! 

You might let your group help you apply this by asking:

??? What are some “fears” we might be tempted to fear, which can dominate/control our life???

(All kinds of things: fear of a terminal or debilitating illness, fear of death, fear of losing a loved one, fear of financial failure/distress — and don’t forget the Christians Peter was writing to faced fear of persecution and even death for their faith!)

So Peter’s saying, don’t let these things in effect be the “lord” of your life, by dominating your life by their fear. Instead, let JESUS be the Lord of your life! 

This certainly applies to fear/anxiety — but I also think it can apply more widely as well: don’t let ANYTHING else do dominate your life, rather make sure that ONLY CHRIST is your Lord.

Again you might apply this:

??? What are some things we might be tempted to let “lord” over us???
(finances/business; things which start out as seemingly harmless “pleasures” but end up becoming addictions that we are enslaved to; sports/other priorities — you/your group can think of many.)

Peter’s point here is: “sanctify JESUS as Lord.” Make sure that only HE is THE, #1, Lord & Master which controls your life. No one and no thing else.  I’ve known a lot of people over the years who have had to say, I’ve let (coffee, or Dr. Pepper, or my hobby, or whatever) dominate my life. It has gotten out of control, and I need to put it back in its place and make sure that only JESUS controls my life! That’s what Peter’s emphasizing here: make sure that only Jesus controls your life. 

B. Share A Verbal Witness in your trials (:15b)

“always being ready to make a [e]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and [f]reverence”

This is one of Peter’s main points in this text: that God’s people should use the trials and difficulties we go through, to share a witness for Him. No one wants to go through trials, but when we do, we should seek to glorify God.

ILLUSTRATION:

There was a great example of this in the NCAA women’s basketball tournament a week or two ago. 

The University of Alabama women’s basketball team lost a double overtime game to Maryland — a crushing loss. But after the game, Crimson Tide guard Sarah Ashlee Barker said in the press conference:

“The Lord is who I look to for my strength, my peace… On my wrist, I write Isaiah 41:10… My strength is my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.” (shared by Jon Root on X (Twitter), 3/25/25)

If you have video capabilities in your class, you might consider sharing her testimony on video. It’s at the following address:

“The Lord is who I look to for my strength, my peace… On my wrist, I write Isaiah 41:10… My strength is my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.”
– Alabama G Sarah Ashlee Barker after their 2OT loss vs Maryland pic.twitter.com/qy6WKiMlgy

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) March 25, 2025

What’s so powerful about her testimony, is that it is very common for people who WIN games and awards, to give God glory — and they should! God gave them their ability. But it can be even more powerful when her witness comes in a LOSS — that God is still her rock and strength. Sometimes our most powerful witness can come in the midst of the most difficult times of our lives. 

You might ask your class to share:

??? Have your known someone who was a good testimony for the Lord through a difficult time???

(Many of us know people who held to their faith, and testified to it, when they were sick, or dying, or lost a loved one, or had a tragic setback — or lost the game — and so on. These witnesses for the Lord

This is what Peter is encouraging us to do here: let your personal trial/difficulty be your “witness stand” to testify for Christ. 

This is where the word “apologia” that we mentioned in the introduction is used in our text. “Always being ready to make a defense” — the word “defense” there is “apologia”. If you don’t talk about the meaning of the word “apology” and reference Justin Martyr, etc., in the introduction, you might do that here in this point instead. Be an “apologist” — share with others the reasons for your faith — in the midst of your trials. 

Notice a couple of other things this verse teaches us:

— it says you should make a defense “to everyone who asks you.” ??? What does this imply???

(It implies that people are ASKING us: 

— “Tell me about this hope that you have!” 

— “How can you have such a peace on your death bed?” 

— “How can you have that kind of attitude when you have been struck so hard by tragedy?”, etc.  

It implies that we are living such a life that people will want to ask how we can live that way, in spite of our problems and circumstances. (We’ll get into that some more in the next point)

— AND the end of the verse instructs us to make this defense “with gentleness and reverence.” This is important. It speaks about the ATTITUDE we are to exhibit when we share. There is a kind of “witnessing” that people do, which is very aggressive, and “in your face,” and demeaning of others. This is NOT what the Lord commands us to do. 

+x II Timothy 2:24-25 “The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition …”

The Bible gives no place for an “arrogant” Christian apologist. We are to be “gentle,” “kind,” “patient” witnesses for Him. We aren’t here to humiliate people, or to get “notches for our belt” on how we “let them have it.” 

I’ve seen some clips on YouTube where it was said of a particular person that they “destroyed” so-and-so with their argument or response. Some Christian apologists try to operate in this way, “destroying” and humiliating people with their superior attitude and argument. But this is not the way of the Lord. Did Jesus not say in Luke 9:56, when James & John wanted to call down lightning on the Samaritans: “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them”?  Jesus did not call us to “destroy” people with our arguments. What good is it if we win an argument but lose the person in the process? Our object is to save souls, not lose them. Try to win the argument, yes, but don’t lose the person. Be kind, patient, and loving in your interactions with people, so that you both win the argument AND the person! Share your witness with “gentleness and reverence.” 

C. Be a Lifestyle Witness in your trials (:16-17)

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. 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.”

As important as our words are in our witnessing, they are not the only thing. The lives we live matter more. So Peter says in :16 to “Keep a good conscience …”. He goes on to talk about “your good behavior.” Our lives are the vital and continual backdrop for our witness to the watching world. People are always watching, and we need to be aware of that.

John Newton, the former slave trader who was saved and wrote the hymn “Amazing Grace,” developed quite ministry through letter-writing in his later years in England. To a Miss Medhurst he wrote: “Again, be watchful. Many eyes are upon you … the world observes you: many would rejoice at your halting; and a little thing in you would give them more pleasure and advantage in opposing the truth, than a greater slip in others who are content to plod on in the common way.” (Letters of John Newton, Josiah Bull, ed., p. 52) 

Newton’s admonition to Miss Medhurst could be repeated to any of us: “Be watchful. Many eyes are upon you.” Yes YOU! We all need to realize how important our lives and attitudes are. We are living witnesses for Christ in everything we say or do in the world. 

So as Peter says, “Keep a good conscience. Keep good behavior” as a good witness for Christ.

II. Christ’s Ministry For Us Through Trials (:18-22)

: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; 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. 

21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”

Let me alert you to a couple of problematic/difficult interpretative issues in this section that you will need to be prepared for:

— :19-20 is one of those: “the spirit, (: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 n the days of Noah …”. 

It IS a difficult passage to understand. Some would try to make it say that after Christ rose from the dead He preached to people who were alive in Noah’s day — as if they somehow got a “second chance” at salvation. But of course this contradicts the scriptural teaching of Hebrews 9:27, that “it is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment.” The Bible never teaches that we get “second chances” at salvation after death. This is a good principle we can apply all through scripture: if a proposed interpretation conflicts with other clear scripture, that is obviously NOT the correct interpretation. Scripture doesn’t contradict scripture. So the verse must mean something else. 

Ok, so if it doesn’t mean that, then what DOES it mean?

#1, we shouldn’t feel badly if we can’t understand every single thing in scripture. It’s telling that Martin Luther himself, one of the “giants” of the faith, wrote in his commentary: “A wonderful text is this, and a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament, so that I do not know for a certainty just what Peter means.” (I’m quoting from Thomas Schreiner’s commentary on I Peter, p. 184)

— Some commentators ancient and modern believe it refers to Jesus, “in the spirit” going to Hades/Hell and “proclaiming” His victory to them. If so, it could not have been a “second chance” at salvation, as we have seen — a kind of “victory” proclamation. This could fit the parameters of scriptural interpretation.

— Others, including Augustine believe it means that “in the spirit” (the same Spirit in which He was later raised) Christ was present during the preaching of Noah to the unbelievers of his age, who are now dead and “in prison.” This also fits the meaning of the verse, and I lean towards that interpretation — though it is one of those “difficult passages” in scripture. Just make sure that you are aware of it, and be prepared and ready to deal with it Sunday. 

— The second “difficult passage here” is in :21, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you …”. Some just want to stop there, and say, “See, baptism saves! You must have the physical act of baptism in order to be saved!” But talk about taking a verse out of context; they don’t even finish the verse! What does the verse go on to say: “NOT the removal of dirt from the flesh” — in other words, it is NOT the physical act of baptism that saves you — a vital point! But if it’s not the physical act that saves, what does? “But an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” In other words, what saves you is “appealing to God” — ASKING Him — to give you a good conscience (save you) — and this happens through Jesus.  

So what saves you, according to I Peter 3:21? NOT the physical act of baptism, but the spiritual act of ASKING God to save you, through Jesus. And that is exactly what the rest of the scripture teaches, that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Don’t let anybody intimidate you by quoting half of this verse! Tell ‘em to read the whole thing! And it’s clear from the whole verse that salvation is not accomplished by the physical act of baptism, but by faith in God through Christ. 

BUT: don’t let either of these “problem passages” distract from what should be the main point here: that through suffering — which is the context here; Peter referred in :17 to how we suffer for the Lord — now here we see again in :18 how Jesus is again our great Example as He suffered: “Christ also” (like us) endured suffering — and He not only “endured” it, but He also accomplished the greatest good that was ever done, through His suffering: He brought about the eternal salvation of all who would believe in Him.  

Thus :18 is one of the great verses of scripture: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God.” 

Again we see the great doctrine of the Substitutionary Atonement of Jesus: HE died FOR US. It emphasizes it twice here:

— “once for all”

— “the just for the unjust”

This is just what we saw in 2:24, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross.” HE bore OUR sins. That’s the Substitutionary Atonement. This is what salvation is all about: Jesus bore our sins, in our place, on the cross.

ILLUSTRATION:

In March of 2018, an ISIS terrorist attacked a supermarket in Trebes, France, killing three people and taking a number of hostages in the store. Police negotiated him into releasing all but one woman, and then police colonel Arnaud Beltrame, 44, traded himself for the woman. Not long after, shots rang out and police stormed the supermarket, but it was too late. Beltrame had been killed by the terrorist. France called him a hero for what he did: dying in the place of that woman hostage. 

Beltrame is not only a “hero,” he also becomes for us a picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He took our place, as our Substitute, bearing OUR sins, in HIS body. This is the very heart of Christianity. This is what our faith is all about: the Substitutionary Atonement of Jesus for us. 

So please do your best not to let your class get so bogged down in controversies about “disobedient spirits” and baptismal regeneration, that you miss the most important thing to be found in this text: the Substitutionary Atonement of Jesus for us. And again this week, you might consider giving some kind of invitation for anyone in your group who has never done it, to receive the forgiveness that Jesus bought for them with His death. It is the single most important thing that could happen in your class this week!

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