Jan. 11, 2026

In an energizing and entertaining message, Pastor Dave took us into one of the trickier passages in Scripture this week—1 Peter 3:18-22—where Peter talks about Christ's suffering, baptism, and Noah's ark all in the same breath.

Pastor Dave's sermon begins at 19:45 min into the video. The music "Forever", "Jesus Messiah", "Holy, Holy, Holy!", "Hymn of Heaven", and "The Doxology" are licensed under CCLI Copyright #2723035 and Streaming Media #22024223 licenses.

What Did Christ Do?

Pastor Dave opened with a grin, acknowledging that Bible scholars can't even agree on how many interpretations exist for these verses (some say 30, others say 180). But instead of getting lost in the weeds, he pulled out the heart of the passage: What did Christ do for us?

1. Christ Died for Us—Once for All

Peter writes, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit." Pastor Dave reminded us that Old Testament sacrifices were temporary—covering sin but never cleansing the conscience. Christ's death was different. "He died once. That sacrifice was not temporary, but ongoing. It's the full payment for all of our sins—past, present, and future." That means we don't have to wonder if we're forgiven tomorrow or next year. The price is paid. Completely.

2. Christ Reconciled Us to God

The phrase "that He might bring us to God" hit hard. Pastor Dave explained that when the temple veil tore at Christ's death, it symbolized something huge: we now have free access to God. "You and I, because of what Christ did, can freely come to God. You don't need an earthly high priest. You on Monday morning can talk to God." That's the beauty of reconciliation—every barrier between us and the Father has been removed.

3. Baptism: A Picture, Not a Ritual

This is where things got interesting. Peter mentions baptism as an "antitype"—a symbol or picture. Pastor Dave was quick to clarify: "Baptism does not save you. It's not the water that washes." He walked us through Colossians 2:11-12, explaining that our real baptism is spiritual—the moment we're buried into Christ by faith. Physical baptism in water is the public declaration of that inward reality. He used Noah as an example: the water didn't save Noah; God did. The ark was just the vessel. Similarly, baptism is our way of saying, "My life is hidden in Christ, and I'm safe from judgment."

4. Christ Rose, Proclaimed, and Triumphed

Pastor Dave moved quickly through the resurrection and ascension, but with passion. "If Christ did not do what He said He would do, then He is not who He said He was." The resurrection proves everything. Christ is alive, seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. And here's the kicker: "Angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to Him." Every spiritual force—good or evil—is under His authority. That means we can live with hope, even in suffering, because Christ is sovereign over it all.

Closing Challenge: Am I Saved?

Pastor Dave ended with Romans 10:9-13, asking us to examine our hearts. "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." It's not about doing enough or believing hard enough—it's about trusting in what Christ has already done. He encouraged us to rejoice in that assurance, and if we haven't made that confession, to do it today. His message left us thinking about the week ahead, grounded in the certainty that Christ's work is finished—and it's enough.