基督為我們的罪受死
彼得前書三章18至22節
18因基督也曾一次為罪受苦（有古卷作：受死），就是義的代替不義的，為要引我們到神面前。按著肉體說，他被治死；按著靈性說，他復活了。
19他藉這靈曾去傳道給那些在監獄裡的靈聽，
20就是那從前在挪亞預備方舟、神容忍等待的時候，不信從的人。當時進入方舟，藉著水得救的不多，只有八個人。
21這水所表明的洗禮，現在藉著耶穌基督復活也拯救你們；這洗禮本不在乎除掉肉體的污穢，只求在神面前有無虧的良心。
22耶穌已經進入天堂，在神的右邊；眾天使和有權柄的，並有能力的，都服從了他。
信息分享
新約聖經非常清楚地告訴我們，基督為我們眾人的罪受死，祂的死已足以為我們眾人的罪付上贖價。祂的死永遠都不會失去效用，所以，不會再有任何人要為到人類的罪而代贖犧牲。
有些人卻傳另一套道理，說我們人類始終要承擔部分罪責，接受最終的刑罰。誠然，未得救的人因為沒有接受基督的救贖，所以便要承擔自己的罪；但基督徒卻不然。基督已為我們一次而永遠地受苦，承擔了我們的罪；基督徒因為接受了基督的救贖，所以，罪只會妨礙我們與神的相交，卻不會中斷我們與神的關係。
另一些人卻認為，撒但最終要為到我們的罪而承擔部分責任；可是，聖經卻堅稱，只有基督為我們承擔了罪的刑罰，祂親身釘在十字架上，為我們的罪付上了全部贖價。以賽亞先知曾經預言，神已定意要祂擔當我們的罪孽。
第19至22節並不容易解釋。經文告訴我們，聖靈使基督復活，但對於接著的下一句，說基督復活後曾傳道給在監獄裡的靈聽，經文卻沒有為我們提供清楚的解釋。也許，當祂的身體還在墳墓裡的時候，祂曾向舊約時代那些未曾相信神的話的死人顯現，向他們說了類似的話：「你們不相信我會照預言所說降生為人和受死，看，我就是預言中的那一位，可以證明先知的話是完全真確的。你們早應該相信，現在是太遲了。」
正如方舟救了挪亞一家(20節)，基督也同樣救了我們。把所有人淹死的洪水，卻使方舟浮起，把挪亞一家送到安全之地。同樣地，水成為眾人的審判之時，基督卻藉著水來拯救我們，把我們送到平安之地。我們藉著水禮來證明我們是屬乎基督的。綜觀而言，這兩節經文是描述了耶穌基督的死和復活。
最後，讓我們牢記一個重要的真理，就是基督為我們的罪一次而永遠地受死。我們只要接受祂為我們作成的一切，便可在祂裡面得著完全的救恩。
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS
1 Peter 3: 18-22
18 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,
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Message
The New Testament is very clear that Christ died once and for all, for our sins. His death was sufficient to pay the price for all our sins. His death never needs to be repeated. No-one can ever offer that sacrifice again.
There are those who teach that man will bear part of his own punishment for sin. The Bible never says that about Christians. Of course the unsaved person will bear his own punishment, but not the Christians. Christ has suffered once and for all for us. Sin may interrupt our fellowship with God, but never our relationship.
Other people say that Satan will one day bear part of the punishment for our sin. But the Bible says that it is Christ, and Christ alone, who paid all the penalty when a he took our sins in his body on the tree. Isaiah said that God laid on him - Christ - the iniquity for us all. We should thank God every day that Christ has done this for us.
There are a number of difficult thoughts in verses 19-22. Do not be disturbed by them. We are told that Christ was brought back to life by the Spirit of God, but we are not given a clear explanation of what is meant by his preaching to souls in prison. Possibly during the time his body was in the grave he showed himself to those who did not believe the word of God in Old Testament times. Perhaps he said something like this to them, 'You didn't believe that I was coming. Here I am, proof that the words of those prophets were true words. Now it is too late for you. You should have believed while you had the opportunity.'
In the same way that the ark saved Noah and his family (v.20), so Christ saves us. The very water that overwhelmed others, lifted the ark and carried Noah and his family to safety. So Christ carries us through the waters of judgement and keeps us absolutely safe. Baptism is the way to show that we belong to Christ. It is a picture of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Let us go back again to this great truth - Christ died for our sins once and for all. We have complete salvation in him, if we accept what he has done for us. Stop and thank God for that today.