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1 Peter 3:22
“[Christ] has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”
Baptism is a vital means of grace that God has given to His church for the sake of salvation (1 Peter 3:21; see Matt. 28:18–20). Thus, it is to be taken seriously, and we are to understand that while the mere application of water in the name of the Holy Trinity does not save anyone who never trusts in Christ, we cannot divorce salvation entirely from the sacrament. Moreover, we note that judgment is connected to baptism. We remember that in the story of the ark, which corresponds to baptism, the waters destroyed all those who did not believe God even as Noah was carried to safety upon them. Dr. R.C. Sproul comments, “The water that saved Noah and his family saved them because they put their trust in the promises of God, and for those who did not, that same water was the occasion of their utter destruction.” Those who are baptized but never believe in Christ will receive a judgment most severe.
Those who are saved through baptism are those who have “an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus” (1 Peter 3:21)—that is, those who put saving faith in Jesus. In today’s verse, Peter looks to the exaltation of Jesus to conclude the teaching he began in 1 Peter 3:8 regarding suffering for the sake of righteousness as the way to vindication. As we have noted, Jesus is the preeminent example of the person who suffers for the sake of the truth and is not ultimately destroyed even if He did pass through death. That is because death could not hold Him. His enemies did the worst that they could to Him by killing Him, and He rose again after three days. Moreover, He “has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him” (v. 22).
The Apostle here refers to the ascension of Christ, His return to heaven in victory after the resurrection, and the session of Christ, His being seated in authority over all at the right hand of God. After His resurrection, Jesus began His mediatorial reign, His exercise of supreme authority as the God-man for the sake of the church and the spread of the gospel (Eph. 1:22–23). Psalm 2 and other passages predict the enthronement of the Davidic King over all for the sake of the expansion of God’s kingdom and the subjugation of all of God’s enemies. This is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who now must reign until He has put all things under His feet, until all things acknowledge His lordship (1 Cor. 15:25). The suffering Messiah has been supremely vindicated as King over all.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Christ was vindicated for His faithfulness to God, having completed His mission, and now He reigns over all. Scripture describes Him as our forerunner (Heb. 6:20), so while we will not be supreme over all, we will rule over the earth under His direction (2 Tim. 2:12). Let us be encouraged that our vindication for faithfully following the Lord Jesus Christ is coming.
For further study
- Psalm 37:34
- Isaiah 52:13
- Ephesians 1:15–23
- Revelation 11:15
The bible in a year
- 1 Chronicles 15–17
- John 10:22–42