From Death in Sin to Life in God

For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God. (I Peter 4:6)

Read: I Pet. 4:1-6; Prov. 21:16; John 5:24; Eph. 2:1; I John 3:14; Rom. 12:2

What Is God Saying?

This passage is difficult to understand and hard to explain. There are many possible interpretations. Trying to penetrate the darkness of the enigma in this passage has carried many sincere thinkers far afield. They have built doctrines based solely on this text which are different by 180 degrees from the central truth of the Gospel. ‘Preaching to the dead’ becomes a debatable point. Is there a second chance? Does this verse prove the existence of Purgatory? Is there universal salvation? These are the extremes which surface in the troubled waters of heated debate.

The simplest explanation may well be the best one. Jesus did preach to the dead. He preached to us when we were dead in trespasses and sins; dead to the call of God; dead to life set free from all bondage; dead to everything worthwhile. However else this passage may be interpreted, it has a bearing on those who are dead to the things of God.

How Does This Apply To Us?

Those who see prayer as a door to blessing and a way of blessing must lay hold on one great fact. We can live in the Spirit like God. Can we think of a greater destiny? As impossible as it sounds, living like God in the Spirit is the plan God has for all Christians. It is the meaning of the Gospel. It is the ultimate purpose of the Gospel. In the opening verses of his second letter, Peter states it so clearly, ‘His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness—that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature’ (II Peter 1:3-4). We are created in the image of God. We can be re-created to live in the Spirit like God. Prayer sets us free from the clamorings of the flesh. Prayer lets us freely ask for and abundantly receive the blessings of the Spirit.

Pray With Me

Heavenly Father, you are the God of salvation. You are the Lord of infinite mercy. You are the Spirit always present and always renewing. I bow in wonder and thanksgiving before the power of the Gospel. The Gospel was not only preached to me, it reached to me. Not only has it reached me, it has revived me. It has awakened me to the joys of living in and for Christ. It has shown me Your judgment on all that is contrary to life in the passions of the flesh. Beyond that, it has given me the power to have in the Spirit. For the power of the Gospel, my only pride, I thank You.

I would go on to a fuller appreciation of why it was preached even to me, even to the dead. ‘That though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God.’ Lead me, Spirit of God, away from those things upon which God's judgment must fall. Guide me to the way everlasting where I shall love all that God loves, allow all that God allows, and bless all that God blesses. To ‘live in the spirit like God’ seems far beyond my capacity. It is, but Lord, confirm in me the assurance that such living is possible. It is even inevitable, when ‘it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.’ Lead me from false humility that unintentionally casts doubt on Your greatness by suggesting that I cannot ‘live in the spirit like God.’ To doubt this is to doubt You.

Let Your truth light all my path. Let Your love prompt all my thoughts. Let Your life fill all my being.

In the name of Him whose strength is made perfect in my weakness. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

To continue strongly in prayer, let us not be conformed to this world but rather transformed (steadily, constantly, daily, hourly) by the renewal of our minds. That is the way to tap into the abundance of God's love and the endless blessings He would have us enjoy. When our hearts and our hands are not filled with hollow substitutes, God can fill them with the real thing. Keep on praying. Keep on saying what you want. Best of all, keep on discovering what God wants.