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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 3 * BOOK 54
I Peter 2:15 - 3:22
Okay, let’s go right back into I Peter and we were in chapter 3 verse 12.
I Peter 3:12
Now so often the question comes, "Does God hear the prayers of evil people?" Would you, if you were in God’s position? Now, if they’re asking for salvation, and if they believe Paul’s Gospel for their salvation, then they can come right into the throne room of God with their petitions and thanksgivings, and have every right to. God’s not going to do anything for them. Those prayers are never answered whatsoever.
Let’s go back to that verse in Proverbs that I quoted in the last moments of the last program, and that’s Proverbs 14 verse 34. Remember, we’re not under the Covenant Promises, but I think God has so blessed America since our founding was on Biblical principles. We have been, for the most part, a God-fearing nation. And I think God has blessed us even as He promised to bless Abraham back in the Old Testament. So I do draw a parallel, and always have, that I think there is that distinctiveness in God’s blessing America like He has blessed no other nation on earth.
We’ve got churches on every corner, Bibles in every home and we, like no other nation on earth, have been blessed of God - and if we are going to kick Him out, then we can expect, as a nation, His wrath and His judgment to fall.
All right, Proverbs 14 verse 34.
Proverbs 14:34
"Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." America was great because America is good. And America will cease to be great when America ceases to be good. All right, so "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." I Peter 3:13
Many times good people are persecuted. I Peter 3:14
We haven’t had to fear losing our livelihood. Well, I always remember an old pastor of mine. If and when that day comes, the grace of God will be sufficient." I Peter 3:15
Because you have been saved by God’s grace, you know that you’re a child of God and, as a result, He has made you different. I Peter 3:16a
I Peter 3:16
"Blessed are ye when men say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." All right, verse 17.
I Peter 3:17
"For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing." Our prisons are full of people who have done evil and they live to regret it, of course. I Peter 3:18
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" In other words, the Spirit of Christ never died. Don’t ever think, for a moment, that God died when Christ died on the cross. I Peter 3:19
There were two sides down there, the Paradise side and torment side.
In Paradise. That from the cross, then, the thief as well as Christ Himself, in the realm of the spirit, went down into the Paradise side in the center of the earth. Today Paradise is in heaven, but at that time, it was in the center of the earth. Matthew 12:38-39
Matthew 12:40
Now verse 19.
Luke 16:19-28
22. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: (That’s down in Paradise.) the rich man also died, and was buried; 23. And in hell (Sheol. Hades.) 25. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. Then, the great gulf fixed, and on the other side is Torment. My, that has thrown a curve at so many people. You mean Jesus went to Hell? Not Torment.
Consequently, he could not go into God’s holy presence until the atoning blood of Christ Himself was shed.
"The atoning blood has been shed!" Ephesians 4:8-10
"Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. When Christ had shed His atoning blood, here on the cross, He could tell the thief, "today thou shalt be with me in Paradise." They went down for those three days and three nights into the lower parts of the earth, but into the Paradise side; and when Peter says He preached to those spirits in prison, this is what he could preach – "The atoning blood has now been shed. The place of torment. The place of punishment. But, in the Old Testament economy it was the place of all of the departed dead.
I Peter 3:19-20a
"By which also he (Christ) went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20. A hundred and twenty years God was patient with that wicked people living there at the time of Noah, while Noah and his sons (and probably some hired help) were building the ark.

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