1 Peter 3:18-22

“He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey…” vss. 18b-20a

Sometimes believers have questions about their friends or family members who have died without coming to faith in Jesus. They may even have had conversations with these loved ones about their eternal salvation but were rebuffed or ignored. And when death comes they wonder! We know from scripture that such questions were common in the early church. Just how inclusive was the resurrection of Jesus, and who would be included in the new life? In his letter Peter offers a word of hope. He says that after his resurrection Jesus visited the spirits in prison, i.e, those who had died in ages past, even those before the flood. It’s only a brief statement, yet it was considered important enough to be included in the Apostle’s Creed, and so it is that for centuries believers have confessed that Jesus descended to the dead after his resurrection. While it’s hard to imagine what those words mean in any literal sense, the intention is clear. The new life in Christ is for all people, even those who in their lifetimes did not know Jesus. We don’t have to worry about those loved ones who never came to faith–they’ve missed out on a lot in this life, but they don’t miss out on the life to come. Nothing can separate us from God’s love!

Thought for the Day: What do unbelievers miss out on in this life?