Armed for Suffering

Peter instructs the church to arm themselves with the mind of Christ.  After his discourse on suffering for righteousness' sake, he now reminds us that suffering in this way brings us closer to Jesus, and that we have had enough sin for a lifetime anyway.  Now it is time to embrace the righteousness that will characterize life in the kingdom, a righteousness available to us through that same Gospel that was preached to "those who are dead," our brothers and sisters over the centuries who have gone before us in faith.