1 Peter 3:19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Even in the days of Noah, Jesus, who is God, sent his Spirit through Noah to warn the people. He was patient, but they did not listen and so He decided to destroy the earth. Only 8 people, in all, were saved during the floods waters. Through the words of Noah, the wicked heard but did not believe. The same is true today. How many have heard the hope and salvation that Christ can bring but have turned a deaf ear to it? They will one day see their judgement day. Through the water we see a symbol of baptism. The symbol of baptism paints a picture of the old man being raised up a new man in Christ. It is a picture of the resurrection of Christ. He died for us as sinners but was raised from death to new life and is now positioned at the right hand of the Father. I do not believe Peter is saying in this passage that we can be saved through baptism. I believe He is saying that God can save us from our sins by bringing us through the waters of judgement and making us righteous through the resurrection of Christ.
Posted on: Sun, 30 Jun 2013 12:40:54 +0000
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