It is a confusing verse at first glance. 1 Peter 3:21 says, Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Is Peter teaching baptismal regeneration? Is he saying the act or work of baptism saves a person rather than justification by faith? Lets put on our analytical glasses and examine the context more closely. The previous three verses say, 18) For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19) in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20) who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. Notice two important things. First, everything points to the work of Christ dying for humanities sins and then in His spirit making a proclamation. This is a picture of Him going through the judgement of death on our behalf and descending to the lower parts of the earth between His death and resurrection. (Eph 4:9-10) Second, notice in verse 20 Peter points to Noah and the ark as an illustration of those who were saved from the judgement of the flood. He is using this as an illustration of salvation. Just as the ark went through the judgement of the flood and those in the ark were saved; so it is for Christians. Those who place faith in Jesus Christ for salvation are baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:13). Notice that Noah and his family went through the judgement of the flood, but the ark bore the judgement for them. They were safe in the ark! Corresponding to that, Jesus went through the judgement of death and hell for us, and those in Christ are saved! What an amazing illustration of salvation.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 12:39:59 +0000
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