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NASB | 1 Peter 3:21 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, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Peter 3:21 Corresponding to that [rescue through the flood], baptism [which is an expression of a believer's new life in Christ] now saves you, not by removing dirt from the body, but by an appeal to God for a good (clear) conscience, [demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, |
Subject: How Does Baptism Save? |
Bible Note: Greetings. You wrote: "His incomplete faith led to his obedience. We've discussed on this forum the faith that all men have, ought to have, because of the evidence in creation. Each man is without excuse should he leave this earth without being reconciled to God." Amen. But they key term you brought up is that men ought to have that faith. Those who will be in hell do not possess a "faith without obedience" or a "faith that is about to obey." They possess no trust at all in the Jesus of the Bible. "Abraham had this faith and he acted upon it." That he did. And all true faith in Christ does lead to obedience. The question is whether it is the trust in Christ or the obedience (or some combination of the two) that receives the imputed righteousness of Christ. Again, Romans 4 shuts the door on obedience being that conduit. What do you have to say about Romans 4:5? You wrote: "But as I have said, faith that 'is about to obey' isn't what God credits as righteousness." Are you sure? Paul wrote: 'Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them," --Romans 4:9-11 The order of events, according to Paul, is: a) Abraham believed God b) God considers him righteous c) Abraham obeys God by circumcision There is no other way to render the passage but to conclude that Abraham's obedience to God's command to be circumcised was a result and an evidence of his saving faith, so his "faith that was about to obey" was precisely the instrument of his justification before God. And, yes, faith without works is dead, and cannot save. A dead faith is not true faith at all. --Joe! |