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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: What do you do with Acts 8:16? |
Bible Note: I thought of another illustration that might make this even more clear. Have you ever been through a special canvasing of a community with flyers with coupons to a local business? And then follow up that campaign with another one in a neighboring community but with a few minor differences, maybe an expiration date on each of the coupon sheets? Or some other differnce? Maybe one is better than the other, with larger discounts? That's the scenario I would paint for you to help you understand the first century world of christians. Now remember, we're dealing with first century christians who were just getting acquainted with God and Godliness as in the case of Corinth. So, in some cities, word of this miraculous measure of power from the Holy Spirit was being spread around the known world, originating in Jerusalem. As you can imagine the cities (congregations of christians) who didn't have these miraculous powers would want those powers and want them very badly, maybe even lust for these abilities. Now maybe you can imagine just how bad things were in the first century and no wonder that our Lord DOESN'T see fit to have this miraculous age to go on with human beings in control. Once again, our Lord wants us to graduate from this kind of simple and shallow spiritual depth in our walk with God. He wants us to grow and mature and get out of this kind of addiction for the physical world and learn to prefer His world of the spiritual, the infinite over the finite. I hope this analogy helps all those who might read this thread. God bless. --Rowdy |