Subject: Entering Heaven |
Bible Note: Water as a motif in the Bible is symbolic as a cleaser or destroyer of impurities and symbolic of salvation. The flood waters destroyed wickedness and saved Noah and his family. This is why 1Peter 3:18-21 says that eight people Noah and his family were saved through the water notice that they were not saved from the water by the ark but through the water. This water they were saved through represents baptism in that it saves us from sin not by some physical power like as the removal of dirt from the flesh but as a pledge by the believer by being obedient to Gods command of baptism. Because the believer has through faith been obedient he can now have a good conscience toward God because he knows he has done what God ask. It saves you by the power in the resurrection of Christ. The IT that saves you is the water and baptism thats mentioned early in verse 21. The water has no power itself. But when you act in faith and are baptized you place yourself under Gods power which through Jesus's resurrection defeated death for the whole world. Jesus freely died for us he freely extends his grace to us by no power of our own could we have ever made salvation posible. But we must accept this gift when one is baptized believing that Jesus is God's son and having faith this is acceptence of the gift. The water in baptism represents the tomb or grave where Jesus lay for three days while he was dead. The blood of Christ washes away our sins. Lets go back to the cross remember Jesus was already dead when the soldier cast a spear into his side and out flowed blood and water. Isn't it interesting that the scripture mentions both the blood and water. Therefore Jesus shed his blood in that he died for our sins there can be no forgivness of sins without the sheding of blood as a sacrifice to pay our sin debt. Jesus shed his blood in his death. Rom chapter 6 says that we are baptized into his death the reason we are baptized into Christ death is so we can come into contact with His blood. This is not symbolic the symbol of his blood is in the fruit of the vine during communion. Remember at the last supper He said that it represented his blood. The gospel in short is the death,burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Rom6 designates baptism as the gospel in that it is the death,burial, and resurrection of us with Christ. The form of teaching that freed them from being slaves of sin is baptism as I have mentioned not just getting wet. This form is also obeying the gospel. Taking the stand that belief alone saves is in conflict with too many other scriptures in the Bible especially James chapter 2 and the parrable of the rich young ruler. He asked Jesus what to do for eternal life but he could not do it and went away sorrowful there are things people must do to be saved. Plip.2:12 work out your salvation with fear and trembling. |