Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: Hi Mark, I read an interesting article the other day, by a Greek expositor, on the topic of baptism that I would like to share with you. 1 Peter 3:18-21 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: [19] By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; [20] Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. [21] The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The previous verses, Notice in verse 18, “by the Spirit:” Then in verse 19, “By the which”, referring to the same Spirit. Now in verse 21 “The like figure” by the Spirit, not the water. , eight souls were saved by water. They weren’t saved by the water; they were saved because they were sealed up in the ark of safety. It wasn’t the action of the water, as with water baptism, that saved them, verse 21 not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, “BUT”, (a contrastive conjunction) “The answer of a good conscience toward God,” by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which seals us up in the ark of safety in Christ until the first resurrection in Christ is complete. The same way, or the like figure, were the eight were saved in the ark of safety. Ephes. 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Ephes. 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephes. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, There is one baptism that unifies all believers, and it sure isn’t anything that we do, we don’t have a thing to do with it; it’s all the work of the Lord. Jesus is going to baptize everyone by one means or another; either with the Spirit or with fire. Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Repentance brings the baptism of the Spirit and no repentance will bring a baptism of fire; and it won’t just be sprinkled on those that don’t have a change of mind about the person and work of Jesus the Christ. Just like the old song says; Jesus did it all, all to him I owe, sin has left its crimson stain, he washed it white as snow. Isn’t the Lord just fantastic; and it’s all by His Grace, CDBJ |