because
they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days
of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is,
eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which
corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the
body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ
1
peter 3:20,21 ESV
The
apostle Peter compares baptism to the ark that Noah built, that saved
Noah and his family from the great flood. The reason God flooded the
earth was because mankind had become so sinful. Only a few were saved
from destruction because Noah obeyed God and built the ark. Peter
says they were “brought safely through the water”, while the rest
of humanity perished in their sins.
Peter
then says “baptism which corresponds to this, now saves you”.
What Peter is saying is that just as the ark saved Noah and his
family from destruction, today baptism will save you from
destruction.
It
was by faith that Noah built the ark, filled it with all the animals
and his family saving them from certain destruction. God commanded
the ark be built, Noah obeyed the command, God gave salvation.
Today
we need to act in faith, God has commanded baptism for the
forgiveness of sins, through Jesus, Matthew
28:19 and the apostle Peter Acts
2:38 as well as in other scriptures in the New Testament.
Peter said baptism now saves you. It would seem that it is a good
idea to get on board with God's plan for salvation today. His plan
for salvation in Noah's day was the ark, today His plan for salvation
is baptism.
Peter
said that baptism is not a “removal of dirt from the body but as
an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ”. If you want your conscience cleared and all you
sins removed, it happens when one responds to Jesus command to be
baptized.
Get
on board!
©
2012 Leo J. Woodman
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