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05-18-06, 11:22 AM
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1Peter 3:21; “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:”
Remember when you where in elementary School and Had to learn to diagram a sentence? Remember what parenthesis mean when inserted into a phrase?
The first part of 1 Peter 3:21 connects it to the previous verses as well as the
subject of those verses. What was the subject of those verses? Was it Noah and the ark? Or was it God preparing a way for their salvation? Clearly it is the fact that God prepared a way for salvation. So, we can see here then that Peter is reminding us that in like manner God has prepared a way for our deliverance and rescue from judgment against sin. And how does he do that? Now here is where so many get the cart before the Horse. If you understand that the text within the parenthesis is there to clarify a thought then this should be easier for you. If you read 1 Peter 3:21 like this: "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." Technically it says the same thing without the clarifying parenthesis. So what saves us, what has God provided as our deliverance? The Resurrection of Christ is our salvation. But, why does Peter put in a clarifying statement in the middle of this verse? This thread is why. To clear up any misunderstanding like we have here. Peter says, "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God". He is telling us that baptism has no fleshly purpose, it doesn't wash away our sin, make us more Holy, or more righteous (the filth of the flesh) but it keeps us in obedience (a good conscience) toward God. How does it do this? Because God Command us to be Baptized, to not do so is disobedience. This does not mean we are not saved, but if we are not willing to be baptized then we must consider if we really are not ashamed of Christ. Being Baptized has nothing to do with you being ready or prepared, just as you could not be ready or good enough to be saved. You get baptized because Christ ask you to. Christ said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”(John 14:15). This statement is reinforced by Peter in 1 Peter 3:21. Our obedience is a by produce of our love for Christ, and why do we love Him? “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1John 4:19)
Therefore, here is the order. Christ loves us, as it has been for eternity. We then realize that love and love Him in return. Out of that love comes Obedience. We will be baptized, we will read the Word, we will Pray, we will Gather In His Name, in short we will obey His commandments.
Baptist is an outward sign of an inward relationship, just as a wedding ring is, it is something that every truly saved person should desire to do to demonstrate your love for God. We are baptized because we have accepted Christ as Saviour and received the Holy Spirit, not because we want to become saved.
Now I will tell you this, I feel that if at all possible, Baptism should be the first thing a new believer does. It sets in order the Christian walk.
Just My 2 cents worth
In Christ Service,
Your Pastor T[/SIZE]
 1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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