Baptism Challenge - Day 6
Does baptism help my faith?
Welcome to Day 6 of the Baptism Challenge!
Here's the scripture in today's video: 1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 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, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. (English Standard Version)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (New International Version)
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:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
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. 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: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. (King James Version)
Baptism is An Expression and Exercise of Faith
Baptism is also important because it is an act of faith, just like when you believed in Jesus Christ and prayed for salvation.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,
20 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.
21 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,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
When Peter says, “Baptism now saves you” he doesn’t mean that the physical act of being immersed in water is what saves us. He follows that statement up with the words, “Not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience...”
Baptism is a visible expression that Jesus has the cleansing I need
In other words, it’s not simply being cleansed in baptismal waters that brings salvation. Being immersed in water just washes away dirt. It’s “an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” that saves us. It is a visible symbol of my recognition that I need a clean conscience, and an expression of my faith that Christ can give that clean conscience to me. That he is able to wash me, hands, feet and head like Peter asked in John 13:8-10.
Christians are called to believe that Jesus Christ
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is who He says He is
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and that He can deliver you
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and save you from your sins.
Then we are to take the public step of faith in baptism. Baptism is an outward example of the “clean conscience” that Jesus gives.
First, we appeal to God in repentance for our sins and commit to walk in new life — that’s what saves us — then we are baptized to publicly identify ourselves with Christ and publicly express our faith in Him.
Today's Preparing for Baptism Challenge: Take the list of friends and acquaintances you made on day three and invite them to your baptism service. If you don’t know the date yet, get the date from your pastor. Rather than just posting an image on social media about your baptism service, specifically invite persons from your life!
