“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: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” I Peter 3:21-22
The doctrine of baptism is and has been for a long time, a subject of much debate. To a Bible-believer, the subject is quite clear; one is saved and then baptized by immersion. Others abide by the unbiblical ceremony believed to have originated with Constantine when he attempted to merge paganism with Christianity. It was he that had people mass-christened by the sprinkling of water. He proclaimed to the people that their “sprinkling” made them Christians. Others even hold that baptism washes away sins.
This verse may give many the impression that baptism does “save us.” However, if the context of the verses is examined, it is clear that baptism does not have anything to do with being saved from the penalty of sin.
In parentheses, verse 21 clearly states that baptism does not put away sins (“the filth of the flesh”). However, baptism does give us a good conscience toward God. The topic of having a “good conscience” was also brought up in the previous vs. 16.
Before salvation, a believer has often run from obeying God and certainly did not do what God wanted him to do. After salvation, baptism is one of the first steps of obedience that a believer demonstrates to God. A believer can have a clear conscience in knowing that he is finally obeying God. He shows others and the watching Lord that he remembers that Jesus died, and rose again for him and that Jesus is now his Saviour.
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I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This piece of writing posted at this site
is really good.
I need all the prayers and blessings possible.I’ve been to I have a rebellious spirit and has tried to get rid of it but it won’t leave me and I do not know what else to do.This has been haunting me my whole life.If anyone can help me I would really appreciate it.Thanks.
Are you saved? Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour? Do you read your Bible?
Who are you rebellious to? God, authorities over you …?
Please contact me personally at brinkworth@frontier.com. I will start praying for you.
Yet even if one doesn’t get baptized and are saved they will still go to Heaven . That man on the cross with Jesus did .
Bro Brinkworth,
I do not understand those who claim to be saved, but fail to come forward to be baptized. To them, they do not want to make a spectacle of themselves in front of others. However, it smacks of the gross self absorbment of this generation that they allow their desire to hide overrule the Joy of salvation and obedience.
I would be interested to hear your take on those that never choose to be baptized.
I don’t understand it either. I am sure pride is involved in many cases.
What saved people that refuse to be baptized do not understand, is when they refuse to obey the Lord in that area that they are telling God “No!.” Our sinless Saviour was baptized. IF He did, then we should also. Many never grow because they disobeyed one of the first things the Lord told them to do. If they ignored the one of His first commandments to them, it not any wonder that He doesn’t give them any other challenges to do as they refused to obey the first thing He gave them. For this reason I believe many Christians get saved, and that’s the extent of it, because they let the old flesh keep them from further obeying the Lord. They rebewlled against God from their very beginning.
That is a great insight. Thanks. I can see that pattern too.
I also think that a Christian that does not continually grow in Christ has a good chance of becoming dissatisfied. I compare it to a guy that is in a job that he cannot progress in, he eventually wearies of the pay and the routine.
I agree that obedience to that command to be baptized is foundational to a life of obedience to Christ.
Thanks Bro Brinkworth.
Much of todays society attitude comes from the 1960s ‘do your own thing’ philosophy. Later, and today, the attitude is that every person is entitled to their own beliefs, and it is wrong for anyone to impose their beliefs on anyone else. To that end, people today do not want to ‘advertise’ what they believe, so they avoid baptism as an outward sign of their belief in Christ. There is more to it than that, but I am having trouble thinking clearly. Open to additional related issues affecting people today.
Hey, Don is back. Praise the Lord! I’ve been praying for you!
Amen! Baptism is an “outward” act of an already “inward” change! Praise God for that 1st step of obedience!