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Saved By Baptism
by Tony Edwards
In the first letter of his epistle, Peter makes a comparison between an Old Testament event and a New
Testament event. In 1 Peter 3:21, we find,
"when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was
being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water."
The first event that Peter refers to is the great flood. He reminds them that during the time of Noah only
eight souls were saved from an ungodly world. I find it very interesting that God did not just stop with the
point of them being saved but he specifically tells us what they were save by: water. Evidently water was
very important to the Lord for Him to inspire Peter to mention it in this text.
After mentioning the instrument that God used to save those eight souls, Peter says,
"There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ"
Notice, just like the water saved those eight souls, baptism also saves today. Why is that? This is so
because water is used in baptism. In Acts 10:47, the same apostle, concerning a man named Cornelius,
asked, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized?"
Even though the doctrine of "faith only" and "grace only" are prevalent, the Bible is still right concerning
baptism. Out of all the steps a person has to take in order to be saved, baptism is the only act that actually
washes sin away. That's why our Lord said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
On the day of Pentecost, after those Jews asked what to do about their sins, Peter pronounced, " "Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of JesusChrist for the remission of sin" (Acts 2:38).
Remission means forgiveness. At baptism God forgets everything that a person has done their entire life.
He washes their slate clean.
The apostle Paul was familiar with this act. His conversion was initiated by his conversation with the Lord
and ended after his conversion with Ananias. From Paul's own mouth, he tells us what Ananias said to him:
"Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord"
(Acts 22:
16)
Paul did not argue with Ananias. He did not say that he did not need to be baptized or that he had been
saved by faith only. No, Paul was baptized. And by him having experienced baptism he was more than
qualified to write these words to the church in Rome:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we to should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection, Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Knowing this,
that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should
no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin" (Rom. 6:3-7).
Truly, baptism is essential to salvation. It is the point where the new life, that everyone seeks, begins. In
baptism, that old man that has lead so many people down a road of destruction is crucified. They arise as
a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). And as Peter said at the beginning, baptism produces, within the
one being baptized, a good conscience.
Unless a person is born of the WATER and the SPIRIT, they cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:5).
Be reminded, Christ's blood only, faith only, repentance only, confession only or baptism only will not save.
However, Christ's blood, faith, repentance, confession and baptism will save and this is what all should
seek to do.
(After baptism, the Christian life begins and this life requires Faithfulness)
by Tony Edwards
In the first letter of his epistle, Peter makes a comparison between an Old Testament event and a New
Testament event. In 1 Peter 3:21, we find,
"when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was
being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water."
The first event that Peter refers to is the great flood. He reminds them that during the time of Noah only
eight souls were saved from an ungodly world. I find it very interesting that God did not just stop with the
point of them being saved but he specifically tells us what they were save by: water. Evidently water was
very important to the Lord for Him to inspire Peter to mention it in this text.
After mentioning the instrument that God used to save those eight souls, Peter says,
"There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the
filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ"
Notice, just like the water saved those eight souls, baptism also saves today. Why is that? This is so
because water is used in baptism. In Acts 10:47, the same apostle, concerning a man named Cornelius,
asked, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized?"
Even though the doctrine of "faith only" and "grace only" are prevalent, the Bible is still right concerning
baptism. Out of all the steps a person has to take in order to be saved, baptism is the only act that actually
washes sin away. That's why our Lord said, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mk. 16:16).
On the day of Pentecost, after those Jews asked what to do about their sins, Peter pronounced, " "Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of JesusChrist for the remission of sin" (Acts 2:38).
Remission means forgiveness. At baptism God forgets everything that a person has done their entire life.
He washes their slate clean.
The apostle Paul was familiar with this act. His conversion was initiated by his conversation with the Lord
and ended after his conversion with Ananias. From Paul's own mouth, he tells us what Ananias said to him:
"Why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord"
(Acts 22:
16)
Paul did not argue with Ananias. He did not say that he did not need to be baptized or that he had been
saved by faith only. No, Paul was baptized. And by him having experienced baptism he was more than
qualified to write these words to the church in Rome:
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we to should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the
likeness of His resurrection, Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Knowing this,
that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should
no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin" (Rom. 6:3-7).
Truly, baptism is essential to salvation. It is the point where the new life, that everyone seeks, begins. In
baptism, that old man that has lead so many people down a road of destruction is crucified. They arise as
a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). And as Peter said at the beginning, baptism produces, within the
one being baptized, a good conscience.
Unless a person is born of the WATER and the SPIRIT, they cannot inherit the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:5).
Be reminded, Christ's blood only, faith only, repentance only, confession only or baptism only will not save.
However, Christ's blood, faith, repentance, confession and baptism will save and this is what all should
seek to do.
(After baptism, the Christian life begins and this life requires Faithfulness)
