1 Peter 3:21 - baptism doth also now save us
Many people think this verse is referring to "water" Baptism. But I don't believe it is at all. I believe it refers to the same "baptism into death" that Christ went through when he bore the judgment for our sins in his own body on the cross.
Let's look at the passage.
1 Peter 1:18-21 -
18 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:
19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 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.
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:
Just as the flood of water that fell from heaven in the days of Noah was God's judgment upon a wicked world which was buried under the water, and God's people were raised above the waters by means of the ark of safety, so is this judgment a figure of the true baptism that Christ underwent for our benefit and salvation at the cross.
The waters of judgment fell upon the ark - which is a type of Christ himself- while those IN the ark (and likewise those IN Christ when these judgments fell), were raised up above these waters into safety and a new life in a new world.
It is not the putting away of the filth of the flesh - being physically cleansed by water, but rather the ANSWER of a good conscience towards God - sins put away.
Read the passage by removing the (parenthesis). "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
It was his Baptism into death and subsequent resurrection that saves us and cleanses our conscience from sins.
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the living God." Hebrews 9:14
"THE ANSWER of a good conscience toward God".
The King James Bible is right here, as it always is. The result of this baptism into death that Christ underwent is the answer or response of a good conscience.
Many of the fake bibles have things like -
ESV, NASB, - "AN APPEAL to God for a good conscience"
Young's - "the QUESTION of a good conscience in regard to God"
NET, NIV, CBS - "THE PLEDGE of a good conscience to God"
Douay-Rheims - "THE EXAMINATION of a good conscience toward God"
RV 1881, ASV 1901 - THE INTERROGATION of a good conscience toward God"
Modern English Version 2014 - "A RESPONSE to God from a good conscience"
Common English Bible 2011 - "IT IS THE MARK of a good conscience toward God"
Jubilee Bible 2010 - "GIVING TESTIMONY of a good conscience before God"
Evangelical Heritage Version 2019 - "THE GUARANTEE of a good conscience before God"
Sawyer N.T. - "but the ENGAGEMENT of a good conscience to God"
Tyndale, Great Bible 1540, Matthew Bible 1549 - "a good conscience CONSENTETH to God"
Modern English Version 2014 - "but THE RESPONSE to God from a good conscience"
Agreeing with the King James Bible - "the ANSWER of a good conscience towards God" are John Wesley's N.T. 1755, the Worsley N.T. 1770, The World English Bible, the NKJV 1982, KJV 21st Century 1994, The Third Millennium Bible 1998, The Koster Scriptures 1998 - "the ANSWER of a good conscience toward Elohim.", J.P. Green's Literal Version 2000, The Scriptures 2009 - "the ANSWER of a good conscience toward Elohim", the Hebrew Transliteration Scriptures 2010, The New Messianic Version Bible - "the ANSWER of a good conscience toward God".
Matthew Henry
Bible commentators are all over the board regarding the meaning of 1 Peter 3:21 and I think most of them miss what it is really about, but Matthew Henry hits on a couple of good, related ideas when he says:
“1. Declares what he means by saving baptism; not the outward ceremony of washing with water, which, in itself, does no more than put away the filth of the flesh, but it is that baptism wherein there is a faithful ANSWER or restipulation of a resolved good conscience, engaging to believe in, and be entirely devoted to, God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, renouncing at the same time the flesh, the world, and the devil. The baptismal covenant, made and kept, will certainly save us. Washing is the visible sign; this is the thing signified.
2. The external participation of baptism will save no man without AN ANSWERABLE good conscience and conversation. There must be the ANSWER of a good conscience towards God.”
The Greek word used here is found only one time, but it comes from a verb that normally is translated as “to ask”. But the result of this Baptism into death that Christ suffered on the cross for his people, and we in him, is a clean conscience because our sins have been washed away in the judgment of God. We are not asking FOR a good conscience. We HAVE a good conscience because of the work of Christ on our behalf. But rather we are responding to God with a good conscience in a new desire to please him and live for our Saviour who died for us and rose again to newness of life. I believe this is why the KJB translators and some others were led to translate it as our ANSWER to God or our response to him and what he has done for us.
The Lord Jesus Christ "was delivered FOR our offenses, and was raised again FOR our justification." Romans 4:25. His Resurrection was proof that God had made us righteous by means of the judgment that fell on Christ - his BAPTISM INTO DEATH - and had redeemed us and reconciled us to God.
The Lord Jesus’s second baptism and our first. His baptism into death.
The first thing to clarify here is that the word "Baptism" as used in many passages of the New Testament does NOT refer to water baptism, as many people believe.
It refers to the "baptism into death" that the Lord Jesus Christ underwent and suffered at the cross, and God's elect people were also baptized into this death at that time.
The Lord refers to this baptism in several Scriptures. The Lord Jesus had already been baptized in water long before He made these statements about baptism.
Matthew 20:22-23
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, YE SHALL drink indeed of my cup, and BE BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITH: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
This was a yet future event when Christ would drink of the cup of the wrath of God, and we in Him, for the sins of His people and TOGETHER they would be baptized into this baptism of death.
Mark 10:38-39 - But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, YE SHALL INDEED drink of the cup that I drink of; and WITH THE BAPTISM THAT I AM BAPTIZED WITHAL SHALL YE BE BAPTIZED.
Luke 12:49-50
49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
50 But I HAVE A BAPTISM TO BE BAPTIZED WITH; and how am I straitened TILL IT BE ACCOMPLISHED!
Romans 6:3-6
Many people think that whenever they see the word baptism it is speaking of water baptism. But it is not always the case.
Romans 6 is NOT talking about water baptism but about our identification with Christ in his baptism into death, when we were crucified together with Him and raised up together with Him and are now seated in the heavenly places in Christ.
Romans 6:3-6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as WERE BAPTIZED INTO JESUS CHIRST WERE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH?
4 Therefore we are BURIED WITH HIM BY BAPTISM INTO DEATH: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if WE HAVE BEEN PLANTED TOGETHER IN THE LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that OUR OLD MAN IS CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Colossians 2:12 - Buried with him in BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead
Look at the whole context. It describes the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem His people at the cross.
This is an accomplished redemption. It is not a "potential" redemption or "made possible if only you accept it".
Colossians 2:9-15 King James Bible
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, WHEREIN ALSO YE ARE RISEN WITH HIM THROUGH THE FAITH OF THE OPERATION OF GOD, who hath raised him from the dead.
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, HATH HE QUICKENED TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and TOOK IT OUT OF THE WAY, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Notice that the Bible teaches that when Christ died, we also (God's elect) died together with Him, and when Christ was quickened and raised from the dead, we also were quickened and raised together WITH HIM.
This is an accomplished redemption that took place AT THE CROSS. It is NOT "conditional upon man's personal choice to place his faith in Christ in order to make it effective" as the "free will" religionists tell us.
The same truth is taught in the book of Ephesians.
Chosen in Christ
In no uncertain terms God tells us in his book:
3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4. According as HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM (in Christ) BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love;
5. HAVING PREDESTINATED US unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL,
6. To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6
And when exactly were God's chosen people actually redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb? This same book of Ephesians goes on to explain in chapter 2:4-10 -
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, HATH QUICKENED US TOGETHER WITH CHRIST, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 AND HATH RAISED US UP TOGETHER, AND MADE US SIT TOGETHER IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST JESUS:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
The plain truth of Scripture is that God chose his people before the foundation of the world IN CHRIST, and that we were IN CHRIST when he died and we were raised up TOGETHER WITH HIM when he was raised, and we are now seated in the heavenly places IN CHRIST JESUS and that we are GOD'S workmanship CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS.
No where in these passages of holy Scripture do we read a single word about the vaunted "free will of man" or his "decision to follow Christ" or even of him "placing his faith in Christ." It is ALL of God.
If you were not chosen IN Christ before the foundation of the world, and were not IN Christ when he died and rose from the dead, then you are no child of God at all, and never will be.
John Owen comments on "baptism" as used in Romans 6 . "Our being "buried with him by baptism into death" [Rom. 6:4] is our being "planted together in the likeness of his death," verse 5. Our being "planted together in the likeness of his death" is not our being dipped under water, but "the crucifying of the old man," verse 6. Our being "raised up with Christ from the dead" is not our rising from under the water, but our "walking in newness of life," verse 4, by virtue of the resurrection of Christ, I Pet. iii. 21."
Owen, Works, vol. 16, p. 268.
If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then you are one of those whom the Father chose in Christ before the foundation of the world. (Ephesians 1:3-6) He drew you to himself (John 6:44), called you by name (John 10:3), worked in you "both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13) and gave you both repentance (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 2 Timothy 2:25) and the faith to believe in him as your Saviour from sin. (Romans 12:3; Philippians 1:29; Hebrews 12:2; Ephesians 2:8)
All of this was "NOT of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." (Romans 9:16)
ALL of grace, believing the Book - The King James Holy Bible.
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