THE PICTURE MESSAGE OF 1 PETER 3:20-21

 

In Genesis 7, we can read about Noah and his family being saved from destruction by the ark that God commanded him to build, "Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did" (Genesis 6:22).  Those that were in the ark found salvation.  Anyone found outside the ark was lost. 

Peter uses this as an example of salvation, "who formerly were disobedient, 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" (1 Peter 3:20).

Peter then writes, "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" (1 Peter 3:21).  We must enter the ark of Christ which is salvation.  The only way to enter that ark is through the "antitype"; "baptism."  When one believes (essential for salvation) in Christ he/she is going toward Christ.  When one repents (essential for salvation) of his/her sins they are going toward Christ.  When one confesses that Jesus is the Son of God (essential for salvation) he/she is going toward Christ.  But they are not in Christ until baptism (essential for salvation). 

In Galatians 3:27 Paul writes, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."  Look at the picture above.  Baptism puts you into Christ.  There is no passage of scripture that says that faith alone puts you into Christ.  There is not a single scripture that says if you pray a "Sinner's Prayer" that will put you into Christ.  You cannot find in the Word of God that you must "ask Jesus into your heart" and then you are in Christ.  But to be placed INTO CHRIST you must be baptized thus re-enacting His death, burial and resurrection (Roman 6:2-4).

Paul paints this picture so well when he wrote, "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Romans 6:17).  Here he points back to what he just wrote about in Romans 6:2-4, "Certainly not!  How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? (obedience to the death of Christ on the cross - "form of doctrine") Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death (obedience to the burial of Christ in the tomb - "form of doctrine"), that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (obedience to the resurrection of Christ from the tomb - "form of doctrine"). 

There is no other way to enter the body of Christ except through baptism.  And there is no other way to obtain salvation except being in the body of Christ.  Therefore, there is no other way without being baptized to obtain salvation. 

May God continue to bless you as you Minister His Message.