Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 3:21-22)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 01-21-04

 

My Worship Time                     Focus: Resurrection & Ascension of Jesus Christ

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 3:21-22

 

            Message of the verse:  “21 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.”  (NKJV)

            I have chosen the NKJV because it seems to me that it is the best version to understand this very difficult passage.  The word translated “antitype” in this verse has this meaning form the Greek:  “something in the Messianic times which answers to the type, as baptism corresponds to the deluge (#1Pe 3:21).” (Newsflash!  Last night at 1^st Baptist Church in Elyria our Pastor, Patrick Odle preached on verses 18-22 and stated that the ESV was the best translation to understand this passage and so I am going to put into this SD the ESV for verses 21-22.  “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.”  6/4/2012 10:52:53 AM)

            Peter is not saying in this verse that water baptism saves a sinner, for this does not keep with the teachings of the Bible on how a person is saved from their sins.  When a person is baptized they are identified with whom they are baptized.  An example of this would be those who went through the Red Sea with Moses were said to have been baptized with Moses, or they went through the same experience as Moses did.  Christian baptism is the identification of believers with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Water baptism is one of the two ordinances of the Church, with the other being the “Lords Supper.”  When a new believer is baptized he is first asked to give his testimony as to how he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and this word is used in verse 21, when Peter writes “the ‘answer’ of a good conscience.”  After giving their testimony, the believer is then plunged under the water and then taken up out of the water, which symbolizes Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection from the dead.  Now the question still remains as to how this relates to the ark that Noah and his families were in.  In both cases the water represents death or judgment and the salvation from the judgment of the flood was the ark, and it is a picture of Jesus Christ, for all believers are in Christ, and will be delivered safely to heaven by Him just as Noah and his family were delivered safely from the judgment of the flood.

            Peter goes on in verse 22 to tell his readers that after the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, He now sits at the right hand of God in heaven, and that angels and authorities and powers have been subjected to Him.  This may relate back to verse 19, which is the verse that was written about yesterday, and in the commentary on that verse I said that when Christ died that He may well have gone and spoken to the spirits of fallen angels proclaiming to them His victory and thus their defeat.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have learned a lot more about baptism as I studied this passage this morning.  I was again reminded of my identification with the Lord Jesus Christ when he died for my sins, and when He was buried, and when He arose from the dead.  I believe that the Bible teaches that somehow I was with Him when all of this happened, and I certainly do not know how to explain that, but it surely makes me closer to Him because of that teaching. 

 

The Word of God was very refreshing to my soul as I studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord to work things out today in the heart of Andrew Lech, so that his eyes will be opened to the sinful way that he is conducting his business, that he would then repent of this sinful action, and then that he would do what is right to do and tell those who need to know where he has our money so it can be returned to us.  All of these things are the correct way to end this trial that God has seen fit to lead many of His children into.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Psalm 119:11, and 1Peter 3:15

 

Your Word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

 

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.