"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"
The Antitype In Which God Saves Us (3:21-22)
INTRODUCTION
1. In the midst of a section in which he is discussing Christ's
suffering and why we need to prepare for suffering, Peter has some
revealing comments on the subject of baptism - 1 Pe 3:21-22
a. First, he refers to baptism as an "antitype" ("the like figure",
KJV)
b. Then he makes the striking comment that baptism "saves us"
c. He describes baptism as "the answer of a good conscience"
d. But he also says that baptism saves us "through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ"
2. Any one of these four points is likely to perplex those who read
this passage...
a. Some may wonder what an "antitype" is
b. Others may take issue with the idea that baptism has anything to
do with salvation
c. Many question what is meant by the phrase, "the answer of a good
conscience"
d. And how does the resurrection of Christ have anything to do with
salvation, when it was His death that provided the forgiveness of
sins?
[In this lesson, I hope to share some thoughts which may help us
appreciate more fully how baptism is indeed "The Antitype In Which God
Saves Us".
Beginning with...]
I. BAPTISM AS AN "ANTITYPE"
A. DEFINING "ANTITYPE"...
1. The Greek word is antitupon {an-teet'-oo-pon}, which means "a
thing formed after some pattern; that which corresponds to a
type"
2. So you have two things that some how relate or correspond to
each other; one is a type, the other is the antitype
B. HOW BAPTISM IS AN ANTITYPE...
1. In our text, the waters of the flood are the "type", and the
waters of baptism are the "antitype" - 1 Pe 3:20-21
2. In his commentary, Barnes says...
a. "The meaning here is, that baptism corresponded to, or had
a resemblance to, the water by which Noah was saved; or
that there was a use of water in the one case which
corresponded in some respects to the water that was used in
the other; to wit, in effecting salvation." (Commentary on
1st Peter)
b. "The apostle does not say that it corresponded in all
respects; in respect, e.g., to quantity, or to the manner
of the application, or to the efficacy; but there is a
sense in which water performs an important part in our
salvation, as it did in his." (ibid.)
[An important part in our salvation? Baptism? This may sound foreign
to many people today, but the Bible and many Bible scholars over the
history of the church have stressed this very point...]
II. BAPTISM AND SALVATION
A. THE BIBLICAL WITNESS...
1. There are several statements of Jesus that emphasize the
necessity of baptism for salvation - Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:
15-16; Jn 3:3-5
2. The record of apostolic preaching as found in the Book of Acts
continue this thought - Ac 2:38; 22:16
3. In his epistles, Paul often wrote of the purpose of baptism,
and the role it played in salvation - Ro 6:3-6; Ga 3:26-27;
Co 2:11-13; Ti 3:4-5
4. And in our text, we have Peter's own words, which coincide
with what he preached on that first Pentecost following the
resurrection of Christ - 1 Pe 3:21; cf. Ac 2:38
B. THE TESTIMONY OF SOME BIBLE SCHOLARS...
1. Augustine (A.D. 354-430)
a. Referring to the efficacy of baptism, he wrote that "the
salvation of man is effected in baptism"; also, that a
person "is baptized for the express purpose of being with
Christ." (as quoted by Jack W. Cottrell in Baptism And The
Remission of Sins, College Press, 1990, p. 30)
b. In regards to the necessity of baptism, he refers to the
"apostolic tradition, by which the Churches of Christ
maintain it to be an inherent principle, that without
baptism...it is impossible for any man to attain to
salvation and everlasting life." (ibid., p. 30)
2. Thomas Aquinas (A.D. 1225-1274)
a. "...Men are bound to that without which they cannot obtain
salvation. Now it is manifest that no one can obtain
salvation but through Christ..."
b. "But for this end is baptism conferred on a man, that being
regenerated thereby, he may be incorporated in Christ."
c. "Consequently it is manifest that all are bound to be
baptized: and that without Baptism there is no salvation
for men." (ibid., p. 31)
3. Martin Luther
a. In answer to the question, "What gifts or benefits does
Baptism bestow?", Luther replied in his Small Catechism,
"It effects forgiveness of sins."
b. He also wrote concerning the sinner: "Through Baptism he
is bathed in the blood of Christ and is cleansed from
sins."
c. Again, he wrote: "To put it most simply, the power,
effect, benefit, fruit, and purpose of Baptism is to save."
d. In response to those who would call this a kind of
works-salvation, he said "Yes, it is true that our works
are of no use for salvation. Baptism, however, is not our
work but God's." (ibid., p. 32-34)
[Indeed, until the "reformed theology" of Ulrich Zwingli and John
Calvin came along, the general consensus of religious scholars was in
harmony with the Bible: that baptism does indeed save us!
But how can that be? The answer can be seen when we consider...
III. BAPTISM AND THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
A. SALVATION IN BAPTISM IS NOT FOUND IN THE "WATER"...
1. As Peter makes clear when he says "not the removal of the
filth of the flesh"
2. For indeed it is only through the blood of Jesus Christ we can
be saved - Ro 5:8
B. SALVATION IN BAPTISM IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION OF
CHRIST...
1. If He had not been raised, we would still be in our sins - cf.
1 Co 15:17
2. But because Jesus was raised from the dead, we who are united
together in the likeness of His death (i.e., baptism) can
share in the power of His resurrection as we also rise to walk
in newness of life - cf. Ro 6:3-5; Co 2:12-13
3. In other words, it is the same power of God that raised Jesus
from the dead which saves us in baptism so we can be "made
alive" - cf. Ep 1:19-20; 2:4-6
[By God's saving grace and resurrecting power, then, baptism can indeed
save us! Not because of any cleansing power in the water, but because
of what God is doing at that moment.
But notice finally, what is said about...]
IV. BAPTISM AND THE APPEAL FOR A GOOD CONSCIENCE
A. "THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE" (NKJV)
1. This is a difficult phrase, but I believe it most likely means
"an appeal to God for a clear conscience"
2. This understanding is supported by the following translations:
a. "...the craving for a conscience right with God"
(Goodspeed)
b. "...the prayer for a clean conscience before God" (Moffat)
c. "...the request unto God for a good conscience" (Rotherham)
d. "...an appeal to God for a clear conscience" (RSV)
e. "...an appeal to God for a good conscience" (NASV)
B. THIS COINCIDES WITH THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM...
1. Baptism was "for the remission of sins", to have one's sins
"washed away" (by the blood of Christ, of course) - cf. Ac
2:38; 22:16
2. Therefore, people in N.T. times who realized they were sinners
were anxious to be baptized as soon as possible - cf. Ac 8:
35-38
3. To have a good conscience before God (indeed, to a have our
conscience "purged" by the blood of Christ - cf. He 9:14),
one is baptized so their sins can be washed away and they can
rise to a new life through the same power of God that raised
Jesus from the dead!
CONCLUSION
1. It is a tragedy that so many people today downplay the importance of
baptism
2. But if we will only allow the Bible to say what it does about
baptism, we will see that it is indeed "The Antitype In Which God
Saves Us"!
3. And like Martin Luther, we will view baptism as "excellent,
glorious, and exalted," as "a most precious thing," as "an infinite,
divine treasure." (ibid., p. 34)
Verse 21 of our text describes that Christ has now gone into heaven
and that all things have been made subject to Him. Have you subjected
to His authority by obeying His command to be baptized? - cf. Mt 28:
18-20
Have you made that appeal for a good conscience before God?
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