Baptism: A Representation of Being Clothed with Christ
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, I am so thankful You reach out to us to follow our Lord Jesus in baptism. Amen
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 1 Peter 3:18-22 NIV
REFLECT:
Peter makes a comparison between the ark that saved Noah from the flood and our baptism. J. B. Phillips’ paraphrase of verses 21 and 22 expresses this well, “And I cannot help pointing out what a perfect illustration this is of the way you have been admitted to the safety of the Christian ‘ark’ by baptism, which means, of course, far more than the mere washing of a dirty body: it means the ability to face God with a clear conscience. For there is in every true baptism the virtue of Christ’s rising from the dead. And he has now entered Heaven and is at God’s right hand, with all angels, authorities and powers subservient to him.”
Phillips says it is this faith in Christ’s resurrection that makes it possible for us to stand before God with a pure conscience.
The ESV Study Bible states, “It’s not the mechanical act of water passing over the body that saves you. Baptism saves you because it represents inward faith, as evidenced by one’s appeal to God for the forgiveness of sin. Furthermore, baptism Saves only insofar as it is grounded in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a visual representation of the fact that Christians are clothed with Christ (cf. Galatians 3:27), and in union with Christ they share in His victory over sin.”
APPLY:
For those of us who have followed the Lord in baptism we can be assured that He is at the right hand of God and mediating for us. If you haven’t made the confession of faith in Christ and followed Him in baptism, isn’t it time to explore that decision?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, wherever I am in my faith walk, help me to grow and be obedient to You in my next steps. Amen