Baptism Saves!

1. Read: 1 Peter 3:21

2. About the Text:

1) Many in the religious world do not believe that baptism saves us.

2) Peter did not agree with this belief.

3) To the contrary, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter tells us plainly that baptism now saves us.

4) Some have asked for the verse in the Bible that says Baptism saves us.

5) 1 Peter 3:21 is that verse, and we will study it this morning.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. What is an antitype?

1) A corresponding and similar pattern.

2) Here, the water of the flood is being compared with the water of baptism.

3) Peter calls the water of baptism the antitype of the floodwater.

2. The water of the flood saved eight souls.

1) Genesis 6-9

2) God saved Noah and his family by water from a sinful world.

3) “So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:12).

3. Baptism saves from a sinful world today.

1) John tells us this world is sinful – 1 John 2:15-17.

2) Christians are those who have come out of the world by baptism.

3) Read Romans 6:3-6.

4) That is the line dividing Christian from non-Christian, saved from lost, saint from alien sinner.

5) Noah and his family were separated from the world and saved by the water.

6) Today Christians are separated from the world and saved by the water.

1. Why did Peter say that baptism saves us?

1) He received his teaching from Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit.

2) “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26).

3) What did Peter remember? Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16, John 3:5

2. If you believe that you were saved before you were baptized, then you did not believe 1 Peter 3:21.

3. Doesn’t the Bible say that Christ saves us? How can baptism save, and Christ save?

1) Think about Noah

a. God was the authority and power that saved Noah.

b. The water was the method that saved.

c. The ark was the place that saved.

2) Under Christ

a. Christ and His blood are the authority and power that saves.

b. Baptism is the method that saves.

c. The church is the place that saves.

3) So, Both Christ and baptism saves.

4. Was baptism just for the Jews?

1) Peter’s comparison goes back to a time before the Jews, Noah’s time.

2) Noah was not a Jew.

3) The flood applied to the whole world.

4) Correspondingly, baptism is not just for the Jews, but the whole world.

5) Gentiles like Cornelius and the Philippian jailer were baptized.

1. Baptism is not “putting away the filth of the flesh.”

1) That is, it is not taking a bath to get clean.

2) It is not the Jewish practice of immersion to wash away ceremonial uncleanness.

3) For baptism to save, one must have the right attitude and understanding.

4) Diving into a swimming pool does not save anyone.

2. Other things baptism is not.

1) It is not John the Baptist’s baptism (Acts 19).

2) It is not baptism because you are already saved.

3) It is not baptism to become a member of a local congregation.

4) It is not infant baptism.

3. Baptism is the answer/demand of a good conscience toward God.

1) What is a “good conscience”?

a. Some have suggested that one who has a good conscience is already saved.

b. Then why did Peter say baptism saves?

c. A good conscience is someone who acts honestly on the information.

d. “And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15).

e. When a person learns that he must be baptized to be saved, he will be baptized.

f. Those who have a bad conscience will not.

2) The word “answer” is from the Greek word ?????????.

a. This word is used in the Old Testament in Daniel 4:17 (4:14 LXX).

b. In this verse it is translated “demand” in the ASV and KJV.

c. The idea is that a good conscience demands that we take action to obey God when it is commanded of God.

d. Baptism is a command of God! (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48).

e. How will you answer God’s command?

1. Baptism saves us because . . .

1) It is an antitype of salvation.

2) It is Christ’s method for salvation.

3) It is man’s response for salvation.

2. Invitation