Suffering for Jesus Part 9
1 Peter 3:21-22 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the Right Hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him. KJV Note: AMP=Amplified Bible; NKJV-New King James Version
In this very next verse of Scripture here written by the Apostle Peter, he calls what happened for Noah and his family (being saved from the water 💦or flood by virtue of his obedience to God) 'the like figure' of every true born again son or daughter of Christ Jesus our Lord, he says it with these words, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into Heaven, and is on the Right Hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him." (1 Peter 3:21-22) (KJV). The phrase 'the like figure' is translated by the Greek word antitupon which means a corresponding ('antitype'), that is, a representative, counterpart. This English word 'antitype' means a person or thing represented or foreshadowed by a type or symbol; especially a figure in the Old Testament having a counterpart in the New Testament. Instead of Noah and his family 👪being destroyed by the water 💦,that is the flood, they were saved by or from the water 💦because of Noah's obedience in building the Ark, likewise we true sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven are saved from God's wrath (as His wrath against those disobedient souls then is represented by the flood) by repenting/turning from sin to God through His Ark of safety His Son Jesus Christ the Righteous. Water Baptism should be done by us when we have been born again, born from above, born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God i.e. it is symbolic of the transformation God the Holy Spirit has made, molded, and modified in our inner man 👨and inner woman 👩. It is our declaration of our now new union with Jesus Christ and is symbolic of His death burial and resurrection from the dead, for just as Christ died (physically) we died (spiritually) with Him to our old man 👨or old woman 👩and just as He was buried, we have now buried our old selves and just as He (Christ) was raised (physically) from death, we too now have been raised from spiritual death, that is, being disconnected from God. God is no longer out there or up there, God is now our Father and we have union with Him and relationship with Him as sons and daughters and fellowship with Him always and anytime through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words to the Ephesians, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:20-22) (NKJV). Because of our union with God through Christ our conscience is now cl🌎and all principalities and powers and angels and demons and the devil 👿are subject to Him. Amen!
Here is what Robinson's Word Pictures had to say of 1 Peter 3:21, "Baptism, Peter explains, does not wash away the filth of the flesh either in a literal sense, as a bath for the body, or in a metaphorical sense of the filth of the soul. No ceremonies really affect the conscience (Hebrews 9:13.). Peter here expressly denies baptismal remission of sin." Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say of 1 Peter 3:21, "Only here in New Testament. In classical Greek the word means a question and nothing else. The meaning here is much disputed, and can hardly be settled satisfactorily. The rendering answer has no warrant. The meaning seems to be (as Alford), 'the seeking after God of a good and pure conscience, which is the aim and end of the Christian baptismal life.' So Lange: 'The thing asked may be conceived as follows: 'How shall I rid myself of an evil conscience? Wilt thou, most holy God, again accept me, a sinner? Wilt thou, Lord Jesus, grant me the communion of thy death and life? Wilt thou, O Holy Spirilabours and His sufferings upon earth, ascended triumphantly into Heaven, of which see Acts 1:9-11; Mark 16:19. He went to Heaven to receive His own acquired crown and glory (John 17:5), to finish that part of His mediatorial work which could not be done on earth, and make intercession for His people, to demonstrate the fulness of His satisfaction, to take possession of Heaven for His people, to prepare mansions for them, and to send down the Comforter, which was to be the first-fruits of His intercession, (John16:7). 2. Upon His ascension into Heaven, Christ is enthroned at the Hight Hand of the Father. His being said to sit there imports absolute rest and cessation from all further troubles and sufferings, and an advancement to the highest personal dignity and sovereign power. 3. Angels, authorities, and powers, are all made subject to Christ Jesus: all power in Heaven and earth, to command, to give law, issue orders, and pronounce a final sentence, is committed to Jesus, God - man, which His enemies will find to
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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