I just searched another one, are you even reading these with an open mind or just arguing?
The Waters of the Flood and Baptism: 1 Peter 3:20-21
And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you. The term corresponding means, resembling another, its counter part (Thayer p. 51). ANTITUPOS: lit., a striking back, copy, corresponding type (Vine pp. 95-96). Corresponding to something that has gone before. Means baptism, which is a fulfillment (of the type) now saves you, that is, the saving of Noah from the flood is a foreshadowing of baptism, our salvation (Arndt p. 76). Baptism is presented as corresponding to (pre-figured by) the deliverance of Noahs family by water (Robertson p. 119). How can anyone argue that baptism is non-essential? Water baptism in the New Testament is the original pattern, which various Old Testament practices and events foreshadowed, such as the flood, crossing the Red Sea (1 Corinthians 10:1-2); and the laver in which the priests washed prior to serving in the tabernacle (Exodus 30:18-20/Titus 3:5). Consider the parallels: The waters of the flood delivered Noah from a corrupt society to a new world, water baptism brings one into a state of newness of life (Romans 6:3-5). Water delivered Noah from a condemned world---baptism delivers us from condemnation (Mark 16:16). The flood separated the saved from the lost---baptism is the line between lost and saved. The flood was not the Savior, but the instrument or means of deliverance---water baptism is not the Savior, rather it is the last condition prior to salvation (Acts 22:16). The only warning that people received prior to the flood was preaching (1 Peter 3:20), in like manner the exhortation we receive from God to be baptized is through the preaching of the gospel message. God was patient prior to the flood and God is still patient today (2 Peter 3:9). The people who rejected Gods offer of salvation during Noahs generation are now in prison, in like manner, those who reject Gods command to be baptized will not be saved.
Most interpreters would agree that whatever element or action is specified in the above passages as necessary for being saved should not be omitted from the teaching of salvation. To omit any item that saves us would be to leave out hope, belief, grace, the blood of Christ, confessing Christ, and Jesus Himself! When therefore the Scriptures also tell us baptism now saves you, one is hard pressed to shrug it off as nonessential to salvation (Oberst pp. 183-184). Consider also the word now. Baptism for the remission of sins was not commanded during the time of Noah nor during the period of the Law of Moses. The reason that people were not baptized in the Old Testament is because baptism for the remission of sins is part of the New Testament. The command to be baptized was given after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:16). But an appeal to God for a good conscience: Earnest seeking, a craving, an intense desire, long for something (Thayer p. 230); primarily a question or inquiry, denotes a demand or appeal (Vine p. 268); the craving for a conscience right with God (Gspd); it means the ability to face God with a clear conscience (Phi). Is another way of saying a request for forgiveness of sins and a new heart. When God gives a sinner a clear conscience, that person has the assurance that every sin has been forgiven (Heb. 9:14; 10:22) (Grudem p.163).
Mark Dunagan/Beaverton Church of Christ/503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net/mdunagan@easystreet.com
Types and Shadows
