Lesson 57
Study of
First Peter Chapter 3
Review:
3:18 For Christ also suffered concerning sins,
once, a just one on behalf of unjust ones in order that He might bring us to
God, on the one hand having been put to death with reference to the flesh
(real humanity) but on the other hand made alive with reference to the
spirit.
3:20
who (fallen angels) at one time were disobedient when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of
Noah, during the construction of the ark in which a few that is eight persons
were brought safely through in passing through the floodwaters.
Summary Observations:
1. Christ experienced maximum suffering on the cross while
providing us eternal salvation, to bring us to God.
2. His vindication was His resurrection from the dead in a
spiritual body, resurrection body.
3. After the resurrection and prior to His appearance to
Mary Magdalene He visited Sheol/hades and presented Himself
to the fallen angels imprisoned there.
4. These fallen angels were those that were involved in
the angelic infiltration of Genesis 6 which was an attempt to contaminate
humanity.
5. In sponsoring this mixture of angelic, human race (nephalim) Satan was attempting to contaminate the line of
Christ in order to thwart the promise of Gen 3:15.
6. So Christ in resurrection body went and proclaimed to
these incarcerated angels the fact of His victory over sin, death and Satan.
7. Just as their attempt had been unsuccessful so also had
all subsequent attempts by Satan to destroy the line of Christ (humanity).
8. God patiently waited, delaying the judgment of this
evil generation so that Noah a preacher of righteousness could evangelize while
building the
How did we get from Noah and deliverance through the flood
to baptism now saves?
Corresponding
to that, baptism now saves you--
Peter
understood the salvation of Noah and his family as a pre-figuration or
illustrative of believer's baptism.
The link to the previous verse is by
the relative pronoun o] which refers back to either the water
or to the entire
preceding picture of Noah and his family in the ark being saved or delivered
through the flood water.
The key word
here is Corresponding (kjv like figure)
avnti,tupoj which is a strengthened form of tupos
which we've noted before, a type, an example
Believer Baptism
is a better or more complete illustration of what happens to the believer at
salvation than the picture of Noah and the ark.
Then comes baptism now saves you
- The
word used here baptisma refers to the
abiding results of baptism. So we need in the flow of the context here to think
in terms of the results of baptism.
In
the big picture, there are 7 baptisms taught in Scripture.
Four real ones and three ritual ones.
The
real ones, are all dry. Moses,
Spirit, Fire, cross. (Lk
It
is the ritual ones that are wet; of Jesus, John's, Believers.
So far: Which
(picture of Noah and his family in the ark being saved or delivered through the
flood water) a better type also
now at this time saves you (illustration), namely baptism (believer)
What
Peter is saying is that baptism picturing salvation is a better more complete
illustration than that of Noah and the ark.
Next
Peter heads off at the pass any who would try to make water baptism the basis
of their salvation.
not the removal of dirt from the flesh, it is not the
solution to the rule of the sin nature
What is not removed is r`u,poj which means filth or dirt which is a reference to the
production of the indwelling sin nature
So if its
not the removal of dirt from the flesh what is it? Peter lays out the negative first now the
positive; but an appeal to God for a
good conscience
- prepositional phrase to God is out of sequence but
an appeal or pledge of a good conscience towards God
What do
we know about a good conscience?
1. What is a “good
conscience”? It is one that
first has been freed from the guilt of sin by the application of Christ’s work
on the Cross; Believed
in Christ.
So its first a cleansed conscience, assured of his standing
before God.
2. Secondly a good conscience is one that is operating on or living consistent with the N&S of the Word of God that is known.
3.
How does a good conscience help a believer in times of trial and opposition, as
these believers were experiencing?
a. For one thing, it fortifies him with courage
because he knows he is right with God and men, so that he need not be afraid.
b. Therefore the exhortation here is to maintain
your mental attitude and therefore your thinking consistent with the N&S of
the will of God.
4. So then having a clear or good conscience denotes the
personal integrity of the believer before God.
Back to the last phrase which is a part of the main clause
through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ,
This brings us back to reality, that
is the real focus of salvation Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.
His
resurrection being the overt proof or manifestation that salvation, His work of
justification was indeed complete.
3:21 Which (picture of Noah and his family in the
ark being saved or delivered through the flood water) a better type also now at this time saves you
(illustration), namely baptism (believer) not the removal of dirt
from the flesh but a pledge of a good conscience towards God through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ.