Do you ever feel that God is absent from you? None of us ever likes to admit there are times when we have a hard time finding God. The truth is that, even in the most saintly people, there are sometimes vacant places in the heart when God seems far away. All of us like to know where God is at all times. In these troubled and threatening times, our restless hearts keep looking for some evidence that God is still in control of the world.
For Israel, Mount Sinai was God’s address. It was where the people of Israel could find God. The cloud which had symbolized God’s presence and protection during their exodus hovered over the mountain top. Occasionally they even heard God’s voice behind the cloud. But the mountain was not God’s permanent home. During their final months at Mount Sinai, the Israelites built the first Church – the tabernacle. It was God’s home on earth and the place of personal encounter where worshipers could meet with God. It was filled with God’s glory, the overpowering sense of His presence. “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34. From this point forward, God would live with His people wherever they could be found.
So why does God sometimes seem so far away? There are four good reasons:
1. A part of the reason God seems far removed from our circumstances and hurts is because of who He is. He said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8). In other words, God is much larger than our concepts and our understanding of doctrine and righteousness. He is bigger than our church or denomination.
2. At other times, God seems absent because of who we are. We are rebellious, selfish, and contrary. There are periods when our prayers, even our churches and our worship, are so full of ourselves we display our wants and feelings, and leave no room for God.
3. God often seems absent because of our affluence, apathy, and comfort. We become so comfortable we simply don’t need God as much as those who are suffering or those enduring persecution or oppression.
4. God often seems absent to us because there are frankly some places God will not go. This can be illustrated from God’s Word. The tabernacle was always placed in the center of the camp. Inside the tabernacle the Ark of the Covenant was kept in the inner sanctum, the Holy of Holies. The Ark had an incredible power associated with it. In fact, it was generally assumed that Israel was invulnerable in military battles because of the Ark’s presence. At one time something bad happened. Eli was the high priest and his two sons were to assume his priestly duties when he became unable to function as high priest. The two sons, however; had lost personal touch with God and ignored the standards of holiness imposed upon the priests. Israel was at war with the Philistines and Eli’s sons carried the Ark of the Covenant onto the battle ground. The two sons were killed, Israel was defeated, and the Ark was taken by the enemy. Eli himself dropped dead from the news. The whole tragic thing occasioned the naming of a baby with on of the most horrible names ever given to a child: Ichabod. For Israel, the glory of the Lord was his presence, symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant. The truth is that God’s glory, had temporarily departed when the Ark was removed from the tabernacle. His presence didn’t leave because the Ark had been taken, but because of the sin of His people. It is important to know that the absent glory did not reveal an absent God. Even when the sin of His people rendered them spiritual empty, God was never absent. He never abandons His people!
God was and is still ready to display His power. He is simply searching for those who will meet His conditions. Those conditions are that worship must be placed in the center of all that we do. Our worship, and our praise must be a joyful experience because the glory of the Lord is here among us.
There is something we need to understand about joy. You don’t just decide to be joyful, rather it is a fitting response to the actions of someone else. Joy is as spontaneous as the “Ah!” that comes from our lips when we see a rocket explode during a fireworks display. Joy is as sudden as the stillness that comes over us when we stand on the mountain summit and look across a valley. Joy is as unexpected as the tears that come to our eyes when we hold our child for the first time.
Are you experiencing the presence of God in your life and enjoying His glory? Don’t miss His presence because of who He is, or because of who you are, or because you feel too comfortable to need Him, or because of sin in your life. To be in God’s presence is to put ourselves where joy, real spontaneous joy, is possible.
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Let's Serve
God uses each and every Christian in His work. Many times before we respond to God’s calling to join Him in His work we must be challenged. In Romans 15:1-13 the apostle Paul challenges believers to serve each other and to work together in unity. We are to set aside willfulness and self-pleasing actions for the sake of building others up for good.
A person that serves is described as:
1. A person that is devoted to helping those who are weaker.
Romans 15:1, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. This is a large challenge. Paul addresses this challenge to “us”, who he considers strong. He is addressing those who have a solid grounding in the Scriptures; those who have emerged victorious from crises in their own lives because of their strong faith; and those who are strong because of their maturity in Christian living.
Paul says it is our duty to help those who are weak. The strong “ought” to bear the infirmities of the weak. It is the duty of the stronger Christian to consider and lower themselves to the weakest. We must consider them by realizing they are weaker and not trample over them. We must encourage them by bearing their infirmities. Those strong in the faith should bear the doubts of the weak, because a weaker Christian in the faith will decrease his faith with each doubt he has. When the weaker brother can be shown his doubts are invalid, his faith is restored.
Paul also says those stronger in the faith ought to “bear” the infirmities of the weak. To bear means “to carry”; not just put up with or tolerate. We cannot begin to “bear” someone’s burdens until we have sympathy for them and are concerned. Strong Christians have a duty to bear the burdens of the weak, and the weak Christians should be able to expect help from stronger Christians when they have doubts and experience failures. Weaker Christians should not try to bear their own infirmities if they feel their infirmities are pushing them down and destroying their faith. They should ask for help from someone stronger and expect them to provide the needed help.
2. A person that must not please themselves.
Romans 15:1, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves”. As a servant it is not our business to gratify all the little appetites and desires of our own heart. This is the key – A Christian servant should not be self-centered, but should be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others. The first lesson we must learn to be a servant of Christ is to deny ourselves. Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”
3. A person that pleases his neighbor for his own good.
Romans 15:2, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” Pleasing our neighbor is not just an end in itself, (not just that they will be happy), but for his edification. When a servant pleases his neighbor in this way it builds them up in Christian graces. We are not to please our neighbor in everything, but for his good; especially the good of his soul. This is the example Jesus Christ left for us. Even He did not please Himself, but “He came to do the will of the Father that sent Him.” Jesus had no place to lay His head. He lived upon alms. He would not be made a king. He washed His disciples feet. He emptied Himself and made no reputation for Himself. All Christ die was for out sake, for our good, to bring righteousness for us and to set an example. Christ was our perfect example of One challenged to serve others.
How do we learn to be one that serves?
1. Through the example of Christ.
We must bear the infirmities of the weak, for Christ bore the reproaches of those that reproached God. He bore the guilt of sin and the curse for it. We are only called to bear a little of the trouble of sin. He bore the sins of the world. We are only called to bear the infirmities of the weak.
2. Through the Scriptures.
Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Scriptures are left for a standing rule to us. They are written that they might remain for our use and benefit; for our learning. There are many things to be learned in the Scriptures, but to learn how to be a servant is one of the most important. The example of Christ, in what He said and did, is recorded for our emulation.
3. Through the example of others.
As we have stronger Christians minister to us in our need, and help us to bear our infirmities, we can learn from their example how to minister to others who are weaker.
What are the results of being a servant to others?
1. Romans 15:4, “That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope“.
The result of being a servant is that we achieve endurance through patience and develop the ability to remain steadfast in the face of adversities. Patience works experience and experience works hope. The more patience we exercise under troubles, the more hopeful we may look through our troubles.
As we study the Scriptures for the examples given to us, they serve to give us encouragement that we might have hope. As Christians learn from the past they are motivated to endure and be comforted in the present, looking ahead in hope to the future. The steadfast endurance and encouragement a Christian receives from the Scriptures come ultimately from God, the author of the Scriptures. The study of Scripture gives patience under human persecution and Satan’s opposition. The study of Scripture also gives patience as we bear one another’s burdens, and in waiting for divine promises to be fulfilled.
The study of Scripture gives us comfort. It is the comfort that springs from the Word of God and bids us to rise above our fears. It is the comfort that urges us to dwell little on fleeting things and commands us to find our joy in God.
2. That we have a Spirit of Unity.
Romans 15:5,6, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This Spirit of Unity includes being of one-mind; to be able to think the same, and one heart; to be able to love the same, and one mouth; to be able to speak the same. The foundation of Christian love and peace is laid in like-mindedness. This like-mindedness must be according to the pattern and example of Jesus Christ. Like-mindedness that is patterned after Jesus Christ means we will have a right mind, a sound mind, a pure mind, a spiritual mind, and a renewed mind. The mind controls our conversation with God; the mouth controls our conversation with others. A spirit of unity is an essential element in a relationship of service.
It is desirable that Christians should agree in everything that they might glorify God. One mouth in confessing the truths of God. One mouth in praising the name of God. One mouth in common conversation, not jarring, biting, or devouring one another.
3. That we might receive one another.
Romans 15:7, “that we might receive one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God”. Paul had encouraged the strong to receive the weak because sometimes the prejudices of the weak Christian make him shy away from the strong, as much as the pride of the strong Christian makes him shay away from the weak. Neither should be. There should be mutual embracing among Christians. Those that have received Christ by faith must receive all Christians by brotherly love.
Jesus Christ has received us into the nearest and dearest relations to Himself. He has received us into His fold, into His family, into the adoption of sons, into a marriage-covenant with Him. The end of our reception by Christ is that we might glorify God in this world, and will be glorified with Him in that to come.
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
A person that serves is described as:
1. A person that is devoted to helping those who are weaker.
Romans 15:1, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. This is a large challenge. Paul addresses this challenge to “us”, who he considers strong. He is addressing those who have a solid grounding in the Scriptures; those who have emerged victorious from crises in their own lives because of their strong faith; and those who are strong because of their maturity in Christian living.
Paul says it is our duty to help those who are weak. The strong “ought” to bear the infirmities of the weak. It is the duty of the stronger Christian to consider and lower themselves to the weakest. We must consider them by realizing they are weaker and not trample over them. We must encourage them by bearing their infirmities. Those strong in the faith should bear the doubts of the weak, because a weaker Christian in the faith will decrease his faith with each doubt he has. When the weaker brother can be shown his doubts are invalid, his faith is restored.
Paul also says those stronger in the faith ought to “bear” the infirmities of the weak. To bear means “to carry”; not just put up with or tolerate. We cannot begin to “bear” someone’s burdens until we have sympathy for them and are concerned. Strong Christians have a duty to bear the burdens of the weak, and the weak Christians should be able to expect help from stronger Christians when they have doubts and experience failures. Weaker Christians should not try to bear their own infirmities if they feel their infirmities are pushing them down and destroying their faith. They should ask for help from someone stronger and expect them to provide the needed help.
2. A person that must not please themselves.
Romans 15:1, “We then who are strong ought to bear with the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves”. As a servant it is not our business to gratify all the little appetites and desires of our own heart. This is the key – A Christian servant should not be self-centered, but should be concerned about the spiritual welfare of others. The first lesson we must learn to be a servant of Christ is to deny ourselves. Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.”
3. A person that pleases his neighbor for his own good.
Romans 15:2, “Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.” Pleasing our neighbor is not just an end in itself, (not just that they will be happy), but for his edification. When a servant pleases his neighbor in this way it builds them up in Christian graces. We are not to please our neighbor in everything, but for his good; especially the good of his soul. This is the example Jesus Christ left for us. Even He did not please Himself, but “He came to do the will of the Father that sent Him.” Jesus had no place to lay His head. He lived upon alms. He would not be made a king. He washed His disciples feet. He emptied Himself and made no reputation for Himself. All Christ die was for out sake, for our good, to bring righteousness for us and to set an example. Christ was our perfect example of One challenged to serve others.
How do we learn to be one that serves?
1. Through the example of Christ.
We must bear the infirmities of the weak, for Christ bore the reproaches of those that reproached God. He bore the guilt of sin and the curse for it. We are only called to bear a little of the trouble of sin. He bore the sins of the world. We are only called to bear the infirmities of the weak.
2. Through the Scriptures.
Romans 15:4, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” The Scriptures are left for a standing rule to us. They are written that they might remain for our use and benefit; for our learning. There are many things to be learned in the Scriptures, but to learn how to be a servant is one of the most important. The example of Christ, in what He said and did, is recorded for our emulation.
3. Through the example of others.
As we have stronger Christians minister to us in our need, and help us to bear our infirmities, we can learn from their example how to minister to others who are weaker.
What are the results of being a servant to others?
1. Romans 15:4, “That we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope“.
The result of being a servant is that we achieve endurance through patience and develop the ability to remain steadfast in the face of adversities. Patience works experience and experience works hope. The more patience we exercise under troubles, the more hopeful we may look through our troubles.
As we study the Scriptures for the examples given to us, they serve to give us encouragement that we might have hope. As Christians learn from the past they are motivated to endure and be comforted in the present, looking ahead in hope to the future. The steadfast endurance and encouragement a Christian receives from the Scriptures come ultimately from God, the author of the Scriptures. The study of Scripture gives patience under human persecution and Satan’s opposition. The study of Scripture also gives patience as we bear one another’s burdens, and in waiting for divine promises to be fulfilled.
The study of Scripture gives us comfort. It is the comfort that springs from the Word of God and bids us to rise above our fears. It is the comfort that urges us to dwell little on fleeting things and commands us to find our joy in God.
2. That we have a Spirit of Unity.
Romans 15:5,6, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward one another according to Christ Jesus; that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This Spirit of Unity includes being of one-mind; to be able to think the same, and one heart; to be able to love the same, and one mouth; to be able to speak the same. The foundation of Christian love and peace is laid in like-mindedness. This like-mindedness must be according to the pattern and example of Jesus Christ. Like-mindedness that is patterned after Jesus Christ means we will have a right mind, a sound mind, a pure mind, a spiritual mind, and a renewed mind. The mind controls our conversation with God; the mouth controls our conversation with others. A spirit of unity is an essential element in a relationship of service.
It is desirable that Christians should agree in everything that they might glorify God. One mouth in confessing the truths of God. One mouth in praising the name of God. One mouth in common conversation, not jarring, biting, or devouring one another.
3. That we might receive one another.
Romans 15:7, “that we might receive one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God”. Paul had encouraged the strong to receive the weak because sometimes the prejudices of the weak Christian make him shy away from the strong, as much as the pride of the strong Christian makes him shay away from the weak. Neither should be. There should be mutual embracing among Christians. Those that have received Christ by faith must receive all Christians by brotherly love.
Jesus Christ has received us into the nearest and dearest relations to Himself. He has received us into His fold, into His family, into the adoption of sons, into a marriage-covenant with Him. The end of our reception by Christ is that we might glorify God in this world, and will be glorified with Him in that to come.
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
Saturday, June 11, 2011
What's It All About
People look at the bad things, the hurtful thing, the tragedies going on and think that since God is all-knowing and all-powerful, that these thing are hHs fault. But just the opposite is true.
God is a loving Father. All the things He told us not to do is because those things cause the very harm that we are blaming on Him. And all the things He has told us to do are the things that will prevent those tragedies and help those who are experiencing tragedy.
Oh, why can’t people be made to understand that God is life. He is love. He is light. He is Papa. He has the answers. We are the problem.
Why do I continually hear about mankind’s search for answers to life, search for a reason for being here, and search for a better life and yet they bypass or nix God and the Bible.
It must be the way we’re coming across. Some peddle emotional highs. Some peddle miracles. Some peddle a ticket to heaven. But somehow we’re not getting through.
The answer to life is that God, who desired to have offspring who were one with His creation, created mankind in His image and put them in a body of the same material as His creation. He revealed through the Old Testament what He wanted of them and what the reward for obedience would be.
In the New Testament, He sent His Son who accomplished all the things God said to do and then paid the price for mankind’s disobedience and became their propitiation so that all those who will come to The Father, repent of disobedience, receive His Son as their Lord and Savior can have eternal life and be made into the image of a real man which God has portrayed in His Son.
The purpose of life is to grow up into Him in all things and to love one another. That is--be a part of the answer instead of a part of the problem. Help others find the true way and help others out of their troubles.
The better life is to have a personal Father/child relationship with God who is life, light, and love. And to understand what it’s all about and to have a mission to be about the Father’s business.
You want someone to admire--to look up to--someone to model after? The real hero and role model is Jesus Christ. He is worth serving. It is safe to put your complete trust in. He has proved Himself to be number one for all time.
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
God is a loving Father. All the things He told us not to do is because those things cause the very harm that we are blaming on Him. And all the things He has told us to do are the things that will prevent those tragedies and help those who are experiencing tragedy.
Oh, why can’t people be made to understand that God is life. He is love. He is light. He is Papa. He has the answers. We are the problem.
Why do I continually hear about mankind’s search for answers to life, search for a reason for being here, and search for a better life and yet they bypass or nix God and the Bible.
It must be the way we’re coming across. Some peddle emotional highs. Some peddle miracles. Some peddle a ticket to heaven. But somehow we’re not getting through.
The answer to life is that God, who desired to have offspring who were one with His creation, created mankind in His image and put them in a body of the same material as His creation. He revealed through the Old Testament what He wanted of them and what the reward for obedience would be.
In the New Testament, He sent His Son who accomplished all the things God said to do and then paid the price for mankind’s disobedience and became their propitiation so that all those who will come to The Father, repent of disobedience, receive His Son as their Lord and Savior can have eternal life and be made into the image of a real man which God has portrayed in His Son.
The purpose of life is to grow up into Him in all things and to love one another. That is--be a part of the answer instead of a part of the problem. Help others find the true way and help others out of their troubles.
The better life is to have a personal Father/child relationship with God who is life, light, and love. And to understand what it’s all about and to have a mission to be about the Father’s business.
You want someone to admire--to look up to--someone to model after? The real hero and role model is Jesus Christ. He is worth serving. It is safe to put your complete trust in. He has proved Himself to be number one for all time.
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Water Baptism Doesn't Save You
1 Peter 3:21
“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:”
It is strongly advised here, not to rest in the letter, but to look for the substance of what is here .(from Adam Clarke Commentary) emphasis is mine.
“There are many difficulties in this verse; but the simple meaning of the place may be easily apprehended. Noah believed in God, walked uprightly before him, and found grace in his sight; he obeyed him in building the ark, and God made it the means of his salvation from the waters of the deluge. Baptism implies a consecration and dedication of the soul and body to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He who is faithful to his baptismal covenant, taking God through Christ, by the eternal Spirit, for his portion, is saved here from his sins; and through the resurrection of Christ from the dead, has the well-grounded hope of eternal glory. This is all plain; but was it the deluge, itself, or the ark, or the being saved by that ark from the deluge, that was the antitype of which Peter speaks? Noah and his family were saved by water; i. e. it was the instrument of their being saved through the good providence of God. So the water of baptism, typifying the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, is the means of salvation to all those who receive this Holy Spirit in its quickening, cleansing efficacy. Now as the waters of the flood could not have saved Noah and his family, had they not made use of the ark; so the water of baptism saves no man,” This text, as far as I can see, says nothing in support of immersion in baptismal water as the means of salvation;”
Peter is teaching that the fact that 8 people were in an ark and went through the whole judgment, and yet were unharmed, is analogous to the Christian’s experience in salvation by being in (union with) Christ, identified with Christ our "Ark" of salvation so to speak.
Peter is not teaching (as some twist the Scriptures to say) that immersion in water by a particular denomination saves you. Peter pictures the waters of baptism as corresponding to (prefigured by) the deliverance of Noah’s family by the Ark. Noah and his family's identification with the Ark (by going into the ark when the flood came) is a type of the believer's identification with Christ (by grace through faith) in which he or she identifies with Christ's finished work on the Cross and in so doing in a manner of speaking that person is now safe within the "Ark", Who is Christ Jesus. He/she has received Holy Spirit baptism and now qualifies for water baptism.
Peter seems very aware that his words are open to dangerous misuse. This is why, as soon as they are out of his mouth, as it were, he qualifies them lest they be taken the wrong way. In verse 21 he does say, "Baptism now saves you" - that sounds like the water has a saving effect in and of itself apart from faith. He knows that is what it sounds like and so he adds immediately, "Not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience , The exercise of saving faith which triggers Holy Spirit Baptism which seals your salvation Eph. 1:13.
I hope this clarifies the question for you. Peter did not say Water Baptism saves you. As with any single verse or passage, we discern what it teaches by first filtering it through what we know the Bible teaches on the subject at hand. In the case of baptism and salvation, the Bible is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, any interpretation which comes to the conclusion that baptism, or any other act, is necessary for salvation, is a faulty interpretation.
The term water baptism is assumed in this verse, Never stated.
NOTE:
Jesus plus anything else for Salvation equals Nothing. It's NOT Grace through Faith + all you can do. Jesus plus Nothing else for Salvation = EVERYTHING.
Note: Water Baptism in the Bible is always after salvation and only by immersion (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38). Water Baptism is a public symbol of what has happened inside of a believer. It symbolizes the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:3-4)
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
“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:”
It is strongly advised here, not to rest in the letter, but to look for the substance of what is here .(from Adam Clarke Commentary) emphasis is mine.
“There are many difficulties in this verse; but the simple meaning of the place may be easily apprehended. Noah believed in God, walked uprightly before him, and found grace in his sight; he obeyed him in building the ark, and God made it the means of his salvation from the waters of the deluge. Baptism implies a consecration and dedication of the soul and body to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He who is faithful to his baptismal covenant, taking God through Christ, by the eternal Spirit, for his portion, is saved here from his sins; and through the resurrection of Christ from the dead, has the well-grounded hope of eternal glory. This is all plain; but was it the deluge, itself, or the ark, or the being saved by that ark from the deluge, that was the antitype of which Peter speaks? Noah and his family were saved by water; i. e. it was the instrument of their being saved through the good providence of God. So the water of baptism, typifying the regenerating influence of the Holy Spirit, is the means of salvation to all those who receive this Holy Spirit in its quickening, cleansing efficacy. Now as the waters of the flood could not have saved Noah and his family, had they not made use of the ark; so the water of baptism saves no man,” This text, as far as I can see, says nothing in support of immersion in baptismal water as the means of salvation;”
Peter is teaching that the fact that 8 people were in an ark and went through the whole judgment, and yet were unharmed, is analogous to the Christian’s experience in salvation by being in (union with) Christ, identified with Christ our "Ark" of salvation so to speak.
Peter is not teaching (as some twist the Scriptures to say) that immersion in water by a particular denomination saves you. Peter pictures the waters of baptism as corresponding to (prefigured by) the deliverance of Noah’s family by the Ark. Noah and his family's identification with the Ark (by going into the ark when the flood came) is a type of the believer's identification with Christ (by grace through faith) in which he or she identifies with Christ's finished work on the Cross and in so doing in a manner of speaking that person is now safe within the "Ark", Who is Christ Jesus. He/she has received Holy Spirit baptism and now qualifies for water baptism.
Peter seems very aware that his words are open to dangerous misuse. This is why, as soon as they are out of his mouth, as it were, he qualifies them lest they be taken the wrong way. In verse 21 he does say, "Baptism now saves you" - that sounds like the water has a saving effect in and of itself apart from faith. He knows that is what it sounds like and so he adds immediately, "Not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience , The exercise of saving faith which triggers Holy Spirit Baptism which seals your salvation Eph. 1:13.
I hope this clarifies the question for you. Peter did not say Water Baptism saves you. As with any single verse or passage, we discern what it teaches by first filtering it through what we know the Bible teaches on the subject at hand. In the case of baptism and salvation, the Bible is clear that salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of any kind, including baptism (Ephesians 2:8-9). So, any interpretation which comes to the conclusion that baptism, or any other act, is necessary for salvation, is a faulty interpretation.
The term water baptism is assumed in this verse, Never stated.
NOTE:
Jesus plus anything else for Salvation equals Nothing. It's NOT Grace through Faith + all you can do. Jesus plus Nothing else for Salvation = EVERYTHING.
Note: Water Baptism in the Bible is always after salvation and only by immersion (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38). Water Baptism is a public symbol of what has happened inside of a believer. It symbolizes the death burial and resurrection of Jesus. (Romans 6:3-4)
"If life has knocked you down, I prophesy that you will Rise & Walk"
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