Articles
Water Salvation (1)
Did you know that there are a number of inspired stories in the Bible that connect individuals and people to being saved through water? Over the next number of weeks, I would like for us to take a look at some of these important Bible passages that speak of water salvation, and then also make some application to our lives.
Family of Noah on the Ark. God revealed to righteous Noah that because of the great wickedness of mankind that He planned to destroy all flesh on the earth with floodwaters (Genesis 6). The LORD instructed Noah to build an ark for the saving of his household, by faith Noah obeyed all that God commanded him (Gen. 6:22; 7:5; Heb. 11:7). “Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters” (Gen. 7:17-18). “Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive” (Gen. 7:23).
The apostle Peter wrote: “…when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us–baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 3:20-21).
Notice that Peter said that the eight souls on the ark were saved through water! And that how there is also an antitype (like figure) which NOW saves us – baptism! Men will continue to protest, deny and sadly deceive themselves, but the New Testament plainly teaches that baptism saves us. Baptism into Christ is connected to water.
The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip the evangelist, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” (Acts 8:36) Jesus declared that “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Concerning the first Gentile converts, Peter asked, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:47-48).
It is Jesus the Son of God who said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). Baptism saves. Not baptism alone. Belief (faithful obedience to the Lord) and baptism into Christ brings salvation (Acts 2:38). Baptism is a burial in water (Rom. 6:4). And what is most significant about baptism is that the sinner is baptized into Christ’s death (Romans 6:3), thus coming in contact with Christ’s cleansing blood (Eph. 1:7).
Baptism now saves us! Have you been baptized into Christ for the remission of your sins? (Acts 2:38)
