How Baptism Saves

Text 1 Peter 3:21 Time 25 06 17 Place Childs Hill Baptist Church

Well, it is a great joy to be here tonight and to have the baptistery open again after such a long spell. There are only two ordinances or sacraments for believers – baptism and the Lord’s Supper. It is important that whenever there is a baptism or communion that we remind ourselves exactly what they are all about. If you simply go through the motions then the meaning can easily be forgotten and the whole thing can turn into a meaningless ritual. That is why we make a point whenever we have communion or a baptism to say something about what is going on.

What I want us to do now then is to consider the verse about baptism found in 1 Peter 3:21. This verse and those that surround it are not easy ones to interpret in some ways and there has been some discussion about certain elements such what it means when it speaks of Jesus going and making proclamation to the imprisoned spirits - to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. I’m sure that what Peter is saying there is that when Noah preached to the people of his day it was the Spirit of Christ who was patiently pleading with people even then through Noah.

Peter goes on to say to believers (in verse 21) that the water of Noah’s flood

symbolises baptism that now saves you also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

He is drawing a parallel then between the flood and baptism. If Peter were here tonight to witness this baptism and we asked him to speak he might say ‘This is a little like another Noah’s ark’. Now do note that he does not say of the ark, In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved from water, rather he says they were saved through water. Of course, they were saved from the water – unlike all those who perished, they escaped from the great flood. However, Peter says that they were saved through water. It was by means of the flood that God rescued them from the wicked world in which they had been living. One can see several connections between Noah’s ark and baptism. For example, one commentator mentions how

• Just as the ark was God’s way of saving Noah not man’s invention, so baptism is God ordained.
• Just as Noah appears to have been mocked when building the ark, so some people mock baptism as a means of salvation.
• Just as Noah and his family were shut up in the ark and seemed buried in it so baptism can be seen as a sort of symbolic burial. (See Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death … Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism …)
• Just as Noah and his family were surrounded by water from above and below, so when a person is baptised he or she is immersed in water.

The most important connection between Noah’s flood and baptism, however, is that there is a sense in both cases in which it is by means of water that salvation comes. So we see how he has come to the matter of baptism. However, when Peter says that baptism saves believers, what exactly does he mean? He himself clarifies by including both a negative and a positive comment.

1. Understand how this baptism does not save

Having said this water symbolises baptism that now saves you also – Peter adds not the removal of dirt from the body. Literally he says it is not the removal of dirt from the flesh. The word flesh has at least two connotations in Scripture and so we can say two things in light of Peter’s statement.

1. Baptism does not literally save by washing dirt from the body

Obviously when a person is baptised it is a little bit like a bath. We are aware of the fact that water is very good for washing dirt from our bodies. Not only is it healthy for our bodies to be regularly washed but it can be very refreshing generally. Many a person enjoys nothing better than a good soak in the bath or alternatively an invigorating shower – hot or cold. More than one religion makes a great deal of such purification rites. I remember reading about George Harrison of the Beatles, how when he first embraced Hinduism he described how good it felt to get up early in the morning and to begin with meditation and a shower. I remember too once meeting a Sikh gentleman who had travelled to India where he had felt renewed by standing under waterfall. Now Christian baptism is nothing like that. It is something that can only take place once in a person’s life and it has nothing at all to do with washing dirt from the body.

If you have been baptised. Remember that when you were baptised you weren’t washing dirt from your body.

If you’ve not been baptised, realise that no amount of washing can make you clean. Washing, like a new set of clothes or new resolutions can only affect you outwardly. You need something inward to happen to you.

Roslin, as you’re about to be baptised, recognise that this water is not like bath water. It isn’t designed to get you clean. That is not its purpose!

2. Baptism does not literally save by washing sin from the soul

It may be that Peter is also underlining the fact that in and of itself baptism cannot wash away sin from the soul either. The reason why people need to be saved is because of their sin. It is because of sin that we die and deserve to be sent to hell. The only way we can be saved is by having those sins washed away but that is not something that baptism can do. There is nothing special about this water. There is nothing that being baptised can do to take away sin.

There are people who believe that somehow baptism can wash sin from your soul. You have heard perhaps of people making quite a fuss about getting sick babies baptised before they die. Why? Because there is a belief that baptism can somehow literally wash sin away. Sometimes children in Roman Catholic Schools are taught how to perform what they call an emergency baptism, based on the idea that there is no way into heaven without baptism.

Now I’m sure that no-one believes that the power is in the water itself but there is the idea that the ceremony itself can somehow save. And yet everything else we know from Scripture warns against taking such an idea. For example, in Hebrews 10:4, 11 it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins … Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. There are many things like that in the Old Testament too. There is no way that any ceremony can take away sin. It doesn’t matter how sincere we are or how genuine our belief in such a thing may be, it cannot do it.

If I thought that Roslin was under the impression that she could wash away her sins by baptism then I would refuse to baptise her. The idea that any mere ritual can save is utterly false. I suppose it’s a little like supposing that a marriage ceremony can make a real marriage. Sometimes people go through a form of marriage in order to gain British citizenship. The government are wise to such things, however, they know that a mere paper marriage is not a real marriage and they want evidence of a real marriage. Similarly, baptism is not a matter of a mere form. Like a marriage ceremony it must rather be the seal and sign of something much deeper.

If you have been baptised, remember that when you were baptised it wasn’t that act that made you a Christian. No. it was something else that washed your soul clean. The day you were baptised was just the day when you publicly declared that God had changed your life. You may not remember exactly when you were converted but hopefully you can remember when you were baptised and it was then that you made your public profession of conversion.

If you’ve not been baptised, realise that there is no ritual on earth that can make your soul clean. There is no religious rite that can deal with your sin. Baptism won’t do it. Taking the Lord’s Supper won’t do it. Praying five times a day can’t change you. Ritual purifications and religious ceremonies are all worthless in themselves. Rather, as we have said, you need something inward to happen to you. Unless God changes you then there is no hope for you.

Roslin, as you’re about to be baptised, recognise that this is not like a ritual purification. This act isn’t designed to purify your soul. As you know, you are being baptised on the basis that this has already happened. This baptism is designed to strengthen you in your convictions not to do something that has not happened yet.

2. Understand how baptism does save

So what does Peter mean when he says that baptism saves? In what sense does it save? It is clear that Peter is speaking symbolically. Symbolically speaking, baptism saves. The way such a ceremony affects us is by affecting our conscience and teaching us.

1. Baptism symbolically saves as it implies the pledge of a good conscience towards God

So we come to Peter’s positive statement. He says not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. The words are understood in a slightly different way by different writers. Is it the pledge towards God of a good conscience towards God or the pledge of ‘a good conscience towards God’ or even baptism that now saves you towards God also - not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience? There is some argument about the word translated pledge too. Answer is not quite right pledge is better. It is the demand or enquiry of a good conscience or possibly the appeal. Peter may well be thinking of the way those who are baptised are often asked to first give a word of testimony or to answer questions - as we will do tonight. The question then is whether Peter is speaking subjectively of the person being baptised having a good conscience or objectively of them appealing to God for a good conscience. It is probably the first. Whichever way we understand it, it is clear that the focus is on the person's conscience.

How is it with your conscience tonight?

What about you baptised believer? Do you remember your baptismal pledge? Are you conscientiously living aware that only Christ can forgive your sins? We must never forget that he is the only one who can deal with our guilt. An event like this should remind you once more of how indebted you are to him. Cf 3:16. I say to you tonight (Hebrews 10:22) let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

What about you unbaptised unbeliever? Do you realise that is your great need - to give yourself to God, to commit yourself to him entirely. There is no way to get rid of your guilty conscience except by trusting in him. He alone can cleanse you. Gifts and sacrifices … are not able to clear the conscience (Hebrews 9:22) only Christ can. Go to him, therefore, and find complete cleansing.

Roslin. I trust you recognise that what I am saying is true. By coming to be baptised you are saying that you are guilty of sin. It is the testimony of your conscience. However, your conscience also testifies that whereas a ceremony can only at best make you outwardly clean the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, can cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:13, 14). And so your conscience is resting only in the blood of Christ. It is on that basis that we baptise you.

2. Baptism symbolically saves as it points to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who now reigns in heaven

Finally, Peter says that baptism saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand - with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. The New Testament speaks very often about the resurrection of Jesus and when it does so it almost invariably has in mind his death as well. Peter has mentioned the death explicitly already back in 18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit. Why did Christ die? Peter is clear. Christ died for sins. It was in order to deal with sin that he died. It was the death of the righteous for the unrighteous – the Son of God, the only Saviour, died taking the punishment deserved by sinners like you and me. He did it, Peter says to these believers, to bring you to God. By nature we are all sinners and we have no access to God,. We cannot come near him. However, a way back to God has been opened up by Christ’s death as a substitute for sinners on the cross. There is a way back through trusting in him and what he has done. Baptism symbolises union with Christ in his death and resurrection. That is why Paul says (in Romans 6:3-5) Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. (Also see Colossians 2:12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

So baptism cannot literally save anyone but it is a symbol of a good conscience towards God and of the death and resurrection of Christ. It is by these means that people are saved – by committing themselves to god and trusting in Jesus Christ and what he has done.

Are you a baptised believer? Remember your baptism then – that symbolic uniting with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection. That is what saves you – the fact that you are united to him. There is no salvation anywhere else is there?

Are you unbaptised? Realise that the only way to be saved is by looking to the Lord Jesus and what he has done. He alone can cleanse you. To be baptised without being joined to him in faith would be a meaningless charade. But if you really are joined to him there is no better symbol of it.

Roslin. Are you looking only to Christ and what he has done for forgiveness?. Then we are willing to baptise you.

Someone may be thinking, ‘Can you be saved and not be baptised?’ The answer is yes. The dying thief is proof enough. That is the exception. Normally, it is a matter of believing and then being baptised. If you have a good conscience toward God – one that bears witness both to your guilt and to the blood of Christ. If your are looking only to Jesus Christ and what he has done then I urge you to be baptised.

Induction Keith Hoare

Text: 1 Peter 5:1-3 Time: 01/09/07 Place: Herne Bay Evangelical

I count it a great privilege to have been asked to speak today. I’ve known Keith and Janice for over 25 years. The first time Keith and I met was at a Christian Union event in Aberystwyth University where we both came to study in 1977. (I was beginning my BA and Keith his PhD). I remember that Keith thought at first that I must be unconverted and tried to witness to me but I assured him that (despite appearances) I was already converted.
Keith and I and then Janice all went on to serve on the CU exec. We also attended the same church. What enjoyable and spiritually enriching times they were in Aber. Keith served first as Overseas Student sec then President. In our third year we ended up living next door to each other (someone had cleverly worked out that we had a lot in common), sharing a kitchen with the president of the Islamic Society (another bit of genius from administration), an Algerian, a Sudanese, a Bangla Deshi and two first year students. Together we sought to testify in that international setting. I’m not aware that we made any great impact but we sought to be witnesses.
Since then I have chiefly been pastoring in London to all sorts and Keith in France, especially with Muslims in mind. Now suddenly we’re a little closer to each other geographically and in other ways and it may well be we will once again know a closer relationship as we have in the past.
My purpose today is to deliver what is traditionally known as "the charge" to Keith. There was a time when at inductions there would be both a charge to the minister and to the church but that is less common these days. Although I chiefly want to speak to Keith then I want also to speak to everyone present, especially those of you who are members of the church here and are today formally receiving Keith as your pastor.
In order to do this I want us to consider the opening verses of 1 Peter 5 - Peter's appeal to the elders in the congregations to which he is writing. I want to say three things to you then Keith from this passage - there is a word of explanation, a word of exhortation and a word of encouragement.
1. A word of explanation
The chapter begins with Peter addressing the elders among you. Because he speaks first to elders then young men you might think that by elders he simply means older men but he tells these elders they should Be shepherds or pastors and serve as overseers so it is clear he has the office of elder in mind. He's addressing church leaders – people who were in the same position that Keith now finds himself in with regard to this church. Now the first thing to see is the basis on which he appeals to them.
1. As a fellow-elder
Now what's interesting here is the first basis on which Peter appeals to these elders. I suppose that as an apostle he could have begun with something like ‘as an apostle I command you’ but instead you see that first of all he says To the elders among you I appeal as a fellow-elder. He was an apostle but he was also a leader in the churches. He knew then what he was talking about when he talked about being an elder, a pastor, an overseer. It can sometimes be frustrating when so-called experts try to tell people what to do when they have no practical experience of what they are talking about. Now Peter is not in that position here. He is talking about something he really knows about.
So quite apart from the fact that this is Scripture you would do well to take note of what Peter says here, Keith, because he is speaking to you as a fellow-elder. In a secondary sense I am also speaking to you as a fellow-elder. It is not all theory for me either.
2. Peter does go on to appeal also as a witness of Christ’s sufferings

This was one of the things that qualified him to be an apostle. And that is one reason why you can't just take this as good advice. If it was just my advice you could take it or leave it. If it was Peter's advice that would be more compelling but it would still be advice rather than apostolic precept. But no, here is the word of one who was with Christ – who heard his teaching, who saw how he lived and especially who was a witness to his sufferings on the cross and in other ways. Peter is an insider – one who knows what ministry is all about. He has seen Jesus, who said that he came to serve not to be served and whose ministry was marked by suffering. It is in this context that he speaks.
You need to listen up then and take careful note of what Peter says then. He speaks not only out of his own experience but in the light of Christ's sufferings too. Context is very important and when we speak about Christian ministry that needs to be the context. Mere good advice is not enough.
3. Thirdly, he adds that he is one who also will share in the glory to be revealed

Of course, Peter had also seen Jesus transfigured (he speaks about it specifically in his second letter) and was a witness to his resurrection. It was also his hope that one day he was going to share in the glory to be revealed at the return of Christ. Peter was not in glory when he wrote this but he was on the way there and so he writes not only as one who'd witnessed Christ's sufferings but as one who would soon see Christ's glory. This also shapes his exhortation and is another factor in his approach worth noting, one we'll come back to at the end.
So Keith here is a word from a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings but also one who has his mind on eternity and who is confident he will share in the glory to be revealed at the return of Christ. It seems to me that this is something worth listening to then. For you, Keith – as you enter on this ministry. But also for the rest of the family who are so interested in your work and for the church here as you formally receive Keith as your minister.
So out of his experience and in this context of present suffering and future glory what does Peter say? He says two things by way of exhortation and then something more by way of encouragement.
2. A word of exhortation
Peter says two things by way of exhortation
1. Be a shepherd of the flock under your care

Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care. Peter has already said (2:25) they were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. He will refer again in a moment to the Chief shepherd. Here he has the under-shepherd in mind.
We often refer to the minister as the pastor, which means shepherd, of course, and it is one of the Bible's favourite ways of referring to those who lead God's people be they kings or ministers. Keith, you are the shepherd, the church here is like a flock under your care. That means several things but perhaps we can summarise with four words that rhyme – Lead, feed, read and heed.
Lead

In this country I believe shepherds tend to take up the rear. They drive the sheep from behind. In the east it is much more common for the shepherd to go ahead of the sheep and for them to follow.

As the pastor of this particular church, as the shepherd who has this particular flock under his care, part of you work is to provide leadership. You are to head in the right direction and do what will encourage the people to follow you. Rather than wandering in any direction you fancy, those of you who are members here are to follow Keith's direction, his lead. He is the leader. He is assisted in this by other elders and together they are to lead.

Feed

A chief part of a shepherd's work is to make sure that the flock is well fed. Part of his leadership is to lead the flock to green pastures. The very word used for shepherd really has the idea of feeding in it.

The people need to know what the word says and a chief part of your work will be studying the Scriptures in order to preach them to the people so that they may feed on it. Endeavour to sustain them – to give them what they need from God's word.
Read

By that I mean that you need to know the state of the flock. Cf Prov 27:23, 24 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. It may sound little drastic to say you must read them or you'll lose them but that is it in a nutshell. You need to get to know the congregation. There are various ways of doing that. Many people are out all day and perhaps traditional ministers visits are not possible in many cases but somehow you have to get to know them. The chief thing there then is listening and paying attention. Some will be quite forthcoming, others will be harder to get to know. In these early weeks you just have to 'box blind' if I can put it that way. Preach in the way you think best for the people. As you get to know their needs there can be more fine tuning. You will increasingly be able to preach in an appropriate way.
Heed

As you get to know your congregation you will find that some are in trouble of one sort or another and some even are quite lost. By that I mean that some have never become Christians while others have begun on the right road but wandered of it. You know the wonderful parable Jesus uses to describe what needs to be done in such a situation. It does describe Jesus himself but it also shows what a faithful shepherd or pastor will do.
Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbours together and says, Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 righteous persons who do not need to repent.
May you be a diligent and caring shepherd and may you often know the joy of seeking wandering sheep and bringing them back into the fold.
2. Serve as an overseer
The other thing that Peter speaks about is serving as overseers. An elder can also be referred to as an overseer or bishop. He watches over the flock as a watchman. To flesh this out Peter uses a series of three negatives and positives – not ... but. Sometimes it is good to have a negative to underline the positive requirement. So we say watch over this flock, this church
With a willing way not under compulsion
Not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be. Now I know that you became a minister in the first place willingly and your move here has not arisen, as far as I'm aware, because of any undue compulsion. Nevertheless, after a few months when the newness of it all has worn off you might find yourself slipping into that sort of attitude. The children are starting back to school now. I don't know about you but I always returned to school quite enthusiastic all ready for a fresh start but then around late October, early November when the summer seemed in the distant past and Christmas a long way off and it was only the fact that I had to go to school that would make me get up to go or do any homework at all. Now something similar can happen in the ministry. We start off well but we grow weary. Rather, you must continually put your mind to this work.
I was reading about a footballer, a Bulgarian called Stilian Petrov. He was bought by Aston Villa for £8 million from Celtic last year but in 36 games he only scored twice and was distracted by the birth of his second son and a bust-up with the Bulgarian national team coach. Interestingly, the article begins "The 28-year-old midfielder admits his mind was not on the job last season". That was clearly the problem. Keith make sure your mind is on the job. Pray for a willing way, a mind set on this work. All of you pray for Keith that he will keep his mind on the job.
With a spirit of service not of greed
Not greedy for money, but eager to serve.
I came across quite a funny spoof article recently about a McDonald's employee (Sean Boyce) who was perhaps doing it purely for the money. He apparently "cares more about getting paid than dedicating himself to his craft." An interviewee says "It's sad when a person's sole motivation is money, but that really seems to be the case with Mr. Boyce. The only thing he's interested in is getting that paycheck." It goes on "Contrary to claims made at the time of his hire, Boyce does not crave the challenge of brightening people's day the McDonald's way." His employer complains that "the longer he was here, the more apparent it became that it was all about the money for him. He's always asking stuff like, 'Wasn't I supposed to get a raise last month?' and, 'I thought I get time and a half when I work overtime.' At some point, he needs to wake up and realise that money isn't what's truly important." Etc. The idea of someone working at MacDonald's for anything but money is perhaps laughable. It should be equally laughable to think of someone being in the ministry for the money. Yet it can happen.
I don't know what the financial package you've been offered is, Keith, but I'm sure it was not your chief concern with regard to coming here. You're not in the ministry for the money, for 'filthy lucre' as the old versions say. Nevertheless that serving spirit can sometimes be submerged under a desire for the comforts that this life offers so that the desire for peace and quiet or for your day off or the holidays or retirement begins to dominate your thinking. You start cutting corners and looking for the easy way about things rather than the best. We have already spoken of Christ's servant spirit, it must be seen in his servants too.
As an excellent exemplar not as a tyrant
Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. The other danger Peter points to is the danger of being something of a tyrant rather than a great model or example. Not domineering, as one version puts it. If you look at any manual on what makes a great leader you will always see this point. Great leaders lead by example. One writer says, for example - "This is the foundation of everything else that makes a truly great leader." He adds helpfully "They set the bar high for themselves, and strive to live up to their own expectations. However, just because they have high standards doesn’t mean they expect perfection from everyone else. Everybody makes mistakes, even those with the best intentions."
These people are God's people but they have been entrusted to your care. You are to be an example to them, a model of Christian living. Simply standing there week by week telling them what they must do will achieve little. Rather, you must provide them with a strong and convincing example of how the Christian life is to be lived.
3. A word of encouragement
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In any enterprise it is always important to keep an eye on the goal. Peter does that here and this is where we want to end too. Two things
1. Consider how it is all going to end

A moment is going to come when the Chief Shepherd appears. You and I are only under-shepherds, charged with looking after the flocks until the day when the Chief Shepherd himself comes to take his flock to himself. People use a kind of short hand when they talk of Gary Brady's church or Keith Hoare's church. We know what they mean. It's Christ's church really. What a day that will be when he returns. That day must be kept in mind as we minister to God's people. It is a day of reckoning, a day of judgement, the day when every secret will be revealed.
2. Consider the reward you are going to receive

Peter says to these elders about that day, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. The crown in mind here is not the crown of a king so much as the crown of victory. As you know, when someone won a race in ancient times a laurel wreath or something similar would be placed on their heads. Such prizes obviously fade with the years but this crown of glory is one that will never fade away. It remains fresh throughout eternity. Peter's point is that there is something glorious about being an elder. It has a never fading glory.

On Monday mornings then and at other times when it's all on top of you, remember this, when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. May he keep you faithful until then.