1 Peter 3:18-22 1 Peter 3:18-22 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, 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. 21 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

In Remembrance of Me

im•pos•sible adj. /im päs’ə bəl/ 1 unable to be done or to happen; not possible

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, 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.

21 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Sin makes us filthy in the eyes of God (Isa. 64:6; Jas. 1:21; 2 Pet Sin makes us filthy in the eyes of God (Isa. 64:6; Jas. 1:21; 2 Pet. 2:7; 2 Cor. 7:1) Isaiah 64: 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. 2 Peter 2:7 (NKJV) 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Immersion into Christ washes the filth of sin away (Acts 22:16; Eph Immersion into Christ washes the filth of sin away (Acts 22:16; Eph. 5:26; 1 Cor. 6:11; Tit. 3:5), as if never filthy at all (Psa. 51:1-2, 7-11) Psalm 51:7-11 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. 1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. Acts 22:16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Ephesians 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

Sin makes us guilty of transgressing the law of God (1 John 3:4; Jas James 2:9-11 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.

Immersion into Christ pardons/forgives every sin (Acts 2:38), as if never violated the law (Heb. 10:17) Hebrews 10:17 then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Sin enslaves us to sin and its enticements (John 8:34; Rom Sin enslaves us to sin and its enticements (John 8:34; Rom. 6:12, 14, 16, 20-21; 2 Pet. 2:19) 2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:20-21 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. John 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Immersion into Christ frees one from the dominion of sin (Rom Immersion into Christ frees one from the dominion of sin (Rom. 6:17-18, 3-7, 11), as if never enslaved at all (John 8:36; Mark 10:45) Romans 6:17-18 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Sin separates us from God and a relationship with Him (Isa. 59:1-2; Hab. 1:13; Rom. 6:23) Isaiah 59:1-2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. Romans 6:23 (NKJV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Habakkuk 1:13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?

Immersion INTO Christ reconciles one back into a relationship with God through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:11-13; Gal. 3:27), as if never separated at all (Eph. 2:19-21) Ephe2:11-12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Sin brings the judgment and wrath of God upon us (Gen. 6:5-7) Genesis 6:5-7 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them."

Immersion into Christ saves one from the condemnation of sin and the wrath of God (1 Pet. 3:20-21; Rom. 5:9), as if never condemned at all (Rom. 8:1) Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

Why not be baptized today? To be washed from the filth of sin! To be pardoned from the guilt of sin! To be freed from the bondage of sin! To be reconciled from the separation of sin! To be saved from the condemnation of sin!