1 Peter 3:18-22
New International Version
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive,[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Tuesday - June 22
As we saw yesterday, faith is trust or belief in a word from God. Without a word from God you cannot have faith. Faith needs something to believe in, which is exactly what happens in baptism! As Peter highlights, holy baptism is linked to the flood in Noah’s day. It is more than symbolic. Baptism actually saves us! Why? Because in baptism you get an actual promise from God. You are baptized in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is YOUR God. In baptism, you are united to Christ, the better Noah, who takes you through the flood waters of death to the salvation eternal life (see tomorrow’s devotion on Romans 6)! In other words, baptism makes you like Noah’s family. You get to go along for the ride because the word of God’s promise has been given to you! By faith you climb on board the ark.