1 Peter 3: 18-22
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, through whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed 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, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the ressurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand–with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
A Thought
Christ, the righteous One, died for the sins of all people past, present and future to bring those who will obey him back into a right relationship to God. Although Christ died for our sins in his fleshly body, he was made alive by the Spirit. By the Spirit, Christ preached to the spirits in prison. In the days of Noah, God waited patiently while Noah in obedience built the ark that God used to save Noah and his family through the water. Water baptism was a symbol of a pledge of a good conscience by Noah toward God in the same manner that it is for us today. We will be saved by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who now sits at the right hand of God and making intercession for us, with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for the forgiveness of our sins made possible by the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Thank you that Christ in his righteousness interceeds for each of us. Thank you for our water baptism that is a symbol of our good conscience toward you. Thank you for your Spirit that raised Christ from the dead and will also resurrect all who are in Christ at his appearing. We desire to be in a right relationship with you in Jesus’ name, amen.
