The Like Figure Whereunto Even Baptism Doth Also Now Save Us

Text reading: 1Peter 3:18-22 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffereing of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."

Text verse: (1Peter 3:21) "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:"

I. World ideas concerning Baptism
 a. Baptism essential to salvation
 b. Baptism of no importance (useless)

II. Figures: Types, representatives, counterparts.
 a. Illustrations
   1. Abel
   2. Passover
 b. Decreed observance of figures become ordinances
 c. Illustration: Passover - (Ex. 12:24) "And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever."
 d. Israel to be a peculiar people conditional on obedience.
 e. Church a peculiar people until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. - (1Peter 2:9) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:"
 f. Gave ordinances and statutes to Israel - Gave ordinances and statutes to Church.

III. Ordinance of Baptism
  a. Beginning of Baptism - (Matt. 3:1-2) "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
 b. John preached repentance - (Matt. 3:2) John preached believe on Christ - (Acts 19:4-5) "Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - John baptized unto repentance - (Matt. 3:11) "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

IV. Like Figure- i.e. Dead (wicked) buried ---Live (i.e. Noah and family) rose

V. Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh (moral pollution)
  a. (Isa. 53:4-5) "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
 b. (Isa. 53: 10-12) "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."

Response
VI. The answer of a good conscience
 a. (Heb. 9:13-14) "For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

VII. To walk in newness of life - (Rom. 6:1-11)
 a. Some try obedience by disobedience - (Luke 6:46) "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"  (Eph. 3:21) "Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Matt. 28:18-20) "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."