Bible Lesson: Church Symbol- Ship

Bible Lesson: Symbols Of The Church Of Jesus Christ.

Church Symbol: Ship.

The Church, the vessel of faith, plies the turbulent wind, and waters of evil forces crashing against her, to capsize all on board, but her Captain, stands sure.

I Peter 3:18-22 AMP
18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,
19 In which He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
20 [The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God's patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few [people], actually eight in number, were saved through water.
21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
22 [And He] has now entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with [all] angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him.

This verse, so misrepresented, misunderstood, and misaligned, speaks of the following, (in order.)

1) Self-explanatory.
18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,

2)
20 [The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been (past tense) disobedient, when God's patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few [people], actually eight in number, were saved through water.

Christ, ("...in the spirit.",vs.19.."long before" vs.20; "...in the days of Noah..." vs20)
had (past tense) preached to (warned those before the flood, to turn from their sins- through Noah, II Peter 2:5 “...Noah..., a preacher of righteousness, ) the spirits (the rebellious spirits of the Ante-diluviums,) who now find them selves lost and imprisoned.)

Noah, and his wife, and his three sons and their wives were saved, on board the Ark.

NO! Absolutely, and Positively NO, this verse does not now say, or has it ever said, that Christs preaches in hell!

Once in hell and lost, there is, "No-Second Chance Salvation!"
Hebrews 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

3)
21 And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"And Baptism which is a figure,..."

A figure of what?
God's saving mercy, that built and ark, that kept eight souls, from judgment and death.

Does baptism, save?

WHAT AN AFFRONT TO THE PRECIOUS SON OF GOD!

Just think! That's all it takes.
Just think!
What a shame that the Lord Jesus had to come to earth, and suffer/ suffer/ suffer and die on a cross outside Jerusalem, when all one would have to do is just be sprinkled or dipped and they're saved and on their way to heaven.

What absolute devilish nonsense!
Judgment day, nears for those who misalign the Precious and Holy Word of God!
It has been well said,
The mills grind slowly indeed,
but they grind very fine!

Revelation 22:18,19 KJV
[18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
[19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

"And Baptism which is a figure,..."
Well, if baptism is a figure of those saved by God's mercy on board the ark, what does this mean?

Eight souls were on the ark, because....they, believed and lived for the Living God!

Genesis 6:8,9 KJV
[8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
[9] ...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

Because they were God's people, God saved them!
And He gave them the plans for the ark, so that they could escape the coming judgment.

That is what the ark, speaks of.
God, saving mercy, for His people!

Now, baptism, does not save any one Peter says so!
Baptism, is a sign a symbol, of something, it is a sign, a symbol of what has taken place in the life of the one to be baptized.
And what has taken place is that an individual has been regeneration by the Spirit of God.

That individual about to be baptized has received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour,
He is the one as in Noah's day, who saves!

MEN ARE NEVER, EVER SAVED BY ANY FORM OF EARTHLY WORKS, RELIGIOUS OR OTHERWISE!

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

And Oh, would men boast!
Academic Accomplishments
Blue Blood Nobility
Wealthy Heritage
Religious Fervor and Piety
Pious Pomp-and-Circumstance
Ritualistic Raucous without end.

John 10:7-11 KJV
[7] Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
[8] All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
[9] I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
[11] I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.

Isaiah 8:20 KJV
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

4) Self-explanatory.
22 [And He] has now entered into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with [all] angels and authorities and powers made subservient to Him.

Once more I Peter 3:18-20 in the NAS

I Peter 3:18-20 NAS
18. For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit ;
19. in which also He went and made proclamation (call to repentance) to the spirits (individuals who refused Him, and are) now in prison,
20. who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. (Not saved, by water, saved through the dangerous waters, by the ark.)
21. Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience (Baptism, and outward display, on an inward action: that of receiving Jesus Christ as Saviour.)-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22. who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Dear friend, the only place of safety, is in the ark.
The Ark of Salvation today, is the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son.

Psalm 37:39,40 KJV
[39] But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: He is their strength in the time of trouble.
[40] And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.

Isaiah 12:2 KJV
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my Salvation.

Acts 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (Jesus Christ) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Romans 5:8,9 KJV
[8] But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
[9] Much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Romans 10:8-10 KJV
[8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Friend, come on board, the ship of faith, call on the Lord Jesus, before it is too late.

See The Bible Prayer Line Index: Bible Lesson: Salvation Prayer