64) The Baptism That Saves

In this part of the sermon: Using a treasure hunt analogy, Martin frames the passage as a series of clues leading to the treasure of real salvation based on Christ's redemptive work and a good conscience…

The analogy of a treasure hunt with penultimate and final clues is used to explain how Peter's reasoning moves from Noah's salvation through water to baptism and then to the 'treasure' of real salvation.

If we were on a treasure hunt, and we realized that all of our looking at the clues and following the suggestion of the clues was with this end in view, that we were going to come to a bonafide treasure at the end of our hunt. I want you to imagine with me that you've come to the last two clues before the treasure itself. And you come to the penultimate clue, that is the second to the last clue. And you look at that clue and it gives you some hint as to where the next clue will be. And you follow it and lo and behold, you do come to the final clue. And then it points you to the treasure. You f...

14:28 - 15:14 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin establishes that the waters of the flood have a counterpart or similarity to the waters of Christian baptism, using the Greek word for 'likeness' and explaining Peter's…

The example of a plaster of Paris mold and the object it produces illustrates the Greek word for 'likeness' or 'counterpart' used by Peter to connect the flood waters and baptism.

No sooner has Peter written that Noah and his family were saved through or by means of water, verse 20, but that he uses a word which speaks of likeness or correspondence. If you were living in the ancient Greek world and you were to describe what you had between a plaster of Paris mold and the thing that came out of that mold, this is the word you would use. There is a correspondence, a likeness between the mold and the thing molded. just before the VBS someone who was involved in preparing the crafts for the children showed me this lovely little plaster of Paris

16:38 - 17:23 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin establishes that the waters of the flood have a counterpart or similarity to the waters of Christian baptism, using the Greek word for 'likeness' and explaining Peter's…

The analogy of seeing constellations in the night sky after long, concentrated reflection is used to explain how Peter, under the Spirit's influence, saw a deep connection between the flood and baptism.

They forget that the world then was overflowed with water. You see, Peter's mind dwelt long and deeply upon the subject of the flood. And it's like an illustrated site. What happens with you and me if we go out and we get out into a field where there isn't a lot of junk light?

21:59 - 22:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Folks, you can't get around it. The text says, baptism now saves you.

A brief, self-deprecating anecdote about an old 'White Owl' ad is used to lighten the mood before a difficult point about baptism effecting salvation.

Your feet may drag a little bit, but you're going to go with me. Remember the old white owl ad? Sooner or later we're going to get you. That's a horrible thing to use in the midst of preaching.

23:40 - 23:50 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In the thinking of the New Testament preachers and writers, the thing signified, salvation, and the sign of that, baptism, are so intertwined that there are times when they speak of the sign without even identifying or e…

The illustration of a father asking his daughter about an engagement ring is used to explain how the 'sign' (ring) can stand for the 'thing signified' (commitment to marriage).

Here's a father been praying that God would give his daughter a godly husband. And after a long wait and much prayer, there's been godly parental involvement and counsel in the whole process of acquaintance, serious courtship. and now one day the father says to his daughter dear when do you think John is going to put a ring on your finger?

29:58 - 30:24 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In the thinking of the New Testament preachers and writers, the thing signified, salvation, and the sign of that, baptism, are so intertwined that there are times when they speak of the sign without even identifying or e…

The story of an army's standard (flag) being rescued and raised to rally troops illustrates how a 'sign' (the colors) can be said to 'save the day' by representing the morale and vigor of the fighting force.

I was simply mentioning the ring as a sign of the thing signified. You all following me? All right, I'll give you another illustration. Back in the days when warfare was real warfare, hand-to-hand combat.

31:34 - 31:47 Read in full sermon