1 Peter 3:18-22
18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.
21And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
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The season of Lent, whether we’re ready to hear it or not, reminds us of our mortality and our propensity to sin. Each and every one of us fall into this tendency; we make mistakes, we hurt others, we act in our own self-interest instead of the well-being of all. This happens on an individual level, but also on a communal and corporate level.
And despite our best intentions and efforts, our own righteousness will never bring us into right relationship with God. We are not able to remove the dirt from our own bodies.
Thankfully, we are not reliant on our own righteousness to receive God’s love and our salvation in heaven. Jesus, through his life, death, and resurrection, secures this for us. And it’s through God’s goodness and in our baptisms that we are washed clean in water and Word, sealed with the cross of Christ forever. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Merciful God, you know our suffering because you suffered yourself. And while we see our sin within ourselves, you see your Spirit. Proclaim your good news to us through this season, that we would cling to the gift, promise, and hope that you grant to us through our baptisms. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
—Pastor Joe Orner