Part of HIS Plan!

Today I got soaked. It poured and poured down rain, but I wanted to get my walk in anyway. It wasn’t cold, but it sure was wet and it wasn’t long before I could hear my shoes making a squishing sound. The rain is good. It is part of God’s plan for plant, animal, and human life to exist. Without the rain we would have to deal with dust storms, lack of the bountiful greenery we enjoy here in the Northwest, lack of power generated from our hydroelectric dams, and a lack of WATER with which to bathe and drink. WATER is a necessary part of God’s plan to prevent the death of animal life, plant life, as well as human life. Our bodies need WATER. In fact we can live longer without food than we can without WATER. Therefore I don’t mind the rain. I’m glad it is a part of God’s plan.

WATER was a part of the plan during the days of Noah. By it God put to death the wicked while at the same time saving the life of Noah and his family. The rainbow in the sky reminds us of God’s promise to Noah following the flood. ( Genesis 9:12-17)

There is also WATER in God’s plan of salvation today. However, some have “watered down” God’s plan by leaving the WATER out? [Now, there’s a strange sounding concept.] While reminding his readers of God’s judgment at the time of Noah and His provision for the salvation of Noah and his family ( 1 Peter 3:20), Peter paralleled the picture to baptism today.

We read…
“(21) BAPTISM, WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THIS, 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, (22) who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” ( 1 Peter 3:21-22 ESV)

The fact Peter contrasted baptism with simply a washing of the dirt from the body (such as a bath) reveals he had WATER baptism in mind, but for the purpose of being united with Christ and the washing away of sins. (note also Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:3-4) As Peter in his preaching noted the need for repentance ( Acts 2:38 and 3:19) and the Scriptures also acknowledge the need for believing ( Acts 16:30-31), and confessing ( Romans 10:10), we must not forget that there is also WATER in the plan; baptism being an act of submission as we enter into a relationship with Christ by putting Him on. ( Galatians 3:26-27) Each one of these -- according the Scriptures -- is directly associated with Christ and the salvation we have through Him.

Again, noting Peter’s parallel between the salvation of Noah and ours, as there was both death (that of the wicked) and salvation (Noah and his
family) associated with the WATER then, with the WATER of baptism there is the death to self (or the old man) and sin that we may be alive to righteousness and God. (read Romans 6:5-14) Therefore let us remember it is God’s plan and He is the One Who included the WATER in it. Yes, WATER is necessary for life and life eternal!

Have a great day HAVING ACCEPTED GOD’S PLAN OF SALVATION!
Carl

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