Devotion

Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit…”

In today's lesson, we learn that baptism not only washes away our sins but also gives us eternal life.  Paul told Titus that Jesus saved us.  He also told him how Jesus was able to do that.  Baptism is the washing of regeneration that Paul was talking about.  Washing, of course, makes sense because water is used for washing and water is used in baptism.  But what is "regeneration"?  Generation is being born, so regeneration is being born again.  Jesus had told Nicodemus about rebirth in John 3.  It's really quite simple.  Our "new" person is born in baptism.  The "old" person is dead in sins, so we were dead and now are alive.

In today's lesson the work of baptism is compared to the flood.  Both use water, both have some people saved, both have something or someone die.   Some people think that baptism is something we do.  But it isn't.  We just apply the water, God washes away our sins and gives us eternal life.  

The Holy Spirit is given to us in baptism.  The renewal we get causes us to do the works that are listed in Titus 3:8 "This saying is trustworthy. And I want you to insist on these things, so that those who believe in God are intent on keeping busy with good works. These things are honorable and useful for the people."  God no longer sees the bad things listed in Titus 3:3 "For at one time we ourselves were also foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by many kinds of evil desires and pleasures, living in malice and jealousy, being hated[a] and hating one another. "

I Peter 3

The Suffering and Exaltation of Christ

17 Indeed, it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, 18 because Christ also suffered once for sins in our place,[k] the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you[l] to God. He was put to death in flesh[m] but was made alive in spirit,[n] 19 in which he also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison. 20 These spirits disobeyed long ago, when God’s patience was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. 21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee[o] of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 22 He went to heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

1. 1 Peter 3:18 Some witnesses to the text omit in our place.

2. 1 Peter 3:18 Some witnesses to the text read us.

3. 1 Peter 3:18 Here flesh is a reference to Christ’s state of humiliation. See Romans 1:3; 1 Timothy 3:16.

4. 1 Peter 3:18 Here spirit is a reference to Christ’s state of exaltation. See Romans 1:4; 1 Timothy 3:16.

5. 1 Peter 3:21 Or legal claim, or assurance

Questions.

The I Peter passage connects to the suffering he was talking about in vs. 13-16 In communion, we don't re-sacrifice Christ because he did it once.

Concerning Christ' proclamation in hell.  We believe, "4 For it is sufficient that we know that Christ descended into hell, destroyed hell for all believers, and delivered them from the power of death and of the devil, from eternal condemnation and the jaws of hell. But how this occurred we should [not curiously investigate, but] reserve until the other world, where not only this point [mystery], but also still others will be revealed, which we here simply believe, and cannot comprehend with our blind reason. " https://bookofconcord.org/epitome/ IX The Descent of Christ into Hell.  4.

Notes: