Q&A
Q: What does this verse mean when it says “baptism saves you”? (1 Peter 3:21)
A: The wording is tricky, making it difficult to understand, and this is a particularly mysterious part of scripture. I know of at least 3 or 4 different interpretations. I think the key word here is that baptism “corresponds” to what happened with Noah – Noah was brought safely through the judgment waters on his ark (symbolizing Christ). Baptism symbolizes passing through death, through judgment, into life, dying with Christ and being raised. He is saying this is the illustration, not the means of salvation. I think that’s why he makes it a point to mention that it is “not a removal of dirt” to clarify.
Q: What do you think of the quote “God always answers prayers, but sometimes the answer is no?”
A: Let me ask you this: Is it possible to be outside of the will of God in prayer? Paul prayed three times for the thorn in his flesh to be removed, but God told him His grace is sufficient. I don’t like the way this quote sounds, but I think it is possible to pray outside of God's will. I guess you could word it like this: If you are truly praying in faith, God will do it.
Some thoughts on Acceptable Sacrifices in the gospels:
I’ve been really blown away with Christ and the way he interacts with various individuals lately; the way he viewed things compared with the way the disciples and others viewed things. Tonight I want to talk a little bit about the sacrifices that are acceptable to Christ.
Luke 7:36-50 (The Woman with the Alabaster Flask Anointing Jesus)
If you can imagine this scene, Jesus is at this man’s house with these Pharisees. You could compare it to a group of super conservative people all dressed up in fancy clothes, and this woman comes in probably dressed like a prostitute using the perfume on Jesus that she probably used to entice men. A very scandalous scene.
This is a pretty amazing account. The first sacrifice Jesus accepts is the sacrifice of brokenness.
“For you will not delight in sacrifice…you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17)
You could keep all the religious requirements of the law perfectly, but that wouldn’t cut it. The sacrifice of God is a humble, repentant heart.
Though in reality they are all equally guilty before God, her sin was more evident for everyone to see. But she was humble and broken, which is more pleasing to God than self-righteousness in law keeping.
Mark 14:3-9 (Woman at Bethany with an Alabaster Flask Anointing Jesus)
The disciples had no idea that thousands of years later people would still be talking about this.
They are scolding her and mocking her, but Jesus is saying that this is really important and they are missing the whole point!
Vs. 8 “She has done what she could...”
Jesus won’t despise the sacrifice of giving him whatever it is that we have to offer.
Mark 12:41-44 (The Widow's Offering)
No one would probably have noticed this little widow, but Jesus points her out to his disciples.
Jesus values true sacrificial giving.
This story means that all national attention and media can be on someone like Bill Gates giving thousands of dollars to charities, but it doesn’t mean anything to God. If it is not a true sacrifice, just for show, not costing you anything, then it does not compare to the poorest believer in Bangladesh giving all he has.
Mark 3:1-6 (The Man with a Withered Hand)
They hate Jesus so much and are so bent on the Sabbath that they can’t have mercy on this poor man who probably was poor and couldn’t work because of his hand.
“Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)
The last thing I want to point out is the sacrifice of compassion.
The Bible says to obey is better than sacrifice. Obeying God is better than doing some religious duty.
If you are very diligent with your time you may guard your reading time or prayer time very strictly. But what if you are on your way to spend that time with God and you see your roommate crying? Do you just pass by? What about loving your neighbor?
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