Jesus suffered persecution and death for our sins so that we could be brought to God. As his followers, we should expect to face persecution just as he did for speaking the truth. In Noah's time, only eight people including Noah were saved from God's judgment despite Noah preaching God's message for 120 years, enduring ridicule. Baptism symbolizes our public commitment to follow Christ regardless of consequences as the early Christians did.

1. September 9, 2009

2. 1 Peter 3 17 For it is better, if the Will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit : Jesus is our example; we must follow Him. He suffered for sins, even though He never sinned. He paid the price for the sins of men . "The Just for the unjust."

3. John 15 (Jesus) 20 Remember the Word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My Saying, they will keep yours also. People who don't love Jesus, won't love His followers, If we are true followers.

4. If we are suffering no persecution , we ain't doing it right. When we are as bold as Jesus was , As bold as the apostles were, To speak Truth , We will suffer persecution, just as they did.

6. 19 By Which (The Holy Spirit, Which brought Him back to life) also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. In Noah, the Spirit of Christ preached for 120 years that men might be delivered from destruction. Only eight souls were saved, and that includes Noah.

7. All those disobedient souls are now captives of hell, from which there is no redemption. Genesis 6 3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Those who reject God's Message and His messengers will suffer the consequences.

8. Noah willingly endured persecution -- ridicule and rejection -- to proclaim God's Word. He and his family were saved .

9. 21 The like figure whereunto (that is a picture of) even baptism doth also now save us ( not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.

10. The act of public baptism would “save” them from the temptation to sacrifice their good consciences in order to avoid persecution. For a first-century Christian, baptism meant he was following through on his commitment to Christ, regardless of the consequences. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty

11. Many today take too lightly their commitment to follow Jesus after they are saved. Very few will suffer inconvenience, much less persecution. Very few are bold to speak Truth in the face of opposition.

12. 22 Who is gone into Heaven, and is on the Right Hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.