1 Corinthians 1:10-17

"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power."

Unity is found in the gospel and should be maintained for the gospel. We are so prone to group up and form clicks. We have our friends. They are most like us and we get along without much strife. But then sin enters in, and our camaraderie actually becomes a source of sin. We start excluding other people or looking down on other people because they aren’t just like us or they haven’t had the privileges that we have had.

This divisiveness reflects a lack of depth on our part. When we divide over trivial matters, we betray our sinful faithfulness to men over and above Christ. Our loyalties should be with Christ and the gospel, not with a group of friends or a dynamic leader. When our friends or leaders become so important to us that we are willing to quarrel or separate with other believers because of them, we have lost sight of what is really important, namely Christ and His redeeming work.

It is even possible for us to allow important issues to divide us unnecessarily. While the scripture does indicate that there are things worth dividing over, this passage indicates that there are things that are important but aren’t cause of division. Baptism is an important part of the Christian faith (though it is not as important as the gospel). There are positions on baptism that are contrary to the gospel; those issues are cause for separation. But the personalities involved in your baptism are not important. If you focus on people and not the gospel, even something as important as baptism can become an unnecessary cause for separation or prideful haughtiness. This is so heinous that Paul feels it necessary to de-emphasize the importance of baptism when compared to the unifying effects of the truth of the gospel.

Our lives should revolve around Christ and the gospel. This should be done in a way that directs all attention away from people (especially us), and focuses on the redemptive power of Christ in the life of a sinner. Christ is not divided, and His ambassadors should not be divided either.

1 Peter 3:20-22

“They formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 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, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.”

God showed patience during Noah’s time, waiting many years for Noah to finish the ark. When Noah was finished, judgment came, but Noah and the others with him were brought through the flood. Noah was saved because he found Grace in the sight of God. God was gracious to tell Noah what He was going to do and how to prepare for it. Noah responded by obediently building the ark.

We are saved through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God reveals Himself to us, bringing us to salvation. I am clean before God because of the Son, Who sits at the right hand of the Father. God showed Noah the way to salvation and Noah responded. When God reveals Himself to us, bringing us into a saving relationship with Himself, we should respond in obedience to him. Baptism should be our response. It does not cleanse me of my sin. It is the act of obedience, and it is given preeminence in this passage. God compares baptism to something that took years to accomplish and was used to sustain the human race.

Many say that baptism is the first act of obedience in the Christian’s life. I came to know Christ as a child but was not baptized until I was in university. I obeyed Christ many times before my baptism. Therefore, I rejected the statement that baptism was the first act of obedience. Perhaps it is the first act but just not the chronologically first act. Perhaps the first here is a first of importance.

Baptism is greatly important. It saves. It does not cleanse, but it is the natural response of one who is cleansed. And it is so closely linked to salvation that the passage actually says that it saves.