This Article: (2 Pages)
- 1. No deck chairs on Noah's Ark to... re-arrange
- 2. How is the Noah's Ark like Baptism?
2) How is the Noah's Ark like Baptism?
Baptism is immersion into water.
Water is everywhere, and once deep water covered the surface of the whole earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)
Creation began when the Spirit of the Mighty Ones moved upon the waters.
If the natural world was all deep water even the strongest human swimmer would eventually drown. This is what happened in the flood. But Peter says a few, that is 8 souls were saved by water.
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 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. The like figure whereunto 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: (1Peter 3:19-21)
In what way can we be saved by water? We can drown in water. Even in Baptism we are associated with death and symbolically 'die' by going down into the water,
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death (Romans 6:4)
So why does Peter say we are saved by water? Peter's point is that there is dis-obedience in the world
Peter says it was in this 'like figure' that Baptism saves us. He says it is not by the putting away of the 'filth', but by the answer of a good conscience, which is the desire to achieve the big picture. That is, we gladly are baptised wanting to be obedient, and not just because it is a means of putting away the 'filth' of lust. Noah was not saved because the flood destroyed all the evil, but he was saved because he desired to walk with Yahweh, and inherit the covenant even if that involved working hard.
Why did Noah have faith?
Why did Noah believe? Why did this belief cause him to start on this project that involved a tremendous amount of work?
The book of Hebrews states that he was 'moved by fear', because of his belief and he took action. He trusted the angel who told him what to do and why. Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah in his lifetime would have had contact with Adam, Seth and Enoch. Lamech, Noah's father, made a prophecy related to Noah at his birth. There was a long line of believers. There were also the prophecies of Enoch in existence, which are referred to in the book of Jude and in the Song of Moses.
Noah would have had trust, belief and faith in the original promises given to Adam and Eve, which related to the promised seed, the Messiah.
Grace was extended to Noah in the fact that he was told what was to happen. He then chose to take action to save the lives of his family, because he trusted that if he did as he was told, it would turn out well for him. So Noah, in the same way as us, was called upon to have both faith and works. Faith based on the evidence before him and works based upon the belief that God will do as he said he would.
Peter again returns to the idea of water for another illustration.
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men. (2Peter 3:3-7)
Today we wait for the day of judgment. Just as Noah did while he was building the Ark.
The water of baptism is an acknowledgement of our desire to become part of the future Kingdom and a recognition of our need of redemption
Paul gives us another application of water
as Christ also loved the congregation, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:25-26)
The Psalmist also gave this advice:
How shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed according to your word.(Psalm 119:9)
In our daily lives the Word is the means by which our minds are cleansed. In a world of violence, godlessness and evil, it is essential that we daily cleanse our minds with the washing of the Word of life.
We are saved by water.
We have been given the grace of an 'Ark' in Yeshua, but like Noah, we have still work to do.
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