#68 The Connection Between the Ark and Baptism

The Book of Genesis Day 68 Ge 6:3 And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years." God doesn’t exercise judgment without warning, and here he sets D-day 120 years from the time He makes this statement. He is telling you and I that He alone knows the timetable of judgment. He alone knows who belong to Him through faith! 2Ti 2:19 says, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." The point being that God knew the world would reject the message of Noah which was embodied in the ark, and He was going to judge them 120 years hence.. Even righteous Noah wasn’t given a time and date for the actual flood. He was only told to build an ark. Every dowel, every spike, every pounding of the hammer was a sermon from Noah. 2Pe 2:5 says, “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;” The word “preacher” here “denotes one who is employed by God in the work of proclaiming salvation.” What does the ark have to do with salvation? Well, you better be on it when Judgment strikes or you won’t be saved! There is a very important segment of Scripture dealing with this truth in 1Pe 3:20,21. The Holy Spirit speaking through Peter speaking of the ark says, “while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” As Noah and his family were saved by the waters of the flood lifting them above the destruction, so the waters of baptism now lift us above destruction as well. The ark foreshadowed this truth. It was a type, but now baptism is the antitype, in other words it is the real deal! Just as sure as the ark saved Noah, so certain of a vehicle of salvation, is baptism in the New Covenant. It’s why baptism was such an integral part of the Gospel message! Think about the accounts of preaching in the New Testament, baptism was almost always included as a vital part of the message. Why do you think the Ethiopian Eunuch had the driver slam on the breaks when he came upon water? It was because Phillip had preached the full gospel (including the necessity of baptism) to the Eunuch and he knew it was vital to his salvation! Ac 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" No matter how hard we try, we cannot separate baptism from salvation. It is an integral part of the Great Commission given in Mt 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and re-emphasized in Mr 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. Baptism coupled with faith saves, and while pouring a little water on someone or dunking them underwater in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost seems a little odd to many. (Even to the point of mocking the act) I imagine many thought the sight of this huge boat on dry land was worth mocking as well……that is, until the first drops of rain occurred. Reflect: What do you do when the sirens go off? Ever have any close calls with natural disasters? If an antitype is the real deal, what can we learn about baptism in 1 Pet 3:21? What does it take to have a good conscience toward God? What then is removed in the act of baptism? Ac 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' Since we are sinners from conception on, who needs baptism? Pray: Thank You Lord for what You promise to do for us in baptism. We all need it! Grant us also the enduring faith that is necessary to be saved.