"Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual." - 1 Corinthians 15:46 KJV

The event of Noah and the flood is a metaphor of the church and water baptism

God told Noah to build the ark with one door.

"A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it." - Genesis 6:16 KJV

While the door in the ark was a natural door, Jesus is the spiritual door to enter the church.

"Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." - John 10:7-10 KJV

We enter the church through Jesus by water baptism in Jesus name. By covenanting with Jesus by repentance and water baptism in Jesus name, we are saved. When we are baptized in Jesus name, He promises the gift of His Spirit. We find life, and have it more abundantly.  

Peter compares the natural, the water in the days of Noah, and the spiritual, the water in baptism.

"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:" - 1 Peter 3:20-21 KJV

Just as water washed away a wicked world in the days of Noah, water washes away our sins in baptism in Jesus name. And just as eight souls – Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives – were saved by water because they went into the ark, lifted above the death that the rest of the world faced from their sin, we are saved by water because we come into the church by baptism in Jesus name, lifted above the death that the rest of the world faces from their sin.

"And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;" - 2 Peter 2:5 KJV

We are saved by water baptism in Jesus name. Our sins are remitted by water baptism in Jesus name.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." - Mark 16:16 KJV

"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." - Acts 22:16 KJV