We find natural events taking place in the Bible that are a
metaphor (symbolic) of spiritual events that later take place.
"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 to save those
that entered from God's judgment by water, Jesus is the spiritual door to enter
the church to save us from God's judgment by fire.
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved..." - John 10:9 KJV
"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 judgment and perdition
of ungodly men." - 2 Peter 3:6-7 KJV (see also: 2Thessalonians 1:7-10)
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. (Acts 2:38, Acts 2:47, John
10:10)
Peter compares the natural, the water in the days of Noah,
and the spiritual, the water in baptism in Jesus name.
"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
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