Song Numbers

“The Like Figure” 1 Pet. 3:21

1 Pet. 3:18-22 [18] For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: [19] By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

[20] 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.

[21] 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:

[22] Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

The story of Noah’s salvation is most interesting --- most of all because it prefigures our salvation Noah’s salvation is a type of our salvation

Noah’s Salvation Our Salvation In world of sin Gen. 6:1-5 1 Jn. 5:19 [19] And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Noah’s Salvation Our Salvation Determined to do God’s will Gen. 7:5 [5] And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him. Determined to do God’s will Jn. 7:17 [17] If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

Noah’s Salvation Our Salvation Listened to God Gen. 6:9 “Noah walked with God” Amos 3:3 We must hear God – Christ Heb. 1:1-2

Heb. 1:1-2 [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Noah’s Salvation Our Salvation Believed God Heb. 11:7

Heb. 11:7 [7] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Noah’s Salvation Our Salvation Believed God Heb. 11:7 Believe Christ Jn. 8:24 [24] …for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Noah’s Salvation Our Salvation Obeyed God – Moved with fear Heb. 11:7 “in reverent fear” (ESV) We obey with deep reverence Rom. 2:4 Acts 17:30-31

Rom. 2:4 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

Acts 17:30-31 [30] And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: [31] Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

The Type and the Antitype

1 Pet. 3:21 (KJV) 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 Pet. 3:20-21 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited[a] in the days of Noah, 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,

“… the flood is the type and baptism is the antitype “… the flood is the type and baptism is the antitype. As the flood water saved (delivered) Noah and his family, so baptism now saves us. The salvation of Noah is thus made a type of the deliverance which the sinner receives when he passes through the waters of baptism.”

1) The waters of the flood bore up the ark and delivered Noah and his family from destruction 2) The flood waters separated those who were saved from those who were drowned.

3) The flood destroyed the evils of the old world and enabled Noah and his family to emerge into a new existence.

4) “Baptism designates the line of separation between the saved and the lost. In baptism the old man of sin is buried and from its watery grave one comes forth to walk in newness of life.”

Rom. 6:3-4 [3] Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

“The salvation is that which is NOW had; it now saves us “The salvation is that which is NOW had; it now saves us. That from which we are saved is past (alien) sins; there is no other means.”

“Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh” “…it is not the purpose of baptism to clean up the body. It is the body that is immersed in water, but it is the spirit that is baptized into Christ.”

“Baptism does not wash sin from then skin, and it is not to be confused with a bath for the body or a ceremonial cleansing of the flesh.” (Guy N. Woods)

“But the answer of a good conscience toward God” “Baptism is an act through which an individual seeks to manifest a good conscience. He indicates thereby that his conscience is sensitive, and that he is desirous of doing exactly what the Lord commanded.”

“by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” The power to save is found in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. These are the three foundational truths of the gospel (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

Baptism ‘doth also now save us’ only because Jesus was raised from the dead