The Days of Noah
Jesus said His return shall be as it was in the days of Noah, Matthew 24:37, and Luke 17:26. The days of Noah were not good. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually, Genesis 6:5. Now, that is not good. Thus were the days of Noah; a world so evil, God flooded the earth. So the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, Genesis 6:7. Thus it will happen when Jesus returns.
The days of Noah will be repeated. Along with God’s promise of worldwide judgment, came His promise of salvation. Grace in the midst of judgment. Mercy along with justice. Then and later. For Noah found grace (favor) in the eyes of the LORD, Genesis 6:8. We should be thankful for the grace and mercy of God. And that God keeps His promises.
It was grace that made the ark possible. It was God’s promise that prompted Noah and his family to build and enter the ark. But I will establish My covenant with you. And you shall go into the ark, Genesis 6:18. Noah trusted God and his faith saved him and his family. It is grace that allows faith to save us. It is faith that causes you to trust in God. For your salvation and the salvation of your family. Salvation is personal. Faith is not private; it is public. Faith causes friends and family to enter the ‘ark.’
It is Peter who brings the ark forward into the new covenant: The longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water, 1 Peter 3:20. It is Peter who draws the similarities of our salvation in Christ to the ark. Verse 21: There is also an antitype which now saves us, namely 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.
When we identified with the death of Christ in our baptism, Jesus became our ‘ark.’ When He was raised from the dead, we were given life. For this is the promise of God to those who believe. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name, John 1:12. Noah found favor in the eyes of God. As did you when you believed, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:22-23. Baptism is more than just getting dunked in water. It is the antitype, the shadow, the prefiguring of the washing of regeneration of the Spirit, Titus 3:5.
