Flood, Baptism, Communion and Faith

1 Peter 3:18-22

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited 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, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him."

Noah was saved through flood water. We are saved through baptism water.

The real saving is done by God’s grace, and our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus. But God gives us signs and seals of that saving, and usually He uses them to apply the saving work of Christ to us. The Word rains down and waters the earth and doesn’t return void, Isaiah 55 says. The ark worked for all who went in – it kept Noah safe. Baptism works for all who believe – it washes us clean. This Supper works when we come in faith – it actually feeds our faith. Here is your door into the ark. You have the opportunity here to enter the ark of Christ with Noah.

Now, some honesty about the ark and about us. In here the air sometimes feels stuffy to us. Manna again? It’s all we ever get. Same routine week after week. Can’t do what we want, can’t do this, can’t do that. Can’t I just live a little? The siren song of the world calls to us, even as God shows us so clearly the judgment that sin brings. We still want what we want.

Instead, Let us thank and praise God for giving us a life raft, giving us a wonderful cup to drink, in place of the cup of wrath Jesus drank. Jesus drowned in God’s flood so you could survive to see the new creation He has for you.

2/16/14