Contradiction or Confirmation (conclusion)

Baptism and 'The Ark'

1 Peter 20,21 “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 of the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ”

It has been the intention of this work to show the necessity of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ as a vital part of salvation. The above verse clearly contains the statement “baptism doth also now save us”. We do not hold the view that baptism as an independent act outside of the elements of; faith, believing, repentance, and Spirit indwelling, will bring salvation. The physical act of baptism must be representative of an internal faith in the complete work of Jesus Christ, in His death, burial and resurrection. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”, Mark 16:16. Baptism alone does not save us for, “He that believeth not shall be damned”, Mark 16:16. Men who are baptized in a condition of unbelief do nothing more than “put away the filth of the flesh”, or they are simply taking a bath.

Baptism is a fulfillment or the substance of a shadow, or type, found in the Old Testament. The water and ark in the account of Noah’s deliverance find their anti-type in New Testament baptism. The purpose of the ark was to provide for Noah and his family a place of preservation from the waters of the flood. They entered into the ark, leaving behind them the old world so full of sin. They did this before the rains fell, and remained in the ark throughout the period of the flood. Only when the waters receded did they leave the shelter of the ark and enter into a new world, one without the terrible stain of sin upon it. 

The purpose of the water was important when we relate it to baptism:

1. The water served to destroy the sin and corruption of the creation that man had so tainted by rebellion against God.
2. The water served as a means of judgement and cleansing of all of the sinful elements that were such an abomination to God.
3. The water provided for Noah and his family a different and new world.
4. The water also served to lift the ark up and above the destruction that was taking place according to the judgement of God.
5. The water allowed for the purpose of the ark to be fulfilled.
6. The water, even though it served as a means of destruction, it also served as a means of salvation.
7. The ark protected Noah from the work that the water was doing, even though the water was the element that lifted the ark above the destruction

Without the waters of cleansing, the ark would have been a useless work of wood.

The principle is carried through into New Testament baptism as preached by the apostles. Baptism puts us into Christ, our ark. The water washes us, cleanses us and destroys the corrupted, fallen nature. This allows us to enter into a cleansed and new creation in Christ Jesus, where we as new creatures can exist. Without this watery passage, one cannot enter into the state of being a new creature in Christ. As we join ourselves to Christ, we then follow Him to the watery grave where the destruction and burial of old things takes place. As Noah entered into the ark and then into the rising waters, so we are put into Christ through our faithful obedience to the command of baptism, (Galatians 3:27).

Peter also explains the baptism is an act of a good conscience toward God. This is possible as a man in a fallen state has consciousness of few spiritual realities except for the fact that he is a sinner. Through the preached word, a man deadened spiritually can be quickened to the point of decision to follow and obey God according to the words of faith he has received. The will of such a man will desire to obey the Spirit of God, which speaks through the conscience. The man will therefore be baptized, not simply because it is a church oracle, but because it is the answer of a good conscience toward God. Those that refuse to be baptized or deny the necessity of baptism are denying the work of their own conscience. Keeping and obeying the commandments of God is a sign of love, from a disciple to his God (John 14: 21, 22, 24).

The inspired Word of God records the command to the Gentiles to be baptized in Jesus Name. As New Testament believers, we must likewise exercise ourselves in obedience to this commandment from God. Lack of obedience will bring defilement to a man’s conscience. This will cause the man to begin to regress to his former deadened state. Obedience, on the other hand, purifies the conscience of a believer through the blood of Jesus Christ. This blood is continuously applied to a man who is walking in full obedience to Christ (Hebrews 9:14). A quickened conscience in a true believer will cause that believer to submit himself in total obedience to the commands of God contained in his Word. This includes the command to Gentiles (as we ourselves are) to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Men have denied such aspects of the Word of God in the past and found themselves far from God. What causes this separation between a man who wants to serve God, and God Himself? Failure to obey the commands of God. God speaks through the conscience of man, an element of the spirit of man. God does not work through the flesh, or the natural man. The things pertaining to God are spiritually discerned. When one resists the leading of the conscience, as God speaks, he limits God’s dealings. This will, if not checked and corrected, take the man far from God. We need to obey the Word of God, and we need to respond to what is the good answer of our consciences toward God; baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.