We have been studying the Old Testament by studying the typology of the main characters in it.  We have seen Adam as a foreshadow of Jesus Christ, Cain and Abel as a foreshadow of Israel and the Lord Jesus Christ, and Enoch as the foreshadow of a New Testament Christian alive at the Rapture.  Today we’re studying how Noah condemned the world and is, thus, the type of a Christian who is separated from the world.

Notice the difference between Noah and his generation.  The wickedness of man was great in the earth, Gen 6:5-7.  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  He was a just man and perfect and he walked with God, Gen 6:8-9.  Also, he was righteous, Gen 7:1.  Noah’s testimony should be our testimony.

When God decided to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, Gen 6:17, he told Noah to build an ark to save his house and every living thing of all flesh, Gen 6:18-19.  And by faith he prepared the ark, Heb 11:7.  In so doing, Noah “condemned the world, and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith”.

The ark is a type of Christ.  It was the only place of refuge from the wrath of God, and Jesus is the only way of salvation, Acts 4:12, Jn 14:6.  It had only one door, Gen 6:17, and Jesus is the only door, Jn 10:9.  Noah was invited to come in the ark, Gen 7:1, and we are invited to come unto Jesus, Matt 11:28-30.  In the ark his house was also saved, Gen 7:1, and likewise, through Christ our house can be saved, Acts 16:31.  In the ark they were shut in, Gen 7:16, and likewise we are “hid with Christ in God”, Col 3:3.  We are “kept by the power of God”, 1 Pet 1:5.

When we are in Christ, we should live separated from the world.  But because of our separation, we are going to be hated by the world and we’ll suffer for righteousness, 1 Pet 3:14.

In 1 Pet 3:14-4:5, we see the attitude of the world toward a sanctified Christian.  Notice their terror, v.3:14.  They speak evil of you, v.3:16 and v.4:4, and they think it strange that ye run not with them, v.4:4.  Our attitude should be that we sanctify the Lord in our hearts, v.3:15, that we are ready to give an answer to every man, v.3:15, that we have a good conscience, v.3:16, that we maintain a good conversation, v.3:16, that we suffer for well doing, v.3:17, and that we cease from sin, v.4:1-3.

When we live apart from the world, we are like Noah who was a preacher of righteousness, 2 Pet 2:5, when God brought “the flood upon the world of the ungodly”.  As a preacher of righteousness Noah condemned the world.

While studying this passage in 1 Pet 3, we must discern the comparison of the flood with baptism, which Peter mentions in 1 Pet 3:20-22.  The expressions we need to understand are “eight souls were saved by water” and “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us”.  Because of so much incorrect teaching regarding baptism and salvation, many believe that baptism is the means of salvation, which it is not, and use this text to prove it.

Look carefully at the verses.  “In the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved…”. It is evident that the eight souls (Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their three wives) were saved from the flood by being in the ark, Heb 11:7, Gen 7:16-18.  But 1 Pet 3:20 says, “eight souls were saved by water”.  This could only mean that they were saved by the flood from those who spoke evil of them and falsely accused them, 1 Pet 3:16.  The flood destroyed all the wicked, Gen 6:13, and the world of the ungodly, 2 Pet 2:5.

This is a figure of how baptism saves us from the world of the ungodly.  It does’t put away the filth of the flesh, like Noah’s flood did.  But it does give us the answer of a good conscience toward God, which we need, 1 Pet 3:16.  And just like the ark lifted Noah and his house above the wicked who were then destroyed by the flood, so the resurrection of Jesus Christ lifts us up above the wicked who will be destroyed by flaming fire when Jesus returns, 2 Thes 1:7-9.

This is why Peter calls baptism a “figure”.  If baptism could really save us, then the correct method of baptism, based on this text, would be to float in a boat above the water in the baptistery.  Obviously, this is not correct.

When we are baptized, we, in essence, condemn the world like Noah condemned the world by his righteousness.  As he submitted to the command to build an ark, so we are to submit to the command to be baptized, Matt 28:19.  Yet, many Christians struggle with this.  Catholics will often say, “If I believe Jesus by faith and get baptized, that means all my relatives are in hell or are going to hell”.  Thus, so many will not get saved and be baptized.  They don’t want to “condemn the world” like Noah did.  And they can’t take the terror and trouble, 1 Pet 4:14, that their family would cause them if they decided to trust Christ by faith.

Like Noah, we should be preachers of righteousness even if it means that we will suffer for doing this.  Like Noah condemned the world, we should not be afraid to condemn the world by our lives and our testimony.  In so doing, just like Noah “became the heir of righteousness which is by faith”, we will become “joint-heirs with Christ”, Rom 8:17-18.

To study the prior lesson in this series, see Enoch Never Died. To study the next lesson, see Nimrod a Type of Antichrist.