It is such a blessing being born again. Born not of corruptible seed as one might imagine, but of incorruptible seed, and by the Word of God. This is the Word of the Lord which by the gospel is delivered to you. Indeed, it is this same gospel in which the Word of the Lord endures forever.
In Noah's day, as you will recall from the scriptures, people watched, scoffed and mocked the ark that Noah was building. Still, Noah kept on working because he knew that God was in charge. Throughout the 100 years that the ark was under construction, Noah worked while God directed the project. Noah also worked as unto the Lord, preparing an ark of safety - a haven.
Throughout that time, Noah continued also to preach to the people of God's purposeful plan for their lives -- the same people "which sometime were disobedient, when once the long suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." (I Peter 3:20)
" ... and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." (II Peter 2:5)
"For this [is] as the waters of Noah unto Me: for [as] I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." (Isaiah 54:9)
As we know, the then generation carried on living as if the world as they knew it would last forever. They were completely oblivious to the fact that men and women are only one heart beat away from eternity. Considered a different way, we at least recognize that when we are going on a long journey, we will need to allow some time to pack a suitcase. It is the same scenario in our human life. At the end of our life road is God. And eternity is eternity. We are on a one way ticket and as such, only we can choose the direction we take.
Still, this same God remains on the long suffering sideline, being ignored as if this wonderful created intelligent world was created by dumb matter, or a sudden blast out of nothingness. Rather than understand God's unique purpose for our lives, they willingly put God on the back burner. In fact, let's party - eat, drink, sex, leaving the natural use of a woman preferring to substitute their perverted orgies - all the time pretending to have a good time. As it was society in Noah's time, so it is now.
Noah, heeding God’s warning that a catastrophe was imminent was preparing an escape route. Preparing an ark. Looking back historically, we know that the flood did happen even if people of that generation refused to recognize the writing on the wall. As instructed by the Lord, Noah loaded the ark with creatures of every size. He rounded up 7 pairs of domestic animals, 1 pair of wild animals and he put them on board along with his family. His family consisted of eight persons. When everyone was on board, God Himself closed the ark door. The rain started. And did it rain. It rained so much that all earth and the life therein was destroyed. Indeed, for forty days and forty nights it rained.
The point worth noting here is this. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The scripture saith that the ark is Jesus, and the door or entrance into the ark is accomplished when our being is buried or baptized into His death. When we are buried/baptized under the water, our old sinful past life is drowned. When we arise out of the water, we are resurrected to a new life. For when we are resurrected with Him, not only are we resurrected, but we arise totally justified from all our sins.
Further, water baptism is similar to the time when the children of Israel in the old covenant crossed the river. It is said that in so doing, they were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Reaching the other river bank in safety, while the Egyptians endeavouring to do the same all drowned in the water. It is evident that they were not in the ark of safety.
Today, believers are baptized into the death of Jesus. He is the covenant of promise, the ark of safety where believers are saved by God. Not because they were deserving of salvation and neither was it because that they had cleaned up their fleshly conduct. Rather, it was because they reverently feared and believed that God had prepared an ark of safety for them. As believers then, their faith was expressed by their baptism into the death of Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Holy Ghost. Again, the ark of safety. These believers simply put their lives into the hands of a faithful, loving Saviour. They trusted in Him as young children believe and trust their earthly parents.
Additionally, when the believers were baptized, they knew in whom they had faith, and as a consequence, they were not baptized in any other name. They were not baptized into Peter, Paul or the name of another. And most certainly never into the titles that so many churches declare. Rather, as every example of water baptism in the scriptures prove, their salvation is secure in the precious, holy Name of Jesus. As such, they passed from the old covenant of death and entered into the grace of God - and into an abundant life. You can come and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus too.
As we know, the then generation carried on living as if the world as they knew it would last forever. They were completely oblivious to the fact that men and women are only one heart beat away from eternity. Considered a different way, we at least recognize that when we are going on a long journey, we will need to allow some time to pack a suitcase. It is the same scenario in our human life. At the end of our life road is God. And eternity is eternity. We are on a one way ticket and as such, only we can choose the direction we take.
Still, this same God remains on the long suffering sideline, being ignored as if this wonderful created intelligent world was created by dumb matter, or a sudden blast out of nothingness. Rather than understand God's unique purpose for our lives, they willingly put God on the back burner. In fact, let's party - eat, drink, sex, leaving the natural use of a woman preferring to substitute their perverted orgies - all the time pretending to have a good time. As it was society in Noah's time, so it is now.
Noah, heeding God’s warning that a catastrophe was imminent was preparing an escape route. Preparing an ark. Looking back historically, we know that the flood did happen even if people of that generation refused to recognize the writing on the wall. As instructed by the Lord, Noah loaded the ark with creatures of every size. He rounded up 7 pairs of domestic animals, 1 pair of wild animals and he put them on board along with his family. His family consisted of eight persons. When everyone was on board, God Himself closed the ark door. The rain started. And did it rain. It rained so much that all earth and the life therein was destroyed. Indeed, for forty days and forty nights it rained.
The point worth noting here is this. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The scripture saith that the ark is Jesus, and the door or entrance into the ark is accomplished when our being is buried or baptized into His death. When we are buried/baptized under the water, our old sinful past life is drowned. When we arise out of the water, we are resurrected to a new life. For when we are resurrected with Him, not only are we resurrected, but we arise totally justified from all our sins.
Further, water baptism is similar to the time when the children of Israel in the old covenant crossed the river. It is said that in so doing, they were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Reaching the other river bank in safety, while the Egyptians endeavouring to do the same all drowned in the water. It is evident that they were not in the ark of safety.
Today, believers are baptized into the death of Jesus. He is the covenant of promise, the ark of safety where believers are saved by God. Not because they were deserving of salvation and neither was it because that they had cleaned up their fleshly conduct. Rather, it was because they reverently feared and believed that God had prepared an ark of safety for them. As believers then, their faith was expressed by their baptism into the death of Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Holy Ghost. Again, the ark of safety. These believers simply put their lives into the hands of a faithful, loving Saviour. They trusted in Him as young children believe and trust their earthly parents.
Additionally, when the believers were baptized, they knew in whom they had faith, and as a consequence, they were not baptized in any other name. They were not baptized into Peter, Paul or the name of another. And most certainly never into the titles that so many churches declare. Rather, as every example of water baptism in the scriptures prove, their salvation is secure in the precious, holy Name of Jesus. As such, they passed from the old covenant of death and entered into the grace of God - and into an abundant life. You can come and be baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus too.
As apostle Peter (standing with the eleven) said to the first 3,000 souls saved on the day of Pentecost, "This same JESUS whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ." (Acts 2:36)
Yes, He will wash away your sins. Yes, He will make you anew. Yes, He will sanctify you in His precious blood. His Word. Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17)
Thus, call on His name this day - the name of JESUS so that you also can become a recipient of God's grace and receive the gift of God’s holy Spirit dwelling within. His Name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS.
Yes, He will wash away your sins. Yes, He will make you anew. Yes, He will sanctify you in His precious blood. His Word. Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17)
Thus, call on His name this day - the name of JESUS so that you also can become a recipient of God's grace and receive the gift of God’s holy Spirit dwelling within. His Name in this current dispensation of grace is JESUS.
"I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life!" (John 14:6)
Peace to all who are in Jesus. Stand in the offering plate.
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