For As Many Of You As Have Been Baptized Into Christ Have Put On Christ - Part 2192

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." (I Corinthians 10:1-4)

These scriptures were part of apostle Paul's writings to the believers in Corinth -- speaking of Noah and how he and his family were saved by water. At that time, there were eight persons in total saved from the rains that flooded the world. As Paul alludes, the example of Noah and the ark is an important thread into salvation in the new testament. Let me explain.

Before the flood, onlookers resisted God's warning. Instead, they mocked and scoffed at God, pushing sin right to the edge. As in many other examples, the people worshipped other gods, but not the One and Only God who blessed them. The scripture from II Chronicles 36:16 comes to mind. "... but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till [there was] no remedy."

Prior to the earth being flooded, the people who eventually drowned were more than aware that Noah was preparing an ark. In fact, the ark had been 100 years in the making. The problem (apparently!) was that there was no water around to verify Noah's rationale for building an ark. This, in and of itself, led the onlookers thinking that Noah was over the edge. Still, Noah continued preparing the Ark according to the blueprints that God had provided him. And an ark Noah and his sons did build.

And the Lord said unto Noah, "Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation. Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth." And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood." (Genesis 7:1-7)

There is much more herein, but the point being made is that Noah's experience sort of puts one in remembrance of the words spoken at the cross by those who mocked JESUS. They mocked Jesus too saying that He saved others but He could not save Himself. "If you are the Son of God," they said, "come on down from that cross!" But as we know now, Jesus was THE ARK OF SAFETY being prepared for our salvation.

You see, all future events were determined of God (when He counselled with Himself). This includes a criteria for redemption if Adam’s sin-prone fallen race were ever to be redeemed from a lost eternity. So, as it was in Noah's day, God provided an Ark of safety for those that believed in Him. And at the appointed time God closed the door of the Ark. The rains came, and water which had originally been no place in sight, became the SAVING means for those eight individuals in the Ark.

On the downside, the rain water led to the destruction of those outside the ark. The scriptures declare the afore-mentioned events as a figure of baptism. Water saved Noah and his family, who were now safe in the ark. The good news for us today is that we too have an opportunity to enter into the ark of safety - abiding in the Lord Jesus (in His death; burial; and resurrection). We are safe too because we willingly and gladly submit to what the Word of God tells us to do.

That is, according to Acts chapter 2 (which marked the beginning of the New Testament church), to repent and be baptized into the Name of Lord JESUS. He being the New Testament door of entry into the ark. As Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)

Yes, JESUS is the One and Only Door to salvation. There are not two doors or multiple doors into heaven but One Only and that is through this same Jesus -- who is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-41) Indeed, there is only one name whereby any one can be saved -- the Name of JESUS. For Jesus is the Name above every other name. (Philippians 2:9) Jesus is the only name whereby we must be saved in this current dispensation of grace. (Acts 4:12)

In previous presentations, scriptural examples of water baptism by immersion were cited. For those of you who may not yet have had an opportunity to read them, we'll cover some of those references again.

Do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into JESUS the Christ were baptized into His death? For as many as have been baptized into JESUS the Christ, they have put on JESUS the Christ. (Romans 6:3-4; Acts 2:38; Acts 10:44-48; Galatians 3:27) This is where we are changed to be like Him. We are raised up to be like the second Adam, who is the Lord of glory.

Further, in the New Testament, we read that the apostles baptized believers the very same day, including Paul by Ananias after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. The apostles were the forerunners of this faith. The faith that is now been delivered to believers who of God are called to be saints. For example, Philip went to Samaria and delivered to them words whereby they could be saved. As a consequence, these new believers obediently were baptized into the Name of the LORD JESUS.

The Philipian jailer and his household were also baptized the same night as they believed. Paul was instructed to arise and to be baptized, thereby washing away his sins whilst he called upon the Name of the Lord JESUS.

Cornelius as well was commanded along with his household to be baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Twelve of John the baptizer's converts were baptized into the Name of the Lord JESUS.
The Ethiopian eunuch said, "Lo, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized? For there is water here." So he, along with Philip went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

The same apostle's doctrine displayed in the early church is equally relevant and required for us today. We are to abide in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- being circumcised in our hearts and our robes washed in His precious, holy name.

Most of all, we need to understand that today is the day of your salvation. Today is the day to Hear His voice and come unto Him, for He shall save you from your sins. Stand in the offering plate.