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A Few Saved By Water
Last week we considered Noah’s salvation by grace through faith. Let's look at a few more lessons we all need to learn from the salvation of Noah and his family.
SAVED BY WATER. The apostle Peter records by the Holy Spirit, "...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 (I Peter 3:20, emp LS). The flood of water raised up eight souls from a corrupt and wicked world and brought them to a cleansed new world. Would that water have accomplished this had Noah and his family not built and entered the ark? NO! Was Noah and his family saved by water only? NO!
Many folks want to accuse the Lord's people, that teach what Jesus taught about baptism (Mark 16:16), that we believe we are saved by water only. This my friend is just not so! Without obeying ALL that Jesus says (hearing the Gospel Romans 10:17; believing the Gospel Mark 16:16; repenting of sins Acts 2:38; confessing Christ Romans 10:9-10; being baptized Acts 2:38; and living faithful Revelation 2:10) one cannot be saved from their sins and will be lost forever in torment. There is more to becoming a Christian than just being baptized.
The apostle Peter says further, "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21, emp LS). Was Peter teaching that all one must do is be baptized? NO! Is the apostle saying baptism is necessary in order to be saved? YES! My friend, the honest heart will receive and do ALL that God commands.
FEW SAVED. One of the most shocking of lessons that we learn from Noah and his family is that only eight (8) souls (Genesis 7:23; I Peter 3:20) were saved out of a populated world. Jesus reminds us all to, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14, emp LS).
NONE ESCAPE GOD’S WRATH. Not a single living soul was left upon the earth except Noah and his family (Genesis 7:23). God's judgment is thorough. The Day of Judgment is coming (2 Corinthians 5:10) – ALL will be there – NONE will escape. Are YOU prepared?
Noah and his family were greatly blessed in obeying God. They were saved from the flood and afterwards God blessed them (Genesis 9:1) and promised no more earth destroying floods (Genesis 9:8-17). My friend, God is waiting and longing to bless each one of us (Revelation 22:14). Are there any Noah's around today?
