Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:14.109 --> 00:00:20.269
Genesis seven and I'm going to be
reading through Chapter Eight, Verse Nineteen,
2
00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:27.420
so this is a quite a bit
more than usual. Let us pray and
3
00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:31.179
ask that God would help us to
have attentive hearts that would be filled by
4
00:00:31.260 --> 00:00:38.049
His grace. Please give your attention. This is God's word. Then Jehovah
5
00:00:38.090 --> 00:00:41.969
said to Noah, go into the
Ark, you and all your household,
6
00:00:42.409 --> 00:00:46.729
for I have seen that you are
righteous before me in this generation. Take
7
00:00:46.850 --> 00:00:50.719
with you seven pairs of all clean
animals, the male and his mate,
8
00:00:51.159 --> 00:00:54.320
and a pair of the animals that
are not clean, the male and his
9
00:00:54.479 --> 00:00:58.479
mate, and seven pairs of the
birds of the heavens, also male and
10
00:00:58.600 --> 00:01:02.280
female, to keep their offspring alive
on the face of all the earth,
11
00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:06.670
for in seven days I will send
rain on the earth, forty days and
12
00:01:06.870 --> 00:01:11.629
forty nights, and every living thing
that I have made I will blot out
13
00:01:11.950 --> 00:01:17.310
from the face of the ground.
And Noah did all that Jehovah had commanded
14
00:01:17.390 --> 00:01:22.340
him. Noah was six hundred years
old when the flood waters came upon the
15
00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:26.579
earth, and Noah and his sons
and his wife and his son's wives with
16
00:01:26.659 --> 00:01:32.379
him, went into the Ark to
escape the waters of the flood of clean
17
00:01:32.420 --> 00:01:36.370
animals and of animals that are not
clean, and of birds and of everything
18
00:01:36.409 --> 00:01:40.170
that creeps on the ground. Two
and two, male and female, went
19
00:01:40.370 --> 00:01:45.450
into the ark with Noah, as
God had commanded Noah. And after seven
20
00:01:45.489 --> 00:01:51.120
days the waters of the flood came
upon the Earth. And the six hundredth
21
00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:55.640
year of Noah's life and the second
month, on the seventeen day of the
22
00:01:55.719 --> 00:01:59.959
month, on that day, all
the fountains of the great deep burst forth
23
00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.670
and the windows of the heavens were
opened and rain fell upon the earth.
24
00:02:04.829 --> 00:02:08.949
Forty days and forty nights, on
the very same day, Noah and his
25
00:02:09.110 --> 00:02:15.340
sons, Shem and ham and JFF, and Noah's wife and the three wives
26
00:02:15.379 --> 00:02:21.020
of his sons with them, entered
the Ark. They and every beast according
27
00:02:21.060 --> 00:02:23.860
to its kind, and all the
live stock according to their kinds, and
28
00:02:24.020 --> 00:02:28.939
every creeping thing that creeps on the
earth according to its kind, and every
29
00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:32.810
bird according to its kind, every
winged creature. They went into the ark
30
00:02:32.930 --> 00:02:37.849
with Noah. Two and two of
all flesh in which there was the breath
31
00:02:37.889 --> 00:02:42.250
of life, and those that entered, male and female of all flesh,
32
00:02:42.729 --> 00:02:46.759
went in as God had commanded him, and the and Jehovah shut him in.
33
00:02:49.479 --> 00:02:53.560
The flood continued forty days on the
earth. The waters increased and bore
34
00:02:53.560 --> 00:02:59.310
up the Ark and it rose eye
above the earth. The waters prevailed and
35
00:02:59.469 --> 00:03:02.830
increased greatly on the earth and the
ARC floated on the face of the waters.
36
00:03:04.550 --> 00:03:07.349
And the waters prevailed so mightily on
the earth that all the high mountains
37
00:03:07.389 --> 00:03:13.259
under the whole heaven were covered.
The waters prevailed above the mountains, covering
38
00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:17.259
them fifteen cubits deep, and all
flesh died that moved on the earth,
39
00:03:17.659 --> 00:03:23.419
birds, live stock, beasts,
all swarming creatures that swarm on the earth
40
00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:30.050
and all mankind, everything on the
dry land and whose nostrils was the breath
41
00:03:30.090 --> 00:03:34.409
of life died. He blotted out
every living thing that was on the face
42
00:03:34.449 --> 00:03:38.330
of the ground, man and animals
and creeping things and birds of the heavens.
43
00:03:38.729 --> 00:03:44.280
They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left and those
44
00:03:44.360 --> 00:03:47.000
who were with him in the Ark. And the waters prevailed on the Earth
45
00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:54.479
one hundred and fifty days. But
God remembered Noah and all the beasts and
46
00:03:54.599 --> 00:03:59.349
all the live stock that were with
him in the Ark, and God made
47
00:03:59.389 --> 00:04:03.949
a wind blow over the earth and
the waters subsided, the fountains of the
48
00:04:04.069 --> 00:04:09.189
deep and the windows of the heavens
were closed, the rain from the heavens
49
00:04:09.430 --> 00:04:14.180
was restrained and the waters receded from
the Earth continually. At the end of
50
00:04:14.259 --> 00:04:17.300
a hundred and fifty days, the
waters had abated and in the seventh month,
51
00:04:17.459 --> 00:04:21.180
on the seventeen day of the month, the Ark came to rest on
52
00:04:21.339 --> 00:04:28.050
the mountains of error at and the
waters continued to abate until the tenth month.
53
00:04:28.810 --> 00:04:30.050
In the tenth month, on the
first day of the month, the
54
00:04:30.449 --> 00:04:34.769
tops of the mountains were seen.
At the end of forty days, Noah
55
00:04:34.850 --> 00:04:39.600
opened the are the window of the
Ark that he had made, and sent
56
00:04:39.720 --> 00:04:44.040
forth a raven. It went to
and fro until the waters were dried up
57
00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.040
from the earth. Then he sent
forth a dove from him to see if
58
00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:51.279
the waters had so side subsided from
the face of the ground. But the
59
00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:56.550
dove found no place to set her
foot and she returned to him in the
60
00:04:56.629 --> 00:04:59.829
Ark, for the waters were still
on the face of the whole earth.
61
00:05:00.670 --> 00:05:03.389
So he put out his hand and
took her and brought her into the Ark
62
00:05:03.430 --> 00:05:09.019
with him. He waited another seven
days and again he sent forth the dove
63
00:05:09.180 --> 00:05:12.420
out of the Ark and the dove
came back to him in the evening and
64
00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:17.060
behold in her mouth was a freshly
plucked alive leaf. So Noah knew that
65
00:05:17.339 --> 00:05:23.089
the waters had subsided from the earth. Then he waited another seven days and
66
00:05:23.250 --> 00:05:28.089
sent forth the dove and she did
not return to him any more. In
67
00:05:28.250 --> 00:05:31.529
the sixth in the six hundred and
first year, in the first month and
68
00:05:31.850 --> 00:05:35.839
the first day of the month,
the waters were dried from off the earth
69
00:05:35.879 --> 00:05:41.160
and Noah removed the covering of the
Ark and looked and behold, the face
70
00:05:41.240 --> 00:05:45.240
of the ground was dry. In
the second month, on the twenty seventh
71
00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.240
day of the month, the earth
had dried out. Then God said to
72
00:05:48.360 --> 00:05:53.870
Noah, go out from the Ark, you and your wife and your son's
73
00:05:53.910 --> 00:05:57.949
and your son's wives with you.
Bring out with you every living thing that
74
00:05:58.149 --> 00:06:01.110
is with you of all flesh,
birds and animals and every creeping thing that
75
00:06:01.230 --> 00:06:05.139
creeps on the earth, that they
may swarm on the earth and be fruitful
76
00:06:05.339 --> 00:06:11.019
and multiply on the earth. So
Noah went out and his son's and his
77
00:06:11.139 --> 00:06:15.540
wife and his son's wife's with him. Every beast, every creeping thing,
78
00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:20.449
every bird, everything that moves on
the earth, went out by families from
79
00:06:20.490 --> 00:06:34.800
the Ark Ay. God bless his
word to us. The first thing that
80
00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:40.879
I want to say about this passage
is we need to be careful how we
81
00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:46.079
read it, and that is,
if we read it like we're merely looking
82
00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:51.269
for a list of events, a
series of facts to describe exactly what happened,
83
00:06:51.670 --> 00:06:56.550
you're going to find yourself asking a
lot of questions like why does he
84
00:06:56.629 --> 00:07:00.860
keep saying winged creature or creeping thing
over and over again? Or why all
85
00:07:00.939 --> 00:07:06.060
of these dates or or why does
he keep why does? Why does he?
86
00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:11.459
Why do we keep hearing about Noah
and his wife and his sons and
87
00:07:11.579 --> 00:07:16.649
their wives? It's said several times
over from why the repetition? Well,
88
00:07:16.649 --> 00:07:19.410
if we if we ask that kind
of question, if that's all we're looking
89
00:07:19.449 --> 00:07:24.089
for from the SCRI picture, is
just a list of events, then we're
90
00:07:24.129 --> 00:07:28.889
going to find ourselves a little bothered
by repetition and by details and by the
91
00:07:29.009 --> 00:07:32.720
pictures that are created. But if
we hear the word as God gives it
92
00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:39.399
to us, is this amazing story
of God's judgment and salvation, then these
93
00:07:39.519 --> 00:07:45.470
details end have the have the effect
of heightening the story, of making it
94
00:07:45.750 --> 00:07:48.990
have gives us this impression of Noah, for example, as a hero.
95
00:07:49.389 --> 00:07:53.670
These dates do that kind of thing. On such and such a date,
96
00:07:53.910 --> 00:07:57.350
on such a such a time,
this person did this thing. That kind
97
00:07:57.389 --> 00:08:01.579
of specificity about dates is something that's
typically given to kings and Queens, and
98
00:08:01.779 --> 00:08:07.660
here Noah is is hit. The
story of Noah and the ARC is told
99
00:08:07.379 --> 00:08:13.370
with this kind of frame. And
so what we have here is the story,
100
00:08:13.449 --> 00:08:18.129
as I say, this account of
Noah enduring and passing through the floodwaters
101
00:08:18.209 --> 00:08:24.529
of Judgment Unto Salvation. But it's
not just a story about Noah, or
102
00:08:24.569 --> 00:08:28.519
even ultimately a story about Noah.
As with all of scripture, it's about
103
00:08:28.600 --> 00:08:33.679
God first and foremost. Throughout this
entire account of the flood we see God's
104
00:08:33.720 --> 00:08:39.440
great sovereignty. Noah doesn't make an
arc because he sees the clouds forming.
105
00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:45.669
He makes an arc because God tells
him judgment is going to come. Likewise,
106
00:08:45.789 --> 00:08:48.789
Noah doesn't leave the ARC because the
drought ground has dried and he figure
107
00:08:48.789 --> 00:08:52.350
as well it must be over now. He leaves the Arc because God has
108
00:08:52.470 --> 00:08:58.419
instructed him to leave the ARC.
I'm you see God's sovereignty in the way
109
00:08:58.580 --> 00:09:01.899
that I'm in the beginning of this
and the way that he judges the earth
110
00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:07.779
for these things, the way that
he opens up the heavens themselves and the
111
00:09:07.940 --> 00:09:13.769
waters fall down. The waters from
the deep are brought forth by him his
112
00:09:13.090 --> 00:09:18.129
this is not an accident, a
natural disaster. It is a divine disaster.
113
00:09:18.169 --> 00:09:26.320
Saw Gone God's sovereignty over at all
is seen throughout. It's no accident.
114
00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:30.559
It didn't just happened that Noah survived
this. Yes, he had a
115
00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:33.679
boat, but it was a got, a boat of God's own instruction.
116
00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:37.159
God described the boat at told he
told him how to make it. And
117
00:09:37.360 --> 00:09:41.470
just because you have a boat on
the water doesn't mean you're going to be
118
00:09:41.669 --> 00:09:43.909
okay either. There's a lot of
you who won't ride in boats for that
119
00:09:45.029 --> 00:09:50.830
very reason. Noah, Noah survived
this flood because God preserved him, not
120
00:09:50.950 --> 00:09:54.340
only by instructing him to build an
arc, not only in giving him the
121
00:09:54.460 --> 00:09:58.820
instructions for the arc, telling him
specifically when to enter it when to leave
122
00:09:58.860 --> 00:10:05.259
it, but enduring him and his
family throughout. Have you ever been on
123
00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:11.730
the waves in a storm? Have
you ever seen the ocean when it's rocking
124
00:10:11.049 --> 00:10:18.490
and rolling and moving and twisting and
churning? Can you imagine what it would
125
00:10:18.490 --> 00:10:24.360
be like to be riding on the
waves, above the mountains, above all
126
00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:30.960
the world and not only having the
waters bursting up from the bottom but crashing
127
00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:37.389
down from the top. Everywhere you
see is water, and even after it
128
00:10:37.509 --> 00:10:43.190
stops raining and the sky appears again, water, water, water. There's
129
00:10:43.230 --> 00:10:46.230
no waiting, there's no going far
enough and hoping to hit dry land.
130
00:10:46.309 --> 00:10:52.740
There is no dry land. God
is preserving Noah through all of this.
131
00:10:56.139 --> 00:11:03.179
Now I want to make an extreme
pivot and ask you a question. What
132
00:11:03.370 --> 00:11:13.889
is baptism? What is baptism?
Think about baptism today because of two things.
133
00:11:15.529 --> 00:11:20.200
One, I'm connor and Kelsey Batty
are being baptized and many of you
134
00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:26.639
you are have likewise been baptized.
But we also think about baptism because the
135
00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:33.230
scripture explicitly points us to the flood
to teach us about baptism. The Apostle
136
00:11:33.309 --> 00:11:35.789
Peter does this in first Peter Chapter
Three. Will come to that in a
137
00:11:35.870 --> 00:11:43.830
minute. And what we'll see is
that all of these descriptions, this great
138
00:11:43.909 --> 00:11:50.820
account that the Holy Spirit gives us
of God persevering Noah in the judgment.
139
00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:56.259
One of the things it does it
points us to our own baptisms. It
140
00:11:56.259 --> 00:12:03.250
teaches us about our baptisms. It
instructs US and helps us to understand them
141
00:12:03.769 --> 00:12:09.049
in a way that should strengthen our
faith and will, by God's grace,
142
00:12:09.649 --> 00:12:15.129
do exactly that. So let's think
a little bit about baptism and think about
143
00:12:15.210 --> 00:12:20.080
how exactly it connects to this account
of Noah and the flood. Now,
144
00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:24.200
if you never heard about baptism before, you saw it for the first time.
145
00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:28.480
Maybe you'll see it for the first
time today. My guess is that
146
00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:33.549
you would assume three things. One, you would assume that it's religious.
147
00:12:33.990 --> 00:12:37.990
It's happening in a church service and
there's a minister and those kinds of things.
148
00:12:39.149 --> 00:12:46.940
You would probably assume that it's symbolic, given the the liturgy that's going
149
00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:52.019
on around and given the water I'm
you would probably assume that it has something
150
00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:56.179
to do with cleansing. With all
these things, you would be right,
151
00:12:56.220 --> 00:13:01.409
but you'd also be fairly limited in
what you could say about baptism. You
152
00:13:01.450 --> 00:13:05.090
wouldn't be able to say a whole
lot about what it exactly means. What
153
00:13:05.450 --> 00:13:09.570
is symbolized there. With the idea
of cleansing, you're sort of taking a
154
00:13:09.090 --> 00:13:13.120
guess, a stab at what it
might mean but no real certainty there.
155
00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:22.240
Water can illustrate and symbolize all kinds
of things. So in order to understand
156
00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:26.789
the symbolic value of baptism, you
have to learn not just from the things
157
00:13:26.950 --> 00:13:31.309
that go on in it itself,
but you have to learn from somewhere else
158
00:13:31.350 --> 00:13:35.429
what is meant. You need some
kind of explanation, and that's true of
159
00:13:35.470 --> 00:13:39.350
any symbol, isn't it? They're
explained, they're filled out somewhere else.
160
00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:46.419
Well, that happens in God's word. Sometimes you'll hear me say about the
161
00:13:46.539 --> 00:13:52.860
Lord's supper or about baptism that they
are signs and seals of the Covenant of
162
00:13:52.899 --> 00:13:58.529
Grace. What does that mean?
It means that they are pointing to something
163
00:13:58.570 --> 00:14:01.289
else, they're attached to something else. If you imagine, for example,
164
00:14:01.330 --> 00:14:07.850
a seal on a document, that
seal. If you see a seal on
165
00:14:07.850 --> 00:14:13.480
a document, you understand exactly what
it means. But apart from the document,
166
00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:16.200
it doesn't really communicate very much.
If you see a piece of wax,
167
00:14:16.360 --> 00:14:20.720
for example, just laying on the
ground, it's just a piece of
168
00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:24.230
wax, right. Even if somebody
said that's a seal, that's a sign,
169
00:14:24.389 --> 00:14:28.269
you would say of what I can
see that. I can see that
170
00:14:28.350 --> 00:14:33.389
it was a seal on something,
but it has to be attached. This,
171
00:14:33.590 --> 00:14:37.350
by the way, is why it's
okay for the word of God to
172
00:14:37.429 --> 00:14:43.379
be preached by itself without being a
connected with a seal, the seal and
173
00:14:43.500 --> 00:14:46.779
sign signs and seals of the sacrament, but it's not okay to administer the
174
00:14:46.899 --> 00:14:52.299
sacraments without the preaching of the word
of God, because otherwise they just be
175
00:14:52.419 --> 00:14:54.409
a piece of wax, so to
speak, a seal lying on the ground
176
00:14:54.649 --> 00:15:01.929
that has to be connected. That
seal confirms and validates it contents. It's
177
00:15:01.929 --> 00:15:07.679
a way that the author of the
document says these things are true. It's
178
00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:13.360
an extra level of pledging and confirming
and in that, when they are attached
179
00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:18.960
in that way, they can stand
in for the document themselves. This is
180
00:15:18.120 --> 00:15:24.429
why a Peter Says Baptism saves you. I'm not because baptism removes dirt from
181
00:15:24.429 --> 00:15:30.669
your body, and not even because
baptism in itself is automatic somehow, but
182
00:15:30.789 --> 00:15:35.580
in there he's using language that it's
standing in for that thing. Another example
183
00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:41.539
would be the way psalm twenty three
says the Lord sets a table for us.
184
00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:46.179
Well, we automatically assume that means
a feast, right, food and
185
00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:50.570
maybe silverware and things like that.
It's the table that thing stands in for
186
00:15:50.929 --> 00:15:56.809
the whole that's what Peter says in
First Peter Three. He says baptism saves
187
00:15:56.809 --> 00:16:00.889
you in the sense that it's standing
in as that sign and as that seal
188
00:16:00.529 --> 00:16:06.480
for our salvation that comes to US
through Christ. But if you detach it,
189
00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:12.799
then it doesn't do anything, it
doesn't mean anything. So what is
190
00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:18.110
baptism? What does it sign and
signify? What does it seal? What
191
00:16:18.269 --> 00:16:23.029
does the Bible say? Well,
the Bible has a lot to say about
192
00:16:23.029 --> 00:16:30.110
baptism. A thorough study of it
would include lots of different things. Adams
193
00:16:30.669 --> 00:16:34.580
being created in the garden, levitical
Washings, the crossing of the Red Sea,
194
00:16:36.179 --> 00:16:40.740
a prophetic announcements about the coming of
the spirit, Jesus's own baptism.
195
00:16:41.419 --> 00:16:47.210
You would also have to include his
crucifixion and Resurrection, Pentecost and the examples
196
00:16:47.250 --> 00:16:52.529
of baptism that we see in the
New Testament. But one of the things
197
00:16:52.649 --> 00:16:55.250
in this great list of things that
you would have to include in the thing
198
00:16:55.289 --> 00:17:02.000
we're going to focus on today is
the flood. You have to include in
199
00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:07.960
the flood because of First Peter,
three, twenty through twenty one. There
200
00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:11.799
we read that in the days of
Noah, eight persons were brought safely through
201
00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:18.670
the water, these eight persons being
noah his sons. Is what the son's
202
00:17:18.710 --> 00:17:22.630
wives and Noah's wife. In the
days of Noah, eight persons were brought
203
00:17:22.670 --> 00:17:29.309
safely through the water. Baptism,
which corresponds to this, now saves you
204
00:17:30.700 --> 00:17:33.619
not as a removal of dirt from
the body, but as an appeal to
205
00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:41.500
God for a good conscience through the
resurrection of Jesus. Chris Fist Peter points
206
00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:47.609
us to the flood and he says
here this flood was purposed by the Holy
207
00:17:47.650 --> 00:17:52.529
Spirit of God to teach us something
about our baptisms. And what we'll see
208
00:17:52.650 --> 00:17:59.519
when we look at the flood is
that baptism symbolizes God's judgment and his salvation.
209
00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:07.640
Baptism pictures God's judgment and his salvation, and baptism is a promise of
210
00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:11.910
God's such judgment and his salvation.
It's a picture and a promise, a
211
00:18:12.109 --> 00:18:18.029
sign and a seal. The symbol, this seal, this sign, will
212
00:18:18.029 --> 00:18:22.589
affect you in different ways, depending
on who you are and how you stand
213
00:18:22.710 --> 00:18:27.819
in relationship to that Covenant Document,
to the Bible and God's message of salvation.
214
00:18:27.980 --> 00:18:33.059
there. To the one who believes
in Christ, baptism is a picture
215
00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:37.660
and promise that you will pass through
the waters of judgment and enter into the
216
00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:42.130
newness of life. But to the
one who has refused rescue, who has
217
00:18:42.250 --> 00:18:45.970
refused to listen, as the people
did in the days of Noah, it
218
00:18:47.170 --> 00:18:55.130
is a picture of salvation lost and
of Judgment Guaranteed. So let's think about
219
00:18:55.130 --> 00:19:00.519
this a little more deeply now,
about this corresponding line that the spirit draws
220
00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:06.599
for us between baptism and its connection
to the death and resurrection of Christ and
221
00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:11.630
to the salvation of Noah and his
family through the flood of judgment. What
222
00:19:11.750 --> 00:19:18.150
can we learn by looking at the
flood, judgment and salvation? First,
223
00:19:18.349 --> 00:19:25.259
judgment. Baptism corresponds to the flood
as a symbol of Judgment. Perhaps you
224
00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:27.940
haven't thought about baptism very often in
that way, but it's true. That's
225
00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:33.339
what the flood is about, isn't
it? It's about God's judging sin,
226
00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:37.339
about God looking out on the world, as we considered last time, in
227
00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:44.170
seeing it as corrupt, corrupt,
corrupt, as filled with violence, Adam's
228
00:19:44.210 --> 00:19:49.009
sin in the garden spread, infecting
all of the world and inherit an inheritance
229
00:19:49.089 --> 00:19:55.079
sin which is brought the world not
to the glorious state that it was supposed
230
00:19:55.119 --> 00:20:03.680
to be, but to corruption everywhere. The flood was not just a big
231
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:08.190
reign, it was God's judgment.
As I said earlier, Noah and his
232
00:20:08.269 --> 00:20:15.109
family didn't survive a natural disaster.
They survived a divine disaster. They didn't
233
00:20:15.150 --> 00:20:21.269
survive just a flood, but a
judgment for sin. Baptism corresponds to this.
234
00:20:21.460 --> 00:20:26.779
No and his family were brought safely
through the waters because of Noah's righteousness.
235
00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:32.460
He was different from the rest of
commandkind and his family benefited from that.
236
00:20:33.619 --> 00:20:37.089
He was godly where the other there's
were not. He was righteous in
237
00:20:37.250 --> 00:20:41.289
his generation. Compared with all the
others, this one, this noah,
238
00:20:41.890 --> 00:20:45.690
was different. Now we know,
of course, that this is because of
239
00:20:45.809 --> 00:20:51.960
God's grace. Like all righteousness after
the fall, Noah's righteousness was given to
240
00:20:52.039 --> 00:20:56.680
him by faith, through the grace
of God, by virtue of the promised
241
00:20:56.720 --> 00:21:03.759
seed. But as such it was
true righteousness. Noah's righteousness was capable of
242
00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:08.150
justifying Noah because it was a righteousness
that was from God and it made him
243
00:21:08.150 --> 00:21:12.630
worthy of salvation. And, as
it was the righteousness of God, it
244
00:21:12.750 --> 00:21:17.950
was the kind of righteousness that produced
more righteousness. That's what God does.
245
00:21:18.660 --> 00:21:23.539
He makes things godly and they produce
more godliness. This account of Noah's great
246
00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:29.220
faith and trust in the promises of
God is a is a and as an
247
00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:37.569
account of his trusting particularly in God's
promise of judgment and salvation. So we
248
00:21:37.690 --> 00:21:42.170
see as in the flood waters of
Judgment and God safely bringing through him baptism
249
00:21:42.329 --> 00:21:48.440
corresponding to this, we know not
only in its connection. We know that
250
00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:53.200
baptism teaches us about God's judgment of
sin, not only from the story of
251
00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:59.400
Noah, but also from other connections, like the pictures of its cleansing sin
252
00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:04.789
or its connection to circumcision and the
Old Testament. Circumcision, like baptism,
253
00:22:06.430 --> 00:22:11.789
pointed to salvation through judgment. It
told the people of God that the flesh
254
00:22:11.829 --> 00:22:15.539
had to be cut away if they
were to be holy. It was performed
255
00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:21.900
also on males, as a constant
reminder that this salvation through judgment would come
256
00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:30.529
through the promised seed. Paul connects
the Old Testament sacrament of circumcision. This
257
00:22:30.809 --> 00:22:36.809
sacrament that taught about judgment or salvation
through judgment. He connects it with baptism
258
00:22:36.930 --> 00:22:41.609
and Colossians to eleven through twelve,
where he says that, having been buried
259
00:22:41.730 --> 00:22:48.480
in Baptism with Christ, we were
circumcised in him. He says this in
260
00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:55.079
him also, you were circumcised with
a circumcision made without hands, by putting
261
00:22:55.079 --> 00:22:59.670
off the body of the flesh,
by the circumcision of Christ, having been
262
00:22:59.789 --> 00:23:03.390
buried with him in baptism, in
which you also were raised with him through
263
00:23:03.509 --> 00:23:08.390
faith in the powerful working of God. What I'm trying to say is I
264
00:23:08.470 --> 00:23:11.980
do when I'm trying to give as
yet another proof. Not only do we
265
00:23:12.099 --> 00:23:18.819
have God's judgment of the world in
Noah to show us that baptism is corresponds
266
00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:25.740
and symbolizes judgment for sin, but
we also have circumcision. Paul connects baptism
267
00:23:25.819 --> 00:23:30.650
and circumcision, another sign that also
symbolize the cutting off, the putting off
268
00:23:30.009 --> 00:23:37.369
and even the death of Jesus Christ
himself, a death that happened in judgment
269
00:23:37.809 --> 00:23:44.279
for sins. And so the point
is this. Our so our baptisms are
270
00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:51.319
not just a picture of salvation,
but salvation from something, through something namely
271
00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:56.390
judgment for sins. What saved Noah
from his sins and you from your sins
272
00:23:56.869 --> 00:24:03.789
is the same thing, namely the
promises of God to bring us judgment or
273
00:24:03.990 --> 00:24:08.069
to bring us through judgment in the
safety of our Savior. This is the
274
00:24:08.150 --> 00:24:12.299
hope that we cling to, and
we have to cling to, because Peter
275
00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:17.140
goes on to say in his second
lay a letter that in the same way
276
00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:22.539
that the earth was once judged for
sin by water, one day be judged
277
00:24:22.779 --> 00:24:30.089
for sin by fire. Judgment,
Peter says, is coming just as it
278
00:24:30.210 --> 00:24:36.170
did for Noah, or rather in
an even worse way than it did for
279
00:24:36.329 --> 00:24:41.000
Noah and his generation. Judgment,
Peter says, is coming for our sins.
280
00:24:41.799 --> 00:24:47.559
Our baptisms teach us that only in
Christ will we be saved from those
281
00:24:47.640 --> 00:24:52.150
sins. We must be brought through
judgment, our sins must be taken care
282
00:24:52.190 --> 00:24:57.869
of, and they are taken care
of through Christ on the Cross. so
283
00:24:57.950 --> 00:25:03.710
that's how Noah points US and teaches
us about our baptisms. He teaches us
284
00:25:03.710 --> 00:25:08.500
about the judgment that must come for
sin, but he also teaches us of
285
00:25:08.619 --> 00:25:14.859
the salvation that comes. The fact
that Jot God would judge the world for
286
00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:19.299
sin I'm should be motivation enough for
us to cling to Jesus. But the
287
00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:25.170
God, in his never ending depths
of grace, not only tells us what
288
00:25:25.369 --> 00:25:29.609
we are saved from, but what
we are also saved to. He not
289
00:25:29.730 --> 00:25:33.769
only tells us what we are saved
from, but also what we are saved
290
00:25:33.049 --> 00:25:38.759
to. So just as our baptisms
picture the judgment we escaped, like Noah
291
00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:44.759
escaped this judgment, they also picture
the salvation that we gain. And that's
292
00:25:44.799 --> 00:25:48.960
why we read both halves of this
story, not only God's bringing judgment on
293
00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:53.309
the world for sin, but the
salvation that comes on the other side of
294
00:25:53.390 --> 00:26:00.630
that. Again, consider the flood
as you imagine, as you might imagine
295
00:26:00.710 --> 00:26:06.859
the horrors of being pulled under the
wrathful waves of God. Consider also what
296
00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:11.660
it would feel like to step out
of the Ark after all that, onto
297
00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:17.740
the dry ground of what is essentially
a new earth. When the flood is
298
00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:22.410
finished, Noah enters in many ways
a new world. It's the same physical
299
00:26:22.650 --> 00:26:26.809
world, but there's a lot of
things in the scriptures that points us that
300
00:26:27.049 --> 00:26:33.440
this is a new epoch. This
is a new age, a new beginning
301
00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:37.920
that is in many ways parallel to
the way things first began not exactly the
302
00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:42.359
same. Will consider this more next
week, because sin is still in the
303
00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:48.750
world. So God's main work here
is is along the lines of preservation rather
304
00:26:48.789 --> 00:26:55.589
than consummation. But nevertheless we see
that as Noah steps out of that Ark,
305
00:26:55.670 --> 00:27:00.990
he enters not the old world but
a new one. Consider, for
306
00:27:00.109 --> 00:27:04.500
example, how the latter half of
this story sounds a lot like genesis one
307
00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:10.220
and two. Perhaps you noticed it. I'm perhaps you. For example,
308
00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:12.380
I'll give you just one, and
there are many, many ways. But
309
00:27:12.940 --> 00:27:21.250
the order of events that happen there
correspond and lay over exactly the seven days
310
00:27:21.289 --> 00:27:26.730
at the beginning of creation, except
for the first and fourth day, because
311
00:27:26.930 --> 00:27:32.000
the heavenly bodies are still there.
But those aside, if you sort of
312
00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:34.960
if you take the seven days and
you drop the first and you drop the
313
00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:40.359
fourth, all the others lay over
exactly right. So, for example,
314
00:27:40.759 --> 00:27:45.549
and this is true even of what
we might call precreation, we read,
315
00:27:45.829 --> 00:27:49.430
before all of this happens, before
Noah exits the arc, that there was
316
00:27:49.470 --> 00:27:55.869
a wind going over the waters,
this wind that were their Ruok. Is
317
00:27:55.950 --> 00:27:59.660
exactly the same same word that is
used at the beginning of the Bible when
318
00:27:59.700 --> 00:28:04.299
it says the spirit the Ruok of
God was hovering over the waters. It's
319
00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:08.220
the same word in both instances.
What we have then, is the spirit
320
00:28:08.299 --> 00:28:12.609
of God, the Wind of God, being present there at the beginning of
321
00:28:12.809 --> 00:28:19.250
new creation. We read also of
the sky appearing as it's separated from the
322
00:28:19.369 --> 00:28:25.210
waters on the second day. We
read of the dry ground being separated from
323
00:28:25.210 --> 00:28:29.079
the waters, as the tops of
the mountains begin to appear, as happens
324
00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:33.640
on the third day, skipping the
fourth and going to the fifth, we
325
00:28:33.759 --> 00:28:37.559
read of the sky being filled with
the birds, as on the fifth day.
326
00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:41.230
Then we read of the creatures and
the livestock and the animals and the
327
00:28:41.309 --> 00:28:48.109
things that move along the ground,
plus the appearance of mankind stepping out,
328
00:28:48.349 --> 00:28:55.819
coming in crowning this new creation on
the sixth day. And soon after that
329
00:28:55.940 --> 00:29:00.700
will come the commands to be fruitful
and multiply and even an implicit command to
330
00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:07.420
have dominion over the Earth. If
the language there in Genesis Chapter Eight sounded
331
00:29:07.579 --> 00:29:15.009
familiar, it's because it is familiar, because God is using the same sequence
332
00:29:15.089 --> 00:29:18.529
of events, the same language that
we heard in genesis one and two to
333
00:29:18.970 --> 00:29:23.880
show us that something new has happened
out of all of this judgment and salvation
334
00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:33.799
has come. Baptism, which corresponds
to this, is the same. WHEN
335
00:29:33.880 --> 00:29:41.430
WE RISE IN JESUS CHRIST, we
rise from judgment to something, to resurrection.
336
00:29:42.029 --> 00:29:47.309
Listen to Romans three. Do you
not know that all of us who
337
00:29:47.309 --> 00:29:52.380
have been baptized into Christ, Jesus, were baptized into his death? That's
338
00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:56.940
the judgment part. We were buried, therefore, with him, by baptism
339
00:29:57.140 --> 00:30:03.180
into death, that crucifixion, in
order that, just as Christ was raised
340
00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:07.730
from the dead by the glory of
the father, we too might walk in
341
00:30:07.849 --> 00:30:14.369
the newness of life. You see
what salvation leads to. It's not just
342
00:30:14.609 --> 00:30:19.130
to an empty state or a blank
slate or a or a sort of abstractly
343
00:30:19.289 --> 00:30:25.559
new beginning, but salvation leads to
the newness of life, a new order.
344
00:30:26.599 --> 00:30:30.160
Now, if this was true of
the flood, consider how much greater
345
00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:34.990
this is true of who we are
in Jesus Christ. The judgment was greater,
346
00:30:36.549 --> 00:30:38.670
and it is an eternal judgment for
all of our sins, not just
347
00:30:38.950 --> 00:30:45.349
a temporary judgment on the earth.
And it's a salvation that's greater. We
348
00:30:45.509 --> 00:30:48.990
don't simply walk out onto the earth
that is now dried and new life is
349
00:30:49.059 --> 00:30:55.740
beginning. We walk as those that
belong to this Kingdom of God, citizens
350
00:30:55.819 --> 00:31:00.619
of Heaven, even the new heavens
and the new earth. When we come,
351
00:31:00.140 --> 00:31:06.210
we rest not on the old mountains
but on Mount Zion, the new
352
00:31:06.289 --> 00:31:11.170
Jerusalem. We enter into a newness
of life that is characterized throughout the scriptures
353
00:31:11.210 --> 00:31:19.680
as eternal life, blessed life,
complete life, full life. So let
354
00:31:19.720 --> 00:31:26.119
me speak directly to you now.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is
355
00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:33.589
therefore the pivotal moment on which the
whole world turns, a thousand times more
356
00:31:33.710 --> 00:31:37.829
than the flood with Noah. It
speaks of judgment and salvation, complete and
357
00:31:38.029 --> 00:31:45.789
final judgment, complete and final endeaverlasting
salvation. This first judgment and first salvation
358
00:31:47.029 --> 00:31:52.019
point to the greater such judgment and
salvation that comes in Christ. And so
359
00:31:52.259 --> 00:31:56.180
you stand in the same position as
the people did in the days of Noah.
360
00:31:57.099 --> 00:32:01.329
Will you ignore this as they did, or will you believe? Will
361
00:32:01.369 --> 00:32:07.170
you hear the promises of God that
salvation comes through him, or will you
362
00:32:07.569 --> 00:32:14.730
be swept away in the waters and
fires of God's judgment? You must believe.
363
00:32:15.880 --> 00:32:20.640
There is no other way. There
was no alternate, third path for
364
00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:24.359
the people, and as day,
there is no getting around it or finding
365
00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:30.190
your own way or building your own
boat. Salvation only came through this chosen
366
00:32:30.309 --> 00:32:36.109
one of God. You had to
be on the boat. And the same
367
00:32:36.349 --> 00:32:38.430
is true, and even more so, we might say, to an even
368
00:32:38.470 --> 00:32:44.339
greater degree, in Jesus Christ,
Jesus and in him alone, do we
369
00:32:44.420 --> 00:32:52.500
have salvation from judgment. Do we
have salvation through judgment? You must believe,
370
00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:54.900
you must put your faith in him, and when you do, the
371
00:32:55.099 --> 00:33:00.089
promises that we've been reading in scripture, not only to Noah but in Paul
372
00:33:00.490 --> 00:33:07.009
and in Peter, the promises are
true that when we are those who believe
373
00:33:07.170 --> 00:33:10.930
and put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are those who die in Him,
374
00:33:12.329 --> 00:33:16.920
going through judgment and will be resurrected, and even are, in a
375
00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:24.000
sense, already resurrected, to walk
in the newness of life. Today you
376
00:33:24.039 --> 00:33:30.549
are going to hear the professions of
faith, professions of faith of those who
377
00:33:30.549 --> 00:33:34.910
do believe, of those who have
heard the word of God and have not
378
00:33:35.190 --> 00:33:42.700
turned away from him but, by
His grace, have turned towards salvation through
379
00:33:42.819 --> 00:33:50.859
judgment and, Unto Salvation in Christ. As we consider baptism and later on,
380
00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:53.180
the Lord's supper, you might think
of them like a wedding ring.
381
00:33:54.420 --> 00:34:00.009
Baptism confirms a promise. Like a
wedding ring confirms a promise. It signifies
382
00:34:00.130 --> 00:34:06.329
and seals this thing that it represents, but it only does so for those
383
00:34:06.490 --> 00:34:10.519
to whom the promise belongs. I
mentioned finding a seal on the ground.
384
00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:15.280
Will Imagine finding a wedding ring on
the ground. If you find a wedding
385
00:34:15.280 --> 00:34:16.920
ring on the ground and you put
it on, you don't become married.
386
00:34:19.239 --> 00:34:23.389
You don't become married simply by having
this thing applied to you. You have
387
00:34:23.630 --> 00:34:28.710
to have a real connection, it
has to be based on something that is
388
00:34:28.949 --> 00:34:34.349
true and real. And when this
is true of the Lord's supper and of
389
00:34:34.429 --> 00:34:38.739
Baptism, how do you put on
the wedding ring? How does the promise
390
00:34:38.900 --> 00:34:45.619
actually become for you? By believing, by trusting in faith, through the
391
00:34:45.699 --> 00:34:51.340
grace of God, that Jesus Christ
died for you, that his offer of
392
00:34:51.420 --> 00:34:55.650
salvation is genuinely meant for you and
that no matter how awful your sins are,
393
00:34:55.690 --> 00:34:59.969
no matter how corrupt you are,
no matter how many regrets you have,
394
00:35:00.210 --> 00:35:07.039
that you can have salvation through the
judgment of Jesus Christ. This is
395
00:35:07.159 --> 00:35:14.239
what happens in baptism, not by
mere power of symbolism, but by the
396
00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:17.960
act of God and according to his
will, and this is why we are
397
00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:22.230
called to look to our baptisms and, as you see the baptisms that happen
398
00:35:22.349 --> 00:35:28.030
today, perhaps if you partake of
the Lord's supper with us, you think
399
00:35:28.110 --> 00:35:31.510
of them in this way and we
can even improve on them, not improve
400
00:35:31.630 --> 00:35:37.500
on what God has given, but
benefit more greatly from them. Again,
401
00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:40.300
thinking about a wedding ring, and
I'll close with this, if God has
402
00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:45.059
given us a wedding ring, if
he has given us a sacrament to strengthen
403
00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:51.329
the bond of our marriage with him
by way of confirming our promises with him,
404
00:35:51.329 --> 00:35:54.929
let's not be holier than God by
putting our wedding rings in the drawer
405
00:35:54.969 --> 00:36:00.050
and saying I don't need that.
Instead, let's put them on, embrace
406
00:36:00.210 --> 00:36:04.960
them by faith and say thank you, Lord, thank you not only for
407
00:36:05.159 --> 00:36:09.199
giving me your promises, but giving
me symbols of your promises, signs which
408
00:36:09.199 --> 00:36:15.239
point to these things, these realities, seals which confirm them in our hearts.
409
00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:23.150
Kelsey and Connor, as you are
baptized, you can be thankful to
410
00:36:23.230 --> 00:36:30.349
God and where your baptisms with pride
and thankfulness and joy, and the same
411
00:36:30.389 --> 00:36:34.260
as to all of you who are
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
412
00:36:34.300 --> 00:36:38.980
Christ and the father and the spirit
of God. Let us all give thanks
413
00:36:39.019 --> 00:36:45.099
to God, who gives us salvation
through judgment. Let us pray
