Articles
Peter 29 - The Witness of the Ark
The Witness of the Ark
… the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water … but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly. (1Peter 3:20; 2Peter 2:5)
As has been noted previously, in both letters written by Peter, he teaches a lesson by calling upon Noah as a witness, or as an example. It is clearly seen that the likeness of Noah and Jesus is great. Noah, the man, is not the only witness or type of something greater—the ark also points forward. There is a great likeness of the finished product of both Noah and Jesus. Noah built. Jesus built.
Noah built AN ark. “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7: Genesis 6:14). There was only one ark. There were no little arks to help in the work. Jesus built the church. “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18). He built only one church. There were no other denominations or organizations tied to the church to do the work.
There was only one way to get into the ark. “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks” (Genesis 6:16). There is only one way to get into the church. Jesus said in regard to Himself and His sheep: “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). Peter preached: “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
There was only one source of light in the ark. “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks” (Genesis 6:16). There is only one source of light for the church—the message of light from the light of the world. “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” (2Corinthians 4:3-6).
There was only one family in the ark. “… a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water … Then the LORD said to Noah, ‘Enter the ark, you and all your household, for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time’” (1Peter 3:20; Genesis 7:1). There was no place for any other. The Lord’s church is only one family. The church is the household of God (1Timothy 3:14-15).
There was safety only in the ark. “… eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (1Peter 3:20; Genesis 7:15-23). The New Testament shows that there is safety only in the church, as the saved ARE the church. “Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). “And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47).
Only those who were willing to enter the ark were saved. “Then Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him entered the ark because of the water of the flood” (Genesis 7:7). Scripture knows no saved people but those in the church, regardless of the emotional logic many use to get others saved. Only those willing to follow God’s instructions will go through the door. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews states: “He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation” (Hebrews 5:9).
Every need for those in the ark was in the ark. “And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, and of the animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. As for you, take for yourself some of all food which is edible, and gather it to yourself; and it shall be for food for you and for them.” (Genesis 6:19-21). Man’s every spiritual need is supplied in the church through Christ (Ephesians 1:3-12). The man of God is complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10; 2Peter 1:3).
There was one great need for those who entered the ark. They needed to stay in it, of course. That same great need exists for those who are in the church. They must not turn away from Christ and the saved in Him (1Corinthians 15:58; Revelation 2:10).
There was one danger relative to Noah’s ark. The danger was that there was a coming flood, and those who missed the ark did not have a chance. There is a great danger relative to this present generation. There is a judgment ahead (2Corinthians 5:10; 2Thessalonians 1:7-9). Those who are not in God’s place of safety do not have a chance.
Are you moved by this comparison of the ark and the church? You can enter the church—the ark of safety—by obeying the gospel.
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