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: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 1 Peter 3:21-22

As we looked at earlier, the Apostle Peter referenced the days of Noah with the return of Christ. There are many foreshadows that happened during the flood of Noah, as we referenced the Ark is a foreshadow of Christ. Well in our scriptures this morning, the Apostle Peter references the flood itself as a foreshadow of baptism. 

Think about Noah’s flood, why did God choose to flood the Earth as judgment? God could have used many different approaches , such as Sodom and Gomorrah for judgment, but God flooded the Earth, why? Because this is a foreshadow of Baptism, a cleansing of sin from the Earth, not to destroy the Earth either, but to restore the Earth back to righteousness. Like the symbolism of Baptism for us in Christ, the symbolism of baptism is a cleansing of sin, a purification of your repentance. To be lowered into the water as your old self dies, and raised out of the water in Christ a new creature (Romans 6)

If we back up to verse 20 the Apostle Peter says “that eight souls (Noah’s family) were saved through water” Now this is obviously symbolic as the water didn’t literally save them, but their faith in the Ark (Christ) and the cleansing of the water led to their salvation. Peter then says “this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves us (not the putting away of the fifth of flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God)”

Again its not the baptism that is going to save you, its the faith in Christ that will save you, the baptism is a true sign of your repentance of your sin and profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Again think back to Noah and his family, what did they do to save themselves? They put their faith in the Ark to save them, as we put our faith in Jesus Christ to save us!

“Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” , why is Jesus the only way to salvation? (John 14:6, Acts 4:12) because Christ is the only one who paid the penalty for your sins and rose from the grave! Through the resurrection of Christ, we can be risen also! This is why Noah’s flood is still relevant for us today, just as it was before

I love how Peter ends this here, as he demonstrates Christ authority and deity over the whole world. “Is on the right hand of God, angels, authorities , and powers being made subject to Him (Christ)” Just as Christ judged the entire world with the flood, Christ will return again and judge the entire world for their wickedness, all power and authority is given to Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Amen!