Baptism: The Ark's Like Figure Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. Baptism: The Ark’s Like Figure

Remarks.

1. This is the eleventh lesson in this sermon-series entitled: "Re-digging in Old Wells." There will be many others bearing this title. We are re-digging in old wells to receive what Isaiah promised: "With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation," Isaiah 12:3. There are times we must re-dig in old wells to obtain the joy found in the: "waters of salvation." This sermon type is called "expository preaching." Our goal will be: "to dig a little deeper" in the text of emphasis in these lessons. We will allow the writer, the characters in the verses, and the words of the Master, to shed new meaning to His words of eternal life, John 6:63; John 6:67-69.

2. We will answer this question: "How is baptism a like figure of the ark?” While residing in the ark, Noah and his house passed through the flood by means of the water. Similarly, baptism passes the repentant believers, by means of the water, through the: “Washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,” Titus 3:5. We will re-dig in old wells to sustain this truth in the holy scriptures. Ulysses Shields called this kind of teaching: "digging a little deeper," in the word of truth. He was my grandfather in Christ. We will use as a foundational text for this sermon-series: "And Isaac re-dug the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham...for the Philistines had stopped them (closed them up) after Abraham’s death,” Genesis 26:18. The Philistines: “Stopped them, and filled them with earth,” because they envied Isaac’s possessions, Genesis 26:14-15.

3. Our scripture of emphasis reads in this fashion: “Which sometime were disobedient 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. 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,” 1 Peter 3:20-21. This text has troubled many over the years. Many have accused other gospel preachers and me as teaching "that water saves." The bible says, “water” saved Noah and his house, by “passing them through the flood.” In a like figure “baptism” doth also NOW saves us, by passing us by means of the water, through our: “death, burial, and resurrection into a union with Jesus Christ.” This can be called the process of the: “Washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost,” Titus 3:5. It’s vitally essential to consider every text within its context of the scriptures. With God’s help, we will do just that, to draw: “New water from old wells.” With this introduction, let’s consider this topic carefully, with both our bibles and hearts opened unto the words of the living God.

BODY OF LESSON

I BAPTISM: THE ARK’S LIKE FIGURE

A. Background study. Before we can get into the text of emphasis, we must do some background work to understand the word "like figure" and how it will be used in this lesson.

1. The word “like figure” in Gr., is antitypos, or än-te'-tü-pos, which means a corresponding type ("antitype"), i.e., a representative, counterpart:—(like) figure (whereunto). An “antitype” is something in the Messianic times which answers to the type, as baptism corresponds to the ark and the deluge of water, in the Old Testament.

2. W. E. Vine wrote: “The ‘ark’ then, is a representation, or a ‘like figure,’ of the spiritual act of ‘baptism,’” 1 Peter 3:20-21,” Page 856. We are digging a little deeper in the word of truth! Do I have any help with this lesson? Is God’s people with me today/tonight? Let’s Continue--

a. Where there is a "type," there is an "anti or corresponding type.” Paul uses the word "figure" to represent Adam as a type of Christ in Romans 5:14. We will review this in a few minutes.

b. Where there is a "figure," there is also a "like figure,” i.e., something in the Messianic times which is an answer to a type; said of baptism: the circumstances of the flood, the ark, and its occupants, formed a model, i.e., the figure.

c. Therefore, baptism forms "a corresponding type,” the “like figure,” each setting forth the spiritual realities of the “death, burial, and the resurrection of believers, into a union with Christ,” Romans 6:3-7; Galatians 3:26-27.

d. Some additional explanation of the word “type” can also be found in this secular work.

3. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary catalogs: The word “type” is a person or thing (in the Old Testament) believed to foreshadow another (in the New Testament).

a. A "type," then, is something that "foreshadows" the real thing.