“For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also– not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand– with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” 1 Peter 3:18-22 (NIV)
In the Genesis story of the first judgment (Gen. 5-8), we get a sense of God’s internal conflict over the proper action needed against his degraded creation. Mankind had sunk to a level of sin where violence and chaos threatened to destroy all that God had done. After watching his creation reap the results of Adam’s disobedience, God brought creation to judgment but his judgment came with a broken heart.
After the judgment is completed, we see God’s commitment to his creation (Gen. 9:8-17). He covenants with Noah and all of creation to never again use a flood to destroy humanity. We may view God’s action and statement as a clear sign of his commitment to his creation. Yet, God’s commitment is more clearly seen from the perspective of today’s text.
The Apostle Peter explains that God “waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” Our God patiently provided mercy by giving time for both a warning to be given and a place of safety to be constructed. He was committed to his creation long before his covenant statement in Genesis 9. And if He gave them patience and mercy before the flood, how much more grace does He give to us through Jesus his sacrificed son?
If He was so concerned about eight souls in that day, how much more is He concerned about the billions who are living today? Peter assures us that the righteous Christ died for all the unrighteous souls in the earth “to bring you to God.” He compares Noah and his family being saved to all of us who are baptized by water. We are assured that our gesture of faith is our pledge to God, and we are saved “by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy through Jesus Christ. Empower us with a steadfast faith. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in God’s commitment to you,