Genesis 6:8

After the expulsion from Eden of Adam and Eve, wickedness increased among mankind, exhausting at length even the longsuffering of God, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." (Gen. 6:5-7).

Noah was the exception among men, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:8-9). God gave instructions to Noah, “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 "And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 "You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 "And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 "But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark-you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 19 "And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. 20 "Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. 21 "And you shall take for

yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them” (Gen. 6:14-21) and Noah was saved, “So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive” (Gen. 7:23)!

The salvation of Noah was twofold, it was an escape from the water, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7). The flood was global “For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made…17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. 24 And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days” (Gen. 7:4, 17-24). This global flood exhibited divine power and is intended as a warning for us, “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Pet. 3:5-7). It was, as well, an escape by means of water, “who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Pet. 3:20). The corruption of flesh was total, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth” (Gen. 6:11-13). Contamination by exposure to corruption is the rule rather than the exception, “Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (1 Cor. 5:6); “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Cor. 15:33).

The salvation of Noah was by faith, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Heb. 11:7). As “by faith” Noah was saved, it is pertinent to observe that his obedience is emphasized, “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Gen. 6:22); “And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him” (Gen. 7:5). The implication is that the faith which saved Noah was a faith made by fruitful works. “Faith alone” would have issued in the death of Noah and his house, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead… 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?... 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:17, 20, 22).

The salvation of Noah is “A True Likeness” of salvation from sin, “There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21). “A True Likeness” literally, antitype = as the flood bore the ark from corruption to purification, so baptism “Doth now save you” (Acts 22:16). The significance of baptism is assessed from 1 Peter 3:21, “…not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God…”. Conscience-cleansing done by the blood of Christ.

The salvation of Noah typifies our salvation, both in attainment and in effect, “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34); “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'” (Acts 22:16).