Welcome to the Faithful Men website hosted on The Tuinstra’s URL. I (Roger) have had the opportunity to teach adult Sunday School classes and Bible studies for almost 60 years. Before I retired, I seemed to have enough time to post to my blog here quite regularly. For a while, a very short while, I thought I could post once a day like Challies does. But that dream didn’t last a week! Since retiring, I have even less time to write regularly, although I have kept up with my Bible study and teaching responsibilities.
As many of you retired folks can attest, we men often struggle with our goals and purpose in life after retirement. God reminded me of what Paul wrote to the Philippian Christians in Phil. 1:25. Here is my paraphrase: Since God has me still here, I know that I will remain and continue here for the progress and joy of faith in the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Now we return to First Peter, even though our larger study is moving through Genesis.
Why are we in First Peter? Because of Noah.
Last week we discussed Christ proclaiming to the spirits in prison, and that led to many good conversations. We are not going back over that discussion today. Instead, we want to focus on the end of verse 20 and into verse 21.
Peter speaks about the days of Noah during the construction of the ark, when eight persons were brought safely through the water. Then he says,
“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal of a good conscience to God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
That verse deserves careful attention.
Years ago Ruth and I attended a Church of Christ congregation for a short time. They believed in baptismal regeneration—that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. I never did understand what they did with the thief on the cross, though perhaps they allowed for exceptions.
I remember discussing this subject with someone there, telling him that baptism does not save. He immediately took me to this verse. I was caught off guard. I had grown up in a pastor’s home and had been a Christian for years, yet I was not prepared to answer from this passage. I had to go home and study it carefully.
One thing impressed me, though. He was willing to open the Scriptures and discuss them. Even though I disagreed with his conclusion, there is nothing wrong with opening the Bible together and asking what the text says.
Someone immediately asked about Peter’s words, “not the removal of dirt from the flesh.” That observation points us toward an important distinction between water baptism and Spirit baptism.
I want to spend some time establishing why this passage refers to Spirit baptism. You may never need to explain all of the details to someone else, but it is important to understand the foundation yourself.
Different Baptisms in the New Testament
How many different baptisms are there in the New Testament?
Most people immediately think of water baptism and Spirit baptism. John’s baptism also comes to mind. But is John’s baptism the same as Christian baptism today? Both involve water, yet they are not identical.
My father gave me a piece of advice years ago that shaped the way I studied this subject. He said, “Keep your eyes on the prepositions.” That may sound like an English grammar lesson, but it matters because we believe in verbal inspiration. We are interested in the actual words the biblical writers used.
[For the following discussion you might want to refer to the chart at the end of this article.]
In Mark 1:8 John the Baptist says,
“I baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
In English both statements use the word “with,” but the underlying Greek prepositions are more specific.
John baptizes in water.
Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
Those statements tell us the sphere in which each baptism takes place, but they do not yet tell us what people are baptized into.
Looking back at Mark 1:4 and other passages such as Luke 3:3, John’s baptism is described as a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Other passages describe it as baptism into repentance.
So John’s baptism immersed people in water with repentance and forgiveness in view.
Jesus’ baptism, however, immerses people in the Holy Spirit. At this point we still have not identified what they are immersed into, but we know that it is different.
Now consider the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.
Jesus commands His disciples to baptize believers into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is Christian baptism. It is distinct from John’s baptism and distinct from Christ’s baptism in the Holy Spirit.
So we now have three baptisms before us:
John’s baptism in water into repentance.
Christian baptism in water into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Christ’s baptism in the Holy Spirit. But what is this baptism into?
Why the Distinction Matters
Acts 19 illustrates why these distinctions are important.
Paul met some disciples at Ephesus and asked whether they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed.
They answered that they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.
Paul then asked an interesting question:
“Into what then were you baptized?”
That question itself tells us there are different baptisms.
They answered that they had received John’s baptism.
After Paul explained further, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Notice that this corresponds with Christian baptism, which is into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
When we baptize believers today, the pastor says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” In English we hear the word “in,” but the underlying idea is into the name.
The Only Definition of Spirit Baptism
The key passage is 1 Corinthians 12:13.
“For also by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
This is the only passage in Scripture that actually defines Spirit baptism.
Again, the prepositions matter.
Where it says “by” one Spirit is actually in one Spirit into one body.
Which baptism on our chart fits that description?
It is Christ’s baptism.
John baptized in water toward repentance.
Christian baptism is in water into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Christ baptizes in the Spirit into the body of Christ.
That is the baptism that occurs at conversion.
When a person trusts Christ, the Holy Spirit places that believer into the body of Christ.
Christian water baptism does not accomplish that. Christian baptism identifies a believer publicly with Christ. It places that person into the name, identifying him as belonging to Christ. It does not make him a Christian. It does not place him into Christ. It does not save him. It does not forgive sins. It is the outward picture of what has already happened.
Understanding Romans 6
Romans 6 ties these truths together.
Paul writes,
“Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”
Again, the wording is important.
Which baptism puts us into Christ?
Spirit baptism.
When the Holy Spirit places us into Christ, we are also united with His death.
That is why the New Testament repeatedly speaks of believers being in Christ.
Colossians says that we have been raised with Christ.
Ephesians says we have been buried with Christ, raised with Christ, and are presently seated with Christ in the heavenly places.
How can that be?
Because if we are in Christ, then wherever Christ is, that is where we are.
That is difficult to grasp fully. I do not claim to understand every aspect of it. But it is what Scripture teaches.
Returning to First Peter, Peter says that baptism now saves us—not by washing dirt from our bodies, but through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
That saving baptism is not water baptism. The only baptism that places us into Christ, into His death, burial, and resurrection, is Spirit baptism.
Water baptism identifies us publicly as Christians. It pictures what has already taken place.
Living in the Reality of Being in Christ
One observation from our discussion was that this truth gives tremendous assurance.
Jesus Himself was baptized, not because He needed cleansing, but because He identified with those He came to save.
Likewise, our confidence comes from the fact that we are truly in Christ.
When Scripture says that in Christ we have forgiveness, or in Christ we possess every spiritual blessing, those statements are not simply attached to the label “Christian.” They describe an actual union with Christ.
That is where our power comes from.
Romans 6 says that we were buried with Him through baptism into death so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we also might walk in newness of life.
It goes on to say that our old man was crucified with Him.
When Christ died, believers died with Him.
Christ died to sin once for all. Although He was never a sinner, He endured temptation before the cross. After His death and resurrection, He no longer faced those temptations.
Because we died with Him, sin no longer has dominion over us.
We often do not feel that way. We feel powerless before temptation.
But the gospel tells us otherwise.
In Christ, sin has no authority over us.
Every temptation we face can be answered with, “I refuse to do that.”
If we choose to sin, it is not because sin possesses irresistible power over us. We voluntarily offer ourselves as slaves when we no longer have to..
That is why understanding these baptisms matters.
I do not expect everyone to explain all of these details to someone else. But I do want you to have a solid foundation when someone says that water baptism placed them into Christ’s death.
Water baptism pictures what happened.
When the Holy Spirit came into your life, He placed you into Christ. That is when you died with Him, were buried with Him, and were raised with Him.
Baptism
(Comparison of 3 different baptisms based on the prepositions)
I’ve been stuck on this same section of First Peter for several weeks. Those of you who read the emails each week may wonder why. Well, look at the text:
1 Peter 2:6–8 (NKJV)
6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
Peter is describing a stone which is a cornerstone which is precious to some, rejected by others, a stone that causes stumbling, and a rock of offense. Referring to this same rock, Jesus said that whoever this stone falls on will be crushed to powder (Matthew 21:44).
This word picture is taken from three Old Testament passages: Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; and Isaiah 8:14.
The first lesson I want us to take from this is that God appointed Christ to be the cornerstone. He is the foundation of our faith and He is the main cornerstone of the church. The apostles and prophets make up the rest of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20). He who was rejected by many has become the chief cornerstone. They thought that rejecting Him would put Him out of the picture, but their intentions were foiled. Human rejection does not overturn God’s choice or purpose.
And then, here’s the promise for us who believe: “He who believe on Him will not be put to shame.”
Do I build my life on Christ and God’s word, or do I allow human opinion, popular ideas, and my own judgment to form the foundation of my life? God’s chosen cornerstone is worthy of my complete trust, even if everyone else rejects Him.
[Session 24 covers two main topics. I have split them up to make it a little easier to follow. In the first part of the class I explain why I teach the way I do. That is what I’m sharing here today. The second part of the class is discussing baptism. Baptism comes up because Peter compares Noah and the flood with baptism. I will share that as Session 24b next time. The video at the end of this post is the entire session with both topics included.]
Why I Teach the Way I Do
Before we continue our study, I want to explain why I teach the way I do. Sometimes I look out and see expressions that seem to be asking, “Where is he going with this?” or “Why are we spending so much time on this?” I understand that. But there is a reason behind the approach.
My dad taught me years ago that the Word of God is all Scripture. We begin with that conviction. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable. Jesus also said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We often use the expression verbal inspiration. That phrase isn’t found in the Bible, but it expresses an important truth. We believe that the very words originally written by the prophets and apostles were the words the Holy Spirit intended. If inspiration were only about general ideas, then it would not matter which words the writers chose as long as the basic thought was communicated. But Scripture is inspired in its very words.
That conviction affects the way we read and teach the Bible. Since all Scripture is inspired and all Scripture is profitable, then all Scripture deserves to be taught. Obviously none of us can cover the whole Bible quickly. John MacArthur preached through the Bible verse by verse over many years. But my preference is not simply to choose a favorite devotional thought, build a lesson around it, and leave everyone feeling encouraged. Devotionals certainly have their place, but my desire is that, as much as possible, we understand what the Scriptures themselves are saying.
Take the book of Romans, for example. It is not easy reading. Yet Paul addressed it to “the saints who are at Rome.” He did not write to scholars or pastors only. He wrote to ordinary believers. The same is true of his other letters. Scripture was intended to be understood.
That is one reason I have always believed that children in Christian homes should learn to read well. Beyond all the practical reasons for literacy, God has chosen to communicate His Word to us through a written book. We do not receive ongoing voices from heaven. We receive God’s revelation through Scripture, and we should be able to read and understand it.
That also explains why I sometimes ask, “What does this verse say?” Quite often someone gives theologically correct answers, but those answers actually come from somewhere else in Scripture. I want us to focus on what this particular passage says. What do these words mean? What is the author communicating here? That is why we sometimes dig deeply into a passage.
The writer of Hebrews gives us a good example. He begins discussing Melchizedek, then pauses and tells his readers that the subject is difficult because they have become dull of hearing. By this time they should have been teachers, yet they still needed instruction themselves. Some people would stop there and move on to an easier subject. The writer of Hebrews did not. After challenging them to grow, he returned to Melchizedek and continued explaining him because understanding Melchizedek as a type of Christ and understanding his priestly ministry mattered.
That is my encouragement to all of us. Sometimes we need to dig. Some passages are difficult, but that is exactly why we should think carefully about them.
There are promises connected with meditating on God’s Word. Joshua was told that the Book of the Law should not depart from his mouth but that he should meditate on it day and night so that he would observe all that was written in it. Psalm 1 says essentially the same thing. The blessed man delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on it day and night. Both passages connect success—not the world’s definition of success, but God’s—with meditation on Scripture.
Deuteronomy 6 also comes to mind. Many of us are beyond the years of raising children, but the principle remains the same. We are to know God’s Word and teach it to our children. We are to talk about it throughout the day, when we rise up and when we lie down. Scripture is meant to saturate our lives.
That is the framework from which I teach.
I also recognize that people learn differently. I spent forty years teaching science and mathematics, and students have different learning styles. My teaching style may not always match yours, and that is understandable. I tend to think analytically. I like outlines and careful progression. Other teachers communicate differently, and that’s fine. Sometimes I struggle to follow their style, and perhaps they would struggle to follow mine.
During our discussion someone pointed out that comparing several good English translations can also help us understand what a passage is saying, especially for those who do not work directly with the Greek or Hebrew text. I agree with that completely. We have wonderful resources available today. We can easily compare translations, reading a familiar translation like the King James alongside something like the New American Standard or even a simpler paraphrase to help grasp the flow of thought.
Another reminder from Deuteronomy 6 is that we cannot pass God’s truth on unless we know it ourselves. As grandparents especially, we still have responsibilities. Some of us are now at the top of our family generations, with children and grandchildren beneath us. We have opportunities to help shape those who follow us.
Someone also observed that every person who comes into a Bible study arrives with different needs and experiences. The Holy Spirit often takes something different from the lesson and applies it personally. I have experienced that myself. People sometimes tell me after a message what particularly affected them, and it is not always the point that stood out most to me.
Hopefully this explanation helps you all to understand my approach to Bible teaching.
I don’t know how many of you are following our study of First Peter closely, but this is a fascinating portion of Scripture. That’s why it is taking us multiple weeks to work through it. I am going to call this a wet-your-appetite email to see if we can get some engagement going.
We saw that in 2:4 he describes our coming to Christ as “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious.” In verse 5 he goes on to say that we too are living stones being built into a spiritual house. We have talked about that over the last couple of weeks.
In 2:6-8, Peter quotes three different passages from the Old Testament to support his teaching. I am going to take some time personally to chase down these Old Testament references to look at their context. I probably won’t share all of that with you because it could take a long time to work through. But I encourage you to do the same.
Here are the passages he quotes from in verses 6-8: Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; and Isaiah 8:14.
One or more of these same three verses are quoted, discussed, or hinted at in Romans 9:32-33; Romans 10:11; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 21:42-44; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17-18; Acts 4:10-12.
Do a little digging this week and share any insights that you have. What lessons do Jesus, Peter, and Paul provide from these very same verses? If you do share, I will pass along your comments anonymously to the 80 or so guys who receive this email.
If you’re not interested in a deeper study like this, let me at least share one devotional thought that I gain from noticing how often these 3 verses are used in the New Testament. The Bible is rich and meaningful and is worth studying and meditating on. All Scripture is profitable and we can see that because three verses that we might just read past when we are reading the Old Testament are used by Jesus, Peter, and Paul in their teaching. Don’t minimize the importance of the Word of God in your life. Even verses that don’t seem to have much application to your life can be of great encouragement when put together with the whole of what the Bible teaches.
I’m always grateful for the many of you who join me in my morning devotions. We have been thinking deeply about what Peter wrote in his first letter, the book of the Bible called First Peter.
Last time we talked about the following passage:
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5
We talked last time about Jesus being the living stone who was rejected by men but chosen and precious to God. But, today, let’s look at the second half of the passage. Peter writes that we also are living stones being built into something.
He describes what we are being built up to in two phrases. First, he says we are being made into a spiritual house, and then into a holy priesthood. Jesus had told Peter that He, Jesus, would build His church and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). So, we as believers are stones that Jesus is using to construct His church which is a “spiritual” house. It is a “spiritual” structure, not a brick-and-mortar building.
We have gotten used to using the word “church” for the building in which we gather to worship God and to be taught his Word. But we need to be sure we understand that the church is not a building. It is the people of God which are being formed together as a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
The second aspect Peter tells us is that we are a holy priesthood. According to this passage, a priest offers up spiritual sacrifices which are acceptable to God. What kind of sacrifices would this be? I can think of several that the Bible explicitly identifies as sacrifices:
Praise to God, the fruit of our lips – Hebrews 13:15
Our bodies – Romans 12:1
Doing good and sharing with others – Hebrews 13:16
Our financial giving – Philippians 4:18
Ministry – Romans 15:16
Our love – Ephesians 5:2 connects Christian love with Christ’s sacrificial offering.
Take some time today and this week to try to change your view of yourself as a Christian from an ordinary person just trying to please God and do the right thing, to a view that sees yourself as a living stone that God is using to construct His church and as a priest offering frequent sacrifices to God that He finds acceptable for what He is trying to accomplish in this world.
Today I am bringing you a devotional I read the other day. I found it so encouraging, strengthening, and challenging that I thought I would interrupt my devotions from First Peter to share it with you. This piece was written by Sam Crabtree for his portion of a larger devotional book for men. The details are at the end. His thoughts this morning are taken from Colossians 3:1-17. Reading the Scripture first would be helpful.
Hearts of men! Attention! Here come your marching orders. This passage posts a substantial array of straightforward commands.
We are told to set our minds on the things that are above, and to seek them. We are encouraged to put to death what is earthly in us – sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, covetousness, idolatry. We must give no place to anger, wrath, malice, slander, or obscene talk. We must never lie to one another. Rather, we should put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience – bearing with one another and forgiving each other. We are to put on love and let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Be thankful. Teach and admonish one another. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. Wives, submit to your husbands. Above all, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.
Although this is a men’s devotional Bible, I left “wives, submit to your husbands” in the list, because believing men are part of the bride of Christ and are to submit to him. Submission can be difficult. These are hard things. These are impossible things apart from enabling grace.
One of the things on the above list is essential to all the others. Though easily overlooked, this is the key to seeking things that are above, setting your mind there, putting to death what is earthly in you, not lying, putting on compassion, forgiving, loving, letting the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, and being thankful. This is the absolutely crucial key for teaching and admonishing one another well. It’s the last item on the list: letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly. The word is the key. The Scriptures play a fundamentally important role in strengthening a man’s heart to not go off the rails. Without the word dwelling in a man, he will not sustain his pursuit of any of the other things listed. Wise men recognize this, and therefore permeate themselves with Scripture. (Taken from “Daily Strength – A Devotional for Men” published by Crossway, 2022, page 393)
The flood is one of the major events in biblical history, so it should not surprise us that the New Testament writers repeatedly return to it and the people involved.
One of the first passages that comes to mind is Matthew 24. Jesus is speaking about future events and says:
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
He then compares His coming to the days of Noah:
“For just as the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.”
Jesus reminds us what life was like before the flood. People were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, carrying on with ordinary life until the day Noah entered the ark. The picture is important. While Noah was building the ark and warning of judgment, the world around him simply continued as normal. People were occupied with everyday concerns and paid no attention to what God was saying.
Jesus says it will be the same when the Son of Man comes. Life will not necessarily grind to a halt while the world waits for some dramatic announcement. People will be engaged in ordinary activities. Then suddenly God’s plan will unfold.
The passage goes on to say:
“They did not understand until the flood came and took them all away.”
That wording raises an interesting question. Who was taken away in the flood? It was not Noah and his family. The ones taken away were the people who remained outside the ark. The people who ignored God’s warning were swept away in judgment.
That observation affects how I understand the verses that follow:
“Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.”
Many people immediately connect those verses with the rapture, and I understand why. We have all heard that picture presented many times. But I think there is another possibility worth considering.
Growing up in a dispensational church, I was taught that there is a distinction between the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. Christ came once as a baby in Bethlehem. In the future He will come for His church in the rapture, and after the tribulation He will return again to establish His kingdom.
The next event we are waiting for is the rapture. Paul describes that in 1 Thessalonians when he says the Lord will descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will rise first, and believers will be caught up together with Him.
But I do not think Matthew 24 is describing the rapture. I think it is describing the second coming of Christ. In the flood narrative, those who were taken away were the unbelieving world. Noah and his family remained. If Jesus is deliberately using that pattern, then the ones taken in Matthew 24 would be those removed in judgment, while those left would remain to enter the kingdom.
Whether you agree or disagree, it is worth thinking through the passage carefully.
The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares
Matthew 13 provides another passage that helps me understand this picture.
Jesus tells the story of a man who sowed good seed in his field. An enemy came afterward and sowed tares among the wheat. When both began to grow, the servants asked whether they should pull out the tares immediately.
The answer was no. Both would remain together until the harvest.
When Jesus explains the parable, He identifies the field as the world. The good seed represents the sons of the kingdom, while the tares represent the sons of the evil one. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Then Jesus says:
“Just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age.”
Notice the order. The tares are gathered out first. The Son of Man sends His angels, and they gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness. These are cast into the fiery furnace.
Then the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of their Father.
The same pattern appears again. The wicked are removed, while the righteous remain.
That is why I connect Matthew 24 with Christ’s return to establish His kingdom rather than with the rapture of the church. During the tribulation there will be both believers and unbelievers on the earth. When Christ returns to establish His reign, the unbelieving are removed and the righteous enter the kingdom.
Other parables point in a similar direction. The parable of the dragnet separates good fish from bad fish. The sheep and goats are divided. Again and again there is a separation at the end.
The point is not to create controversy. It is simply to encourage careful reading of the text.
The Holy Spirit and the Future
That discussion naturally raises questions about the Holy Spirit during the tribulation.
There must be a continuing work of the Spirit because people will still be saved. Scripture speaks of a future turning of Israel to the Lord. Jewish people will recognize the fulfillment of their Scriptures and will bear witness to those around them. The Holy Spirit must still be active because no one can be born again apart from His work.
Jesus told Nicodemus that the Spirit is like the wind. The wind blows where it wishes and accomplishes its purpose. In that future day God will continue to work powerfully through His Spirit.
The gathering of the church is a unique ministry of the Spirit in this present age. When the church is raptured, that ministry reaches its completion. Yet God’s saving work will continue, because people cannot come to faith apart from the work of the Spirit.
Noah in Hebrews 11
Another important New Testament reference to Noah appears in Hebrews 11.
The chapter begins:
“By faith Noah…”
That statement immediately tells us something important. Noah believed God.
Faith, at its simplest, is taking God at His word. Noah was warned about things not yet seen. He was told a flood was coming, though he had never witnessed anything like it. He had never seen rain. God did not even give him a sample thunderstorm to demonstrate what was coming. Noah simply received God’s word and believed it.
Because he believed, he acted.
Hebrews says:
“In reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household.”
Noah’s obedience was based entirely on God’s promise.
Imagine explaining that construction project to your neighbors. A massive boat is being built where there is no sea. Rain has never fallen from the sky. Yet Noah spends years preparing because God said judgment was coming.
Would we have believed him?
Honestly, I think many of us would have struggled. Yet Noah believed God.
That is why Hebrews holds him up as an example of faith.
The passage says that through this faith he became:“an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”
That brings us to a central truth of the gospel. None of us possesses enough righteousness to stand before God. We need a righteousness that comes from God Himself.
Paul speaks of wanting to be found in Christ, not possessing a righteousness of his own, but a righteousness that comes from God.
That is what salvation is. God offers His righteousness as a gift. Noah believed God and received what God promised. The same principle remains true today.
When helping people who struggle with assurance, we should direct them back to God’s promise rather than to their feelings.
Someone may say, “I don’t feel saved.”
The question is not how they feel. The question is whether they have believed God’s promise.
God says:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”
Have you believed Him?
Faith rests on what God has said.
Of course, genuine faith produces results. James tells us that faith without works is dead.
If Noah had said he believed God but never cut a tree, never shaped a board, and never built an ark, we would have serious reason to question whether he truly believed.
His work did not earn salvation. His actions demonstrated his faith.
The same principle operates throughout life. When we genuinely believe a warning, we respond to it. If a tornado is heading toward your house, you do something about it. Belief produces action.
Noah’s obedience flowed from his faith.
Christ’s Proclamation to the Spirits in Prison
One of the more challenging passages connected to Noah appears in 1 Peter 3.
Peter writes:
“For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God…”
He then says Christ was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, “in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison.”
Peter identifies these spirits as those who were disobedient during the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared.
Naturally, that raises a number of questions.
Who are these spirits?
When did Christ preach to them?
Why would He proclaim anything to them?
Was He offering them another opportunity?
Several explanations have been suggested.
One view is that Christ preached through Noah while Noah was alive. The Spirit of Christ was working through Noah as he proclaimed God’s message to the people of his generation. Those people are now in prison, but the preaching itself occurred during Noah’s lifetime.
Another view is that Christ did indeed proclaim something to those spirits after His death, but not as an offer of salvation. Instead, it was a declaration of victory. It was a proclamation that God reigns, that Christ has triumphed, and that His victory stands despite their rebellion.
Those are the two primary approaches that are often discussed.
The Conquering Character of Christ
Thinking about that second possibility highlights something I fear we do not emphasize enough. We sometimes fail to appreciate the conquering character of Christ. Many modern portrayals present Jesus as gentle and loving, which He certainly is. But they sometimes leave the impression that He is passive or weak.
The Jesus of Scripture is not weak.
The book of Revelation presents Him as a conquering King. He confronts evil. He judges rebellion. He rules with authority.
Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. He does not fail in the mission given to Him.
When Scripture speaks of Him leading captivity captive, breaking the bars of hell, and building His church against the gates of hell, it presents a victorious Savior.
Even our gathering as believers reflects that reality. When the church assembles, we are not simply participating in a social club. We are gathering as the people of Christ in a world where Satan is called the god of this age.
Every true conversion represents another soul rescued from darkness.
Every faithful church that proclaims the gospel stands as a testimony to Christ’s authority and victory.
That is why the growth of Christ’s kingdom matters. Every person brought to faith is another demonstration that the King continues His work.
Whether we understand 1 Peter 3 as Christ preaching through Noah or as Christ proclaiming victory to imprisoned spirits, the passage ultimately points us back to the triumph of God over unbelief and rebellion.
Noah preached. Very few responded. Yet God preserved His own.
Lot was rescued from Sodom. Few escaped with him. Yet God preserved His own.
The gospel continues to go out today. God continues to save people. For that we should be deeply thankful.
Before moving on, I want to review a few things we discussed previously, because they are important. We talked about the covenant God made with Noah. That covenant was unconditional. God promised that He would watch over Noah’s descendants and that there would never again be a flood that would destroy the earth. We also talked about the new covenant that God has made with His people. Jesus referred to it when He said, “This is the new covenant in my blood.” Every time we observe communion, we are reminded of that covenant.
When you stop and think about it, it is amazing that the God of the universe would make covenants with people at all. He made a covenant with Adam. Adam failed that covenant because it was conditional. God said, in effect, “I will do this if you do that.” God made a covenant with Noah. Later He made a covenant with Abraham. He made a covenant with David. And He promised the new covenant.
The primary passages describing the new covenant are Jeremiah 31:31–34 and Ezekiel 36:26–27. When we put those passages together, several promises stand out.
First, God promises a new heart. He removes the old stony heart and replaces it with a heart that is soft, pliable, and able to be faithful.
Second, He promises that He will cause His people to walk in His ways. That is a remarkable statement. To cause something means to make it happen. God causes the recipients of the new covenant to walk in His judgments and His ways.
Third, there is complete forgiveness of sins. In addition to those promises, God gives a new spirit. He also places His own Spirit within His people. We know Him as the Holy Spirit.
Finally, He promises to put His law in our minds and upon our hearts.
So the new covenant includes a new heart, a new spirit, the presence of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins, God causing His people to walk in His ways, and His law written on their hearts.
Is that covenant conditional or unconditional? In one sense it is unconditional because God says, “This is what I am going to do.” Yet a person becomes a recipient of those blessings by believing God’s promise. Not everyone in the world is presently enjoying those covenant blessings. A person receives them as a gift. We trust Christ. We receive what we call salvation.
But Christianity is more than simply being convinced that certain facts are true. People can be argued into political positions or persuaded of various viewpoints. Christianity is different. A person trusts Christ. He believes Him. Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. In the same way, we believe what God has said. God says that if we believe on His Son, He will save us. We receive that promise and trust Him.
Some people say they are trying to believe. But trying to believe is not the same thing as believing. Believing means actually trusting that God’s promises are true and that He means what He says. When a person trusts Christ, God does what He promised. He replaces the old heart with a new heart. He gives a new spirit. He gives the Holy Spirit. He causes that person to grow and to walk in His ways through His Word and through a relationship with Him in prayer. He writes His law upon the heart.
That is transformation. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” A Christian has a new heart. He has new motivations. He loves God. He loves God’s people. He loves the church. He loves prayer. He loves fellowship with God because his heart has been changed. That is what God promises in the New Covenant.
Noah’s Sons and the Spread of the Nations
Genesis 9:18 introduces us again to Noah’s sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. We are also told that Ham was the father of Canaan. The name Canaan immediately reminds us of the land that Israel later entered and of the Canaanites who became such a significant part of Israel’s history.
The text says that from Noah’s three sons the whole earth was populated and scattered abroad.
When you look at the map showing the descendants of Noah, it becomes easier to visualize what happened. Generally speaking, Ham’s descendants settled throughout much of Africa. Shem’s descendants occupied areas including the Arabian Peninsula, Israel, and Assyria. Japheth’s descendants spread into parts of Asia and eventually into Europe as well.
This also helps explain the word “Semite.” When people speak of antisemitism today, they are speaking about hostility toward Jewish people. The word comes from Shem. Over time the spelling shifted, and descendants of Shem became known as Semites.
The Jewish people are not the only Semites, however. There are many other peoples in the Middle East who also descend from Shem.
Most of us, judging from our European ancestry, are probably descendants of Japheth somewhere along the line, though after all these centuries there has certainly been much mixing among peoples.
Noah’s Vineyard and the Curse on Canaan
After the flood, Noah became a man of the land and planted a vineyard. Eventually Noah made wine, became drunk, and lay uncovered in his tent. One thing we often overlook is that this was not an event that happened immediately after leaving the ark. Grapevines take years to mature before they can produce grapes suitable for making wine. There is at least a span of several years between Noah planting the vineyard and the events that follow.
Ham saw his father’s nakedness and then told his brothers. Shem and Japheth responded differently. They took a garment, laid it on their shoulders, walked backward into the tent, and covered their father without looking at him.
Exactly what happened in the incident is not entirely clear. Noah later awoke and knew what his younger son had done to him. Beyond that statement, Scripture does not explain everything. We can speculate, but we really do not know.
What follows is even more surprising. Noah did not pronounce a curse upon Ham. Instead, he said, “Cursed be Canaan.” Canaan was Ham’s son.
That raises questions. Was Canaan present? Was he involved somehow? The text does not tell us. The story itself focuses on Noah, Ham, Shem, and Japheth. Yet Noah’s words fall upon Canaan. The curse declared that Canaan would become a servant of servants to his brothers. Whether Noah was speaking only of Canaan personally or of his descendants as well is not entirely clear. My own impression is that Noah intended both Canaan and the family that would come from him.
Noah then pronounced blessing upon Shem. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem.”
He also predicted that Japheth would dwell in the tents of Shem. That language seems to suggest some kind of hierarchy in which Shem occupies a position of prominence. Canaan, meanwhile, would serve both.
Afterward we are told that Noah lived 350 years after the flood and died at the age of 950. It is difficult to grasp a lifespan of that length. If Noah’s funeral were taking place this week, his birth would reach back nearly a thousand years before our own time. Thinking in those terms reminds us just how immense these lifespans were.
The Table of Nations
Genesis 10 records the generations of Noah’s sons and the nations that descended from them. Many of the names in this chapter later appear elsewhere in Scripture.
Among Japheth’s descendants we find Magog, Meshech, and Tubal. These names appear again in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and in Revelation 20 in connection with the final conflict often associated with Armageddon.
Some prophecy teachers have attempted to connect Magog with Russia and Meshech with Moscow. Historically, however, there does not seem to be a clear connection between Meshech and Moscow. Nevertheless, these names do reappear later in biblical prophecy.
As the genealogy continues, verse 5 mentions that the peoples were separated according to their lands, families, and tongues. That raises an interesting question.
The confusion of languages occurs in the next chapter at Babel. So how can chapter 10 already speak of different tongues?
One possibility is that the word refers to dialects rather than entirely different languages.
Another explanation, which I think makes the most sense, is that Moses is writing a genealogy that includes future history. Moses wrote long after these events occurred. Looking back, he describes where these family lines eventually ended up and how they were divided. The language is written from the perspective of later history even though the events had not yet happened at the point being described. In that sense, the genealogy tells us what became of these descendants.
Among Ham’s descendants we encounter Mizraim, which is the Hebrew name for Egypt. That tells us that Egypt traces its origins back to Ham’s family line.
We also read about Cush, whose son was Nimrod. Nimrod became famous as a mighty hunter before the Lord. Apparently his reputation became so well known that people used his name as a comparison for exceptional hunters.
More importantly, we learn that the beginning of his kingdom was Babel. That immediately connects him to the events of the next chapter.
His kingdom also included cities in Shinar, the region we would associate with Iraq today. From there he went into Assyria and built Nineveh. When we later read the book of Jonah and encounter Nineveh, we discover that the city’s founder was Nimrod, a grandson of Ham.
As the genealogy continues, many familiar names appear. We encounter Sidon, the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and many others.
These are the peoples who later become intertwined with Israel’s history.
The Philistines are also mentioned. And we know the trouble that Israel had with them.
In fact, many of the conflicts that later arise in Israel’s history can be traced back to these family lines descending from Noah’s sons.
The borders of the Canaanites are described as extending toward places such as Gaza, Sodom, and Gomorrah. Those names continue to appear throughout the biblical story.
“In His Days the Earth Was Divided”
Among the descendants of Shem we eventually come to Eber and his son Peleg. The text says, “In his days the earth was divided.”
There are two common ways of understanding that statement.
One view is that it refers to a physical division of the earth, perhaps involving continents separating. Personally, that seems less likely to me. While I believe great geological changes accompanied the flood, it is difficult for me to see this verse referring to a continental breakup occurring this late in history.
The second possibility is that the division concerns people rather than the planet itself.
The Hebrew terminology can refer to the inhabited world, to people, rather than to the earth as a physical globe. In that sense, the verse could be describing the division of the peoples at Babel. The nations were separated as languages were confused and families spread throughout the earth. That interpretation fits well with God’s command after the flood. He told humanity to multiply and fill the earth.
Instead, people preferred to stay together. They wanted to remain in one place and make a name for themselves. God therefore divided their languages, forcing them to spread out across the world and accomplish the very thing He had commanded.
The Tower of Babel
Genesis 11 records the account of Babel.
The people sought to build a tower reaching upward toward heaven. Their goal was not merely construction. They wanted to make a name for themselves. Human pride has always had that tendency. People want recognition. They want to be admired. They want to be celebrated. Not simply appreciated for faithful service, but exalted. That was the spirit behind Babel.
God responded by confusing their languages and scattering them throughout the earth. The project came to an end, and the people dispersed into the various nations that would populate the world.
The Story Turns Toward Abraham
The latter part of Genesis 11 contains another genealogy, particularly focusing on the descendants of Shem.
Eventually we arrive at Terah who became the father of Abram.
At that point the narrative begins turning toward Abraham and God’s call upon his life.
Before moving on to Abraham, it is worth noticing how often Noah and the flood continue to appear later in Scripture. Jesus spoke about Noah. Other New Testament writers referred to Noah and the flood as well. Those references remind us that these events remained important throughout the biblical story long after the flood itself had passed. We’ll be touching on some of those references in the next couple of weeks.
*Some articles on this publication or website are adapted from my recorded Bible teaching. I use transcription and editing tools (including AI-assisted editing) to convert spoken lectures into readable written form. The ideas, interpretations, and theological conclusions are my own and come directly from my teaching.
Today I would like you to join me as I continue working through this passage from 1 Peter 2:4-6:
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5
Last time we focused on the fact that when we come to Jesus for salvation, we are coming to Him as to a living stone. He is the foundation of our faith and the foundation of His church.
Verse 4 goes on to tell us that He was chosen by God and precious. It is important to remember that God exists as One God in three persons. Don’t ask me to explain that. It is just what the Bible says. Before time began there was love and communication between and among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son took on flesh and came to live here among us as a man. It’s because of the close relationship of the persons in the trinity that Peter can say He is chosen and precious to God the Father.
Verse 4 also tells us, however, that He was rejected by men. John 1:11 says, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.”
Isaiah prophesied, “He is despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:3).
When we come to Christ, we are coming to someone who most of the world has rejected. But, we are coming to someone who is highly treasured by God. You need to take a moment and think about that. Would you rather be with the One who is treasured by God, or somebody who is treasured by the world. Famous actors and rock stars are lifted up and idolized all over the world. It seems that everyone knows who they are, and somehow, has the money to attend their events. But remember, much of what the world holds up, God despises. And the One God treasures, the world despises.
Back to our passage: Given that introductory information, we should be startled to read that “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, ….” You also! You also are like a living stone. Jesus is a living stone, and you also are like living stones that God is using to build something. We’ll think more next time about what we are being built into. But there is enough here to provide lots of opportunities for meditation and thanksgiving.
In our study of 1 Peter, I’ve been thinking about 1 Peter 2:4-8. Last time I paraphrased part of this to help us all see more clearly what the passage is saying. I’m not going to tackle the whole thing today, but I want us to get started on it. Let’s start with this:
“Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Peter is saying that when we come to Christ, we are coming to Him as a living stone. Why would he call Jesus a living stone? In thinking about this, I remember that Jesus called Peter a rock. Remember? In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Both the Matthew passage and the verses we are looking at here in First Peter view the rocks and stones as part of the building process. Specifically, they form the secure foundation for the structure.
When we came to Christ, we came to the right place because Jesus Christ is our rock and our firm foundation. In fact, we learn that Jesus Christ is the main cornerstone of building we call The Church. Not the building where you go to worship, but the body of believers that make up “The Church.” And Jesus is the “living stone” because He is alive! He is not a dead object like a rock. He is the living Savior. Look at what Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians: “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20).
If you have come to Christ by faith and trusted in His saving work on the Cross, you have come to the surest foundation of all, Jesus, the chief cornerstone. In addition, you yourself have become part of the structure of the Church itself!
