Ark builders: 1 Peter 3:18ff

Clarification of 1 Peter 3:18-22 and Noah’s Reference[i] 

An old idea of baptism, entering “In Christ,” and boat building:

1 Peter’s Mention of the Ark: A Transformational Parallel1 Peter references the Ark to draw powerful parallels between Noah, Christ Jesus, and the scattered congregations. This serves to emphasize the significance of transformation and identity within the faith community.

The Three Parallels:

1. Noah's Transformation: Noah began as a regular member of society, leading a life dedicated to his family and work. Upon hearing God's purpose for him, Noah embraced a new identity as an Ark builder. Through his life's work, Noah became renowned for constructing the Ark, which ultimately became a vessel of salvation for his household and anyone who chose to enter. Noah's story prefigures the coming of Christ Jesus, whose life work provided a household of God's refuge for all who would enter.

2. Christ Jesus: Just as Noah established a new household through the Ark, Christ Jesus' life work accomplished the creation of a new spiritual household. This household provides humanity with the opportunity to draw near to God and be saved from the metaphorical storms of life and the end of time. Christ’s transformative mission parallels Noah’s, offering a sanctuary and vibrant, purposeful community centered around Christ's Spiritual presence. 

3. Local Congregations: The scattered people of God, scattered, living temple stones as addressed in Peter's writing, are called to follow Noah's example by adopting a new identity. Their lives' purpose is to be known for creating a spiritual household that gathers around and draws close to God. Much like the Ark, this community should become a micro-society offering practical salvation in the present and enduring through to eternity. This transformation is a way of coming out of the surrounding “Babylon,” as urged in Revelation 18:4, to form a distinct and faithful new community.

Purpose of the Reference is a present hope The purpose of re-establishing this household of God is to provide a refuge for others amidst life’s chaos to emulate a place of present salvation. Just as Noah’s household offered an Ark as a refuge through the flood, Peter envisions this community as a micro-society, living with Christ in the present and enduring through future storms into the renewed heaven and earth under Christ’s reign. 

Difficult to Understand References Peter's writings include references and details from the ancient world that may be challenging for modern readers. However, the core message is clear. Using Noah’s story, Peter illustrates how the wicked world in Noah’s time parallels the decadent surroundings in the metropolises of Asia Minor. Noah’s life work and household of faith provided a doorway for anyone to enter the ark, which offered passage through the impending flood. Peter, writing under divine inspiration, needs to be read with respect, and historical context can help clarify mysterious references 

(Footnotes [i] [ii]) 

Main points: These clarifications emphasize the communal and dynamic aspects of faith, showing how our local gatherings can serve as entry points into the larger body of Christ and His mission in the world. 

1. The All-Sufficient Work of Christ: Christ is the builder of the Ark, which signifies His complete and finished work of salvation. This truth means that our communities serve as open doors into His Ark, welcoming others into the safety and salvation that Christ provides.
2. Our Community as a Mini-Ark: Christ does not dwell in a single physical temple; rather, He resides among His gathered and scattered people, who are like living stones forming many “temple-like” gatherings. As a community, we act like priests ministering among our members, embodying God's presence as a counter culture to the surrounding community.
3. Peter’s Reference to Noah: By referencing Noah, Peter highlights the significance of collective faith and the role of believers in creating a sanctuary for others. This sanctuary allows people to experience being "in Christ," much like Noah's Ark provided safety and salvation among the waves.
4. Constant Community Presence: This communal presence is not limited to specific times set apart for gathering. It is a phenomenon that can manifest wherever two or three are gathered in Christ's name, reflecting the continuous and dynamic nature of God's kingdom.

 In summary: The local congregation is called to duplicate this -- ark/ temple/ tabernacle/ body/ micro-society/ church-- as the purpose for which it has been chosen by God. It is the embodiment of God’s plan for Abraham’s offspring to be a blessing among the nations. God’s continuous work of redemption and restoration, fueled by his body and blood, is our future hope, and the present hope of the world. 

Here are some questions These questions can help us reflect on our role in building a Christ-centered community and our commitment to God's mission. Some might resonate with you more than others. 

1. How might Noah have viewed his neighbors in three different stages of his life?
   • Before he began to build the ark.
   • While he was building the ark.
   • As he stood in the doorway, hoping to see more than just animals coming to the door.
2. Does viewing our surrounding friends, co-workers, and neighbors through Noah’s eyes build a sense of urgency in us?
3. How might seeing through Noah’s eyes help us view our friends who are "swimming" in worldly chaos?
4. Does this perspective revive a sense of importance and purpose in the local gathering of the saints?
5. How long was God’s patience in Noah’s day, and how long is His patience today? What is he waiting for?
6. Re-read 1 Peter. How does this illustration provide insight into the corporate understanding Peter’s message to his readers?
7. Are we, in our daily lives, attentive to the Holy Spirit and willing to surrender our personal desires (will) and dreams to align with God's will?
8. Do we allow ourselves to be transformed so that we prioritize being part of God’s plan and purpose for the world, joining the collective community of believers as essential and active participants?
9. This transformation involves idealizing our role in God’s mission rather than idolizing our ambitions for personal gain. Are we community leaders striving to reflect God's image through our actions and resources, rather than focusing on self-promotion and exclusive preservation?
10. Did Noah foresee his neighbors' worldly chaos "rising up" like the waters in which they would one day drown?
11. As well as one's involvement a local faith community, each sphere of our lives can be a little Ark for those involved. What does "ark building" look like in your different spheres?
    

  [i] (See FaithLife Study Bible notes for more on the mysterious reference www.Faithlife.com). [ii] https://bibleproject.com/classroom/noah-to-abraham/modules/2

After some conversation over this blog post, some clarifying concepts. 

The Boat as a Manifestation of Esoteric Truths: The ark built by Noah is not merely an esoteric concept but a tangible manifestation of deeper spiritual truths that any group can create. Though one can argue that all good movement are authored by God. God's ark is centered around Christ.

It represents people congregating and mobilizing around God's Spirit's presence, provision and salvation in a concrete form, demonstrating how divine principles can be realized in the physical world. 

Virtual Communities do not fit Peter’s points: While online communities can be valuable tools for connection, communication, and support one another, like the “Universal” church, they cannot replace the physical, local gathering of believers. Our local gatherings serve as mini arks, providing a tangible, communal experience of faith that virtual interactions alone cannot fully replicate. 

The virtual tools can mobilize these arks in a coordinated effort to impact systemic social issues and woes that our random acts of kindness, and our secular societal organizations seem to be falling short in addressing. Imagine God's people's impact upon an issue in society, if it were addressed by a unified group of these mini arks, coordinating efforts over an extended period time.

God's Voice as the Guiding Hand: The most crucial aspect is that God's voice and word were the initiators and guiding forces in directing Noah's life work. This was not open to Noah's personal interpretation or what he thought best. 

Similarly, our efforts to build and maintain our communities must be rooted in and guided by God's word. This raises the important question of how we discern God's voice today and how we corporately and objectively compare our "ark" to His word preserved for us through the Bible. What are the sources that shape our thinking? Filter bubbles, AI, gossip, bad self-talk? We as modern readers are steeped in our own culture centered around consumerism, individualism, and isolationism. Have you learned to tune into the still quiet voice of God's Wisdom that sings over new creation?