1 Peter 3:12-20 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 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 Whole Bible Is The Christian’s Moral Guide

Many professing Christians today refuse to read the Old Testament. They think that the Old Testament is obsolete, no longer valid, because of Jesus Christ. Many preachers believe that the various statements made in the New Testament, statements like …

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if righteousness come by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain.

… erase the Old Testament. They do not. The Old Testament is the foundation upon which the New Testament rests.

We who are Christ followers are no longer under the portions of the Law that relate to animal sacrifices, special feast days, dietary laws, or laws determining cleanliness.

We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10)
Jesus is our High Priest and we are a Kingdom of Priests
(Revelation 1:5-6)

Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial and symbolic aspects of the Law
(Matthew 5:17)

The New Testament believer is freed from the law of circumcision, because we are “circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of our sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Colossians 2:11).

The New Testament believer celebrates the Sabbath on the day Jesus rose from the grave, Sunday (the first day of the week), the same day the early Church worshiped (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).

Yet Christians are STILL under the moral codes
found in BOTH Testaments.

When our Lord Jesus and His Apostles referred to sinful or godless behavior, they used the Old Testament moral codes as the standard. The New Testament writings frequently refer back to the Old Testament. In fact, our focal text today reminds those who profess Christ as Savior that we are under the SAME MORAL STANDARD the Old Testament believer was under.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

For instance, this statement from the Apostle Peter. Did he just make this up? No! Peter is quoting:

Psalm 34:15-16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

The words are not exactly the same, because Peter is writing in Koine Greek, and quoting Old Testament Hebrew. But the words are evidently a quotation from the Old Testament.

What was morally evil in the Old Testament is
still morally evil in the New Testament.

God is watching ALL of us. Though it may seem at times that God is absent, the Bible is very clear that He watches, and He will intervene when He believes the time is right. Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

God is there, and He is not silent. The witness of creation shouts that He is there, ever watching, ever ordering. Humanity has, from Adam’s day, often walked far away from God, justifying and excusing sin and evil. The ostrich buries its head in the sand, and the unbeliever buries his head in the sands of time, saying:

Psalm 14:1 … there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works. There is none that doeth good.

Whether Old or New Testament, God hears those who walk with Him, who walk RIGHT or RIGHTEOUSLY. God hears the prayers of the RIGHTEOUS. But to those who reject His moral design, His face is against them.

1 Peter 3:13-14 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer

The believer will suffer for Christ, for to walk in the light of God is terribly offensive to the darkness. We who are God’s Children are to …

Ephesians 5:1 … followers of God, as dear children …

Whether Old or New Testament, the Lord tells us to …

1 Peter 1:15-16 … But as He which hath called you is holy, so BE YE HOLY in all manner of conversation {or way of life}; 16 BECAUSE IT IS WRITTEN, Be ye holy, for I am holy …

Once more the Apostle quotes the Old Testament (Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2). As we serve the Lord we are “be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts”. Our driving force must not be political correctness nor cancel culture nor the fads of the social justice warriors. Our driving force must be to please the Lord. We as Christ followers need to

1 Peter 3:15-16 … be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good {ἀναστροφή anastrophḗ, [pronounced an-as-trof-ay’] way of life} in Christ

Word Study Our answer to the dark world is not to be characterized by arrogance or superiority, but is to be “with meekness and fear”. The word translated “meekness” is the Greek πραΰτης praÿtēs, {pronounced prah-oo’-tace}, which means “a gentle spirit, or a spirit of humility, not of superiority”. When Jesus told the disciples that they would all betray Him, Peter said “though all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended!”. This is not praÿtēs, which Peter later found out. We are all broken – we need not brag that we have been changed, but we are to glorify the God Who changed us. We are also to respond in “fear”. Not in fear for the darkness, but in fear of God. Jesus said “fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

If we are reviled by the world, we are still to do good toward those who do badly toward us. The Scripture says:

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Do the right thing, even though you are the only one doing it.

1 Peter 3:17-18 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit

Jesus suffered for doing good so that He could bring others to God. When we suffer for doing good, we are imitating Jesus at the highest level. This is true whether in the Old or New Testaments. As believers in Christ, we are to cling to Him. If we suffer for Him, we will ultimately be blessed.

The Old Testament Gave Shadow Teachings
Related To Jesus Christ

Jesus told the Pharisees who constantly hounded Him:

John 5:39-40 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

As Jesus said these words, THERE WAS NO NEW TESTAMENT. “the scriptures” that Jesus referred to was the Old Testament. Jesus said the Old Testament TESTIFIES or IS A WITNESS to Him. Jesus went on to say:

John 5:45-47 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

It is MOSES who wrote – under the inspiration of God – the foundation of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jesus said that Moses’ writings “wrote of me”.

This is why much of the Old Testament is quoted in the New Testament writings. This is why much of the Old Testament history is recounted in the New Testament writings. For instance:

1 Peter 3:20 … 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 Bible tells us that, in the days of Noah,

Genesis 6:5 God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

God determined that the best way to act would be to destroy His creation. And yet, the scripture says:

Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD Genesis 6:8.

Noah saw God in creation, heard the call of God, and was saved. After being saved by faith in Him the Lord told Noah “Build a large boat, an ark, and get ready – for judgment is coming”. Noah had a relationship with God by faith – but he proved his faith by his works. He immediately began to build exactly as God directed. God’s design was going to be turned upside down. Water would drown all who would not get on the boat, judgment would claim any who rejected that which God said. Noah built a boat, an Ark, and got on the boat.

My friends, those who are going to Heaven do not just say “Lord, Lord”. The saved are those who repent, who turn away from their old way of life and turn strictly to Jesus Christ by faith. The saved are those who – like Noah – find Grace in the eyes of the Lord. But after they find Grace the saved do as God their Creator directs them to do. When God says “build a boat” they build a boat. When God says “get on the boat” they get on the boat”. They do not merely mutter the words “Lord, Lord”. The Christian believes what God the Creator has said. The Christian trusts the God Who has made all things to get him to Heaven. The Christian, like Noah, lives his life under the Lordship of God his Savior, doing as God has directed no matter what the world may say.

God established a covenant of faith with Noah and his family. Those who believed would get on the Ark. Those who believed had a relationship with God. They were in covenant with Him. In a covenant two parties are in relationship with one another. God said, “You believe Me, Noah – a flood is coming. I know you’ve never seen rain. I know you’ve never seen a flood. The ground is watered by the dew – but I’m going to show you a new thing. Believe Me, build the Ark, and get on it – and you will be saved.

Noah’s Ark is an Old Testament shadow of the New Testament Jesus. God judged sin, and promised to rain down destruction on the world. But God gave people plenty of time to repent. God said:

Genesis 6:3 My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

For 120 years while Noah built the Ark, the Spirit of God through Noah called the world to repentance. The Spirit of God strived with man – but people rested in their sins rather than in God. God offered mankind ONE WAY to escape condemnation, and that way was to GET ON THE ARK with Moses and his family. In the same way, God today offers ONE WAY out of eternal condemnation – and that way is by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said:

John 14:6 I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No {one} cometh unto the Father but by Me.

Noah was raised above Divine Judgment and certain destruction because of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. God commanded the Ark, and Noah made the Ark his own. He trusted in God, and got on the Ark, which lifted him and his family above divine judgment. Those who receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior have the promise of God:

John 3:15-18 … whosoever believeth in {Jesus} should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

To Be Saved, You Must Get On The Ark

It is so terribly important that you get on the Ark if you will be saved. Noah’s Ark was a shadow of what Christ has now done on the Cross. The Ark was man made but God directed. The Cross was man made but God directed. When you believed in Noah’s day, you got on the Ark. You made the Ark your own. When you believe today, you get on the Cross. You make the Cross your own. Jesus said:

Matthew 10:38 … he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

And Matthew 16:24 … If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Noah could have chosen his own path, but had he done so, he would have perished with the rest of creation. The saved get on the Ark. The saved take up the Cross. The saved follow the Lord.

But what about those who are too young to follow the Lord? What about the children who do not understand? In today’s world, the youth have departed the Church and the Christ because their parents have not been faithful to follow the Lord. Oh Beloved, the Bible warns the parent:

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

God’s earliest commands to His people was that they train their children to love Him. God told His people:

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 … thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children…

Parents, you must put your children on the Ark. You must teach them the things you have learned of God. God illustrates this great truth in the life of Moses.

When Moses was a baby, the Egyptian Pharaoh decided that he would have all male Israelite babies killed. Pharaoh was determined to do this! But little Moses’ mother made up her mind that she wanted her child saved. When he was born, his mother Jochebed kept him hidden. But in time babies cannot be hidden. The Bible says:

Exodus 2:3 And when {Jochebed} could not longer hide him, she took for him an ARK of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.

This is the Second Ark we see mentioned in Scripture, the Ark that saved baby Moses.

Noah’s Ark saved mankind from God’s judgment.
Moses’ Ark saved God’s people from man’s judgment.

Had Jochebed listened to Pharaoh and allowed Moses to be aborted from the womb or murdered after the womb, God’s people Israel would have never come out of Egypt. Had Moses never been born, we would not have our Bible as we know it today. Oh Beloved, the children are so precious, with so much potential. Love your children enough to put them on the Ark. Love your children enough to train them in the ways of Jesus Christ.

It was Godly parental training that led Daniel to believe in God. Cast into the Lion’s den, Daniel rested in Jesus, and trusted God for life. It was Godly parental training that led the Hebrew Children to trust in Jesus, even in a fiery furnace. It was Godly parental training that gave the Shepherd David the courage to face Goliath. While others though Goliath too big, David believed God was bigger, and that Goliath was too big to miss.

Have You Trusted In The Ark That Is Christ?

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

The greatest Ark in the Bible is Jesus Christ. God is going to judge this world one day. If you have believed in Jesus, if you have a relationship with Him by faith, you will be above the judgment of God. Jesus Christ the Just suffered for the unjust. He hung on a wooden Cross to make payment for our sins that He might bring us to God. Put to death in the flesh, He was quickened by the Spirit. Those who have believed in Him shall rise above the judgment that God has – in righteous wrath – reserved for this world.

If you are in Christ then you are in the arms of Jesus.

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

God’s watches over His little lambs with as much care – nay, with more care – than Jochebed watched over little Moses. If you are in Christ The Bible says:

Matthew 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

No matter what the world will throw at you, be it Pharaoh or even someone more evil, God is in control! If you are His, you are guarded. Christ is your Ark.

And finally, dear Christian, as Christ is your Ark, follow Him all of your life.

If you are in the Ark, you are with the Ark no matter where you go. Are you in the Ark that is Christ?

Follow God first, live under His Lordship, and no enemy can conquer you.

C.H. Spurgeon said:

“ From whom did Christ suffer? Mark how unlimited is the text: “Christ also hath once suffered.” From men falsely accusing him, and slandering him? Yes; and that is the comfort of his slandered people; but he suffered not from wicked men alone, but even from good men; the best of his disciples cost him many pangs, and sometimes made his heart ache. He suffered from devils, he suffered from the Father himself. There it stands, — a sky without horizon, — a sea across which I look, and see no end or bound: “Christ also hath once suffered.” I think that Joseph Hart spoke well when he said that Christ — “Bore all incarnate God could bear, With strength enough, and none to spare.” So we leave this part of our theme; it is a statement without any limit: “Christ also hath once suffered.”¹

If you do not know Him, then come to know Him today. May God the Holy Spirit compel you to surrender to Him, the last Great Ark of God, and so be saved. If you are saved I beg you to let your lives be so bound up in God that He is more real to you than those around you are. Follow Christ in your heart first, then in your actions. If you do so, you are bound to Infinite God. You can never be defeated while trusting in Him.

Like Noah’s Ark, cling to Jesus.
Like Moses’ Ark, rest as a child in His arms.

May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen!

1 UNPARALLELED SUFFERING. NO. 2573, INTENDED FOR READING ON LORD’S-DAY, JUNE 5TH, 1898, DELIVERED BY C. H. SPURGEON, AT THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE, NEWINGTON, ON LORD’S-DAY EVENING, MARCH 4TH, 1883.