Ans. Two were to keep seed alive on the face of the earth. But God hack in view that man should worship Him, and this could only be carried out by the animals that are typical of Christ. Noah would know which kind, by the number of animals that came to him. In 8:20 we find him building an altar, and offering of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, burnt offerings unto the Lord. And the Lord smelled a sweet savor, and on the ground of this, though man's heart is always evil, He promised blessing to the earth. Adam and Eve were clothed with skins by the Lord God. Abel offered the firstlings of his flock with the fat thereof. These are all typical of Christ, the one great sacrifice for sin, who has manifested the righteousness and grace of God.
Long afterward (Lev. 11), the difference between the clean and the unclean is unfolded for Israel's guidance, as to what they should eat, and for our instruction. The clean animals chew the cud, and divide the hoof teaching us to meditate on the Word, and to walk it out practically. The fins and scales of the clean fish speak to us of separation from the elements around, and of the power of the Spirit to live above the world's ways. The clean birds teach us that we are children of the day, and that we are to love one another. (Gal. 5:14, 1514For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Galatians 5:14‑15).) The clean creeping things, with legs above their feet, teach us of the faith that rises over every difficulty to walk with God. (Psa. 18:2929For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall. (Psalm 18:29).)
The Christian is free to eat what flesh he pleases, if the blood of it shed, and he gives thanks to God for it. (Gen. 9:3, 43Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. (Genesis 9:3‑4); Acts 15:20, 2920But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. (Acts 15:20)
29That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. (Acts 15:29); Rom. 14:1414I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. (Romans 14:14); 1 Tim. 4:3-53Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:3‑5).) "It is sanctified by the Word of God, and by prayer."
Ques. I have been troubled about my baptism. When I was a baby I was sprinkled by a priest. Is this acceptable in God's sight? G. L.
Ans. There are two aspects of what in Scripture is called the Church. The one is the body of Christ, which is formed by the Holy Ghost, and all that are saved are in it; they have that Holy Spirit dwelling in them, which unites to Christ the Head, and to each other. (1 Cor. 12:12, 1312For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:12‑13); Eph. 4:44There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (Ephesians 4:4).) No unconverted are in that.
The other aspect is the House of God on earth, which is profession. We speak of it as Christendom. All that are baptized to the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, are in it. Men build it in that way. (1 Cor. 3:10-1710According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:10‑17); Gal. 3:2727For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:27); Eph. 4:55One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Ephesians 4:5).) All that are baptized are in it, it includes all profession. God recognizes it in Rev. 2 and 3, which includes Roman Catholic seen in Thyatira, and Protestant as seen in Sardis, which has a name to live but is dead.
When the priest, a professed servant of God, repeated the words over you, "to the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost," you were brought by his act into this profession, and you cannot get out of it, to be brought in again. We do not get the words "sprinkling" or "immersion" in Scripture in connection with baptism. When I baptize any one, I like to dip them in water as it is more after the figure of 'burial used in Rom. 6, and Col. 2, but I would not rebaptize any one if I knew it, because the name, and not the amount of water, is the thing of importance.
Before baptism, you were a "Gentile," after it, you are "Church of God." (1 Cor. 10:3232Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32): Gal. 3:2828There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28).) When you left the Romish Church, you did not leave the Church of God, but only the sect. It would not be obedience to the word to be baptized over again. It does not say in any place in Scripture, that it must be "after you believe."