Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, July 13, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

JESUS, THE ARK OF OUR SALVATION

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Genesis 6:1-22

Text: Genesis 6:14

Genesis 6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

Introduction: Genesis is one of the most hated and most attacked books of the Bible. Among the events of Genesis that are the objects of ridicule by scoffers who have been “educated” beyond their intelligence, is the account of the worldwide flood and Noah’s ark.

We Bible-believing fundamentalists accept the literal accounts of Genesis, including this one. Those who mock it today are just like the people of Noah’s day who mocked when he built the ark and preached that they must enter into it in order to survive the coming flood.

However, in this account, we who know the Lord Jesus Christ also see a beautiful picture of how our Lord is the Savior God provided to save sinners from hell. Even as Jesus said:

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

After His resurrection Jesus met with two of His doubtful disciples:

Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

If you don’t see Jesus in the story of Noah’s ark, I pray that God will open your eyes today.

I. THE ARK WAS PLANNED BY GOD

Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

Of Christ, the Bible says:

1 Peter 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

A. There was a reason for it

God’s justice

God’s mercy

B. There was room for all in it

“Yet there is room”

“Whosoever will”

C. There were rooms in it – 6:14

There is a place for every member of the body of Christ, a specific place

II. THE ARK WAS PREPARED BY MAN

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

A. There was a specific person

B. There was a specific period

C. There was a specific pattern

III. THE ARK WAS PERFECT IN DESIGN

Genesis 6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

A. The dimensions were perfect

Approximately 450′ x 75′ x 45′ height

B. The daub that sealed it was perfect

The believing sinner is placed into Christ when he becomes a new creature – 2 Corinthians 5:17

This operation is a baptism by the Spirit – 1 Corinthians 12:13

The person is then SEALED by the Spirit of God – Ephesians 4:30

C. The direction of the window was perfect

Upward!

Look to the Lord for salvation – Isaiah 45:22; John 3:14-16

D. The door was perfect

One door – John 14:6

Only open for a time

God shut the door! Genesia 7:16

E. The divisions were perfect

Three stories

I’m reminded that our present races are descendents from Noah’s THREE sons.

Europeans, Asiatics, Africans – Christ died for ALL, and there is an invitation for them ALL to come to Him!

F. The difference it made was perfect

There was a perfect salvation

There was a progressive separation – 1 Peter 3:20-21

IV. THE ARK WAS PREACHED BY ITS INHABITANTS

2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

We don’t know exactly what Noah preached, but I can imagine some things that he preached that would motivate us who are in Jesus to ALL be preachers of righteousness:

Perhaps he preached:

A. The depravity of man

Genesis 6:5 And 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.

Genesis 6:11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

Romans 3:10,23; Jeremiah 17:9

B. The destruction they deserved

Genesis 6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

C. The deliverance provided by God

D. Their duty to respond

Come – Genesis 7:1

E. The danger of delay

- 2 Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

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