Jesus, The Ark Of Our Salvation

Genesis 6:13-7:1 JESUS, THE ARK OF OUR SALVATION 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. I. THE ARK WAS PLANNED BY GOD 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. There was a Reason for the Ark i. God's Wrath - Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

It was a time of Apostasy - Men had forsaken and forgotten God.

It was a time of Apathy - Men were indifferent to God and the things of God.

It was a time of Anarchy - Every imagination was only evil continually.

ii. God's Redemption - Noah experienced the Saving Grace of God -

v. 8...But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord

Noah enjoyed the Sufficient Grace of God - 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood;

Noah and his family were sheltered from the wrath of God. B. There was Room in the Ark

1. The Design...14 - It was Lasting Gopher Wood...cypress that would not rot or decay.

2. The Dimensions...15 - It was Loving - 450' long x 75' wide x 45' tall

Sufficient for the "Whosoever will"

3. The Details... - It was Leaning on Personal Acceptance...

22 ...thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

1. Noah accepted the Word of God, 2. Noah acted on the Will of God

C. There were Rooms in the Ark - 6:14 rooms shalt thou make in the ark, There is a specific place for every member of the body of Christ.

II. THE ARK WAS PREPARED BY MAN Hebs 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. Gal 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 - God sent forth his Son B. There was a specific period - when the fulness of the time was come C. There was a specific pattern - made of a woman, made under the law, D. There was a specific purpose - 5 To redeem them that were under the law

III. THE ARK WAS PERFECT IN DESIGN Gen 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 Direction of the window was perfect - Upward! Look to the Lord for salvation - Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. C. The Door was perfect 16 and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; It was Unique - One door - John 14:6 I am the door. It was Limited - Only open for a time It was Shut - God shut the door! Gen 7:16 and the LORD shut him in. D. The Divisions were perfect - Three stories our present races are descendents from Noah's THREE sons. European - Japheth is traditionally seen as the ancestor of Europeans Asian - Shem is traditionally held to be the ancestor of the Semitic people; Hebrews and Arabs consider themselves sons of Shem through Arpachshad (thus, Semites). African - Africans were thus anciently understood to be the sons of Ham, particularly his descendant Cush, as Cushites are referred to throughout scripture as being the inhabitants of East Africa, Christ died for ALL, and there is an invitation for them ALL to come to Him! E. The Deliverance was perfect - Their's was a Perfect Salvation

IV. THE ARK WAS PROCLAIMED 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; Noah preached: A. Man's Depravity - 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. Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it B. Man's Destruction - 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. Man's Deliverance - 14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; D. Man's Duty - 7:1 the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; E. Man's Danger (of delay) 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.