Out Of The Ark And Into A New World - Noah As A Type Of The Christian Life

Illustrations explain complex things in simple ways. Like putting together a bicycle or piece of unassembled furniture. Or setting up a computer or electronics. If you want to learn how to tie a knot, or learn a new crochet stitch, the best way is to look at a picture.

The Old Testament is FILLED with ILLUSTRATIONS. These are true stories that demonstrate current realities. For example,

The TABERNACLE is an illustration of the work of Christ. Hebrews 9:9 “This is an illustration for the present time...”

ADAM is an illustration of Jesus, the Second Adam. Romans 5:14 “Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam ...who was a pattern of the one to come.”

And OT SAINTS illustrate our need to remain obedient in the Christian life. Hebrews 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

The illustration that we are studying today is the illustration of The ARK. It teaches us about SALVATION. Just like Noah entered the ark to be saved from the flood, we enter the ark of salvation through faith in Christ to be saved from our sin.

Our study today compares The new beginning for Noah as he left the ark. The steps that Noah took at the end of the flood teach us about our new beginning in the Christian life. Noah began a new life in a new world, just like we begin a new life when we commit our lives to Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Noah presents a PICTURE of STARTING OVER in the CHRISTIAN LIFE

Genesis 8:13–19 (NIV84) — 13 By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 17 Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you—the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground—so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it.” 18 So Noah came out, together with his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives. 19 All the animals and all the creatures that move along the ground and all the birds—everything that moves on the earth—came out of the ark, one kind after another.

As we consider the end of the flood, and Noah’s entrance into a new world, it illustrates our new life in Christ.

Jesus Saved you to give you NEW LIFE.

Genesis 8:13 (NIV84) — 13 By the first day of the first month of Noah’s six hundred and first year, the water had dried up from the earth. Noah then removed the covering from the ark and saw that the surface of the ground was dry.

This was Noah’s 600th Birthday present! There is no small coincidence in the exact date given to us in the text. The Lord wants us to know that the Noah entered his new beginning on the first day of his 601st year.

His first 600 years represent his OLD LIFE. Six is the number of MAN

a. Created on 6th day

b. Work for 6 days

c. Sabbath day

d. Sabbatical year

e. 600 = Mortal flesh

Noah’s first life is over, his new life begins.

Following Christ results in NEW LIFE

We are saved From DEATH to LIFE. Romans 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Illus. Although Augustine was raised by a godly mother who constantly prayed for him, he led a life of wickedness. From stealing as a child, to a humanistic teacher, to immorality and drunkenness as a young adult. After a year of listening Ambrose preach on salvation, he surrendered his heart to Christ. When his lover heard of his conversion, she begged with him to return to her. She came to him and pleaded “Augustine, it is I!” Augustine replied, “Yes, but it is not I!”

We are saved from DARKNESS to LIGHT. Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

We are saved from BLINDNESS to SIGHT. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.