The Rock Of Our Salvation

Alba 7-20-2025

THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION

I Corinthians 10:1-4

This morning we sang the old hymn, Rock of Ages. There is a story told about what inspired the words of that hymn. It was written by Augustus Toplady, a preacher in England in the 1700's. According to the story, he was riding a horse when a strong rain storm began. Looking for some shelter, he saw a cleft in a rock that would give some protection from the storm. The particular rock is in Burrington Combe gorge in North Somerset, England. It even has a plaque on it with this claim to fame. In that place, it is said, that he thought of scriptures like Exodus 33:22 when God said to Moses on Mt. Sinai, “I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by”.

Another scripture that obviously inspired the hymn would be our text for today, I Corinthians 10:1-4, where it says, “Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.” (NKJV)

Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation. He is the solid rock, the foundation of our faith. When Peter made the good confession and said to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Jesus told Peter that on that rock He would build His church. That confession is more solid than Peter could ever be.

What is interesting in our text for today is the reference to the times when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness after Moses delivered them from slavery in Egypt. Because, these verse clearly say that those people, years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, were being led and provided for by Jesus Christ. That is another proof that “Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

What is even more interesting is that the things that are part of our Christian faith is shown to be represented in the experiences of the Israelites: namely baptism and communion. We generally do not think of those two things being mentioned in the Old Testament. Yet here they are.

Lets Consider Baptism

The word baptism in the original Greek language meant a literal dipping into the water, not just a little water sprinkled or poured. That is why we practice full immersion into the water. The sea that is referred to in verse two is likely the Red Sea.

Remember, that is where the waters parted and the Israelites walked through on dry ground. Then the Egyptian army that was pursuing them drowned as the waters came back together. Walking through that wall of water with the cloud of God's presence overhead, the Israelites were immersed, so to speak, with water all around.

They were baptized into Moses. He was their deliverer. Without him they would still be slaves in Egypt. And now, Jesus is our deliverer. He rescues us from the slavery to sin. (And who of us can say we don't need that!) And we are to be baptized into Christ.

In the New Testament the command to be baptized is preceded by other things that need to be in place. If they are not, a person may get wet but not have any true change in their relationship with the Lord. Faith, real acceptance of the message of Jesus Christ and trust in Him, is the first and necessary prerequisite. Without faith, there is no purpose to religious rites or ceremonies. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Belief comes first.

And there is more. In Acts 2:38 Peter begins to use the keys to the Kingdom of heaven that Jesus gave him so that the door to salvation would be open to all. There it says, “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Repentance also comes first, and is based on faith in Jesus.

When a person repents, it means that they have seen in themselves the sin and regret for wrongs that have been done. It means that they no longer want to live that way. It means that they will make a change in their thoughts which results in a change of action.

It takes a lot for this transformation to occur. The reason is that we often love the sin. It becomes a habit. It is just “part of who we are.” Only when, and if, we come to grips with the reality that sin is harmful; Harmful to our relationship with others, our family and friends, and harmful to our relationship with God, can change begin.