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Grounded-In-Biblical-Truth |
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Almost everyone knows about Noah's ark described in Genesis chapters 6-8. But so very few are aware that it was a type of Christ. What Noah's ark was for him and his family, Christ is for believers. Noah's ark foreshadowed Christ in the following ways.
I. Noah's ark was divinely ordained for salvation from God's wrath (Genesis 6:13f,17f): "And God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark .... And behold, I Myself am bringing the flood of waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; and everything that is on the earth shall die. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark -- you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.'"
Likewise, Jesus Christ has been divinely ordained for salvation from God's wrath (Romans 5:8f): "But God demonstrates His own love toward us [His elect, believers], in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more than, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
II. Noah's ark was a gracious provision (Genesis 6:8). "[A]ll flesh had corrupted their way on the earth" (v.12). They all therefore deserved to die: "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23; cp. Ezekiel 18:20). God therefore would have been eternally just had He damned them all. "But Noah [and his family] found grace in the eyes of the LORD." They alone in their day comprised the "remnant according to the election of grace" (Romans 11:5). God therefore prepared the ark for these objects of His free and sovereign grace.
Likewise, Jesus Christ is a gracious provision. "[A]ll have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23; cp. Ecclesiastes 7:20). Therefore, all deserve to die (again see Romans 6:23). God would therefore be eternally just if He damned us all. But as God was formerly gracious to Noah, He now declares that "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious" (Exodus 33:19). He furthermore has ordained these object of His grace to be chosen and predestined for salvation (Ephesians 1:3-6). And He has graciously prepared Christ to be their Savior (Matthew 1:21): "you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." ("His people" are God's elect, those to whom He will be gracious.)
III. Noah's ark was the only refuge from God's wrath: it was the only ark made, and there was no other refuge in which God's wrath could be escaped. Every attempt of those outside this ark to save themselves by seeking refuge in some other means proved to be futile.
Likewise, Jesus Christ is the only refuge from God's wrath (Acts 4:12): "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." No salvation is found in any means outside Christ, whether in moral reformation, self-righteousness (as in trying to keep God's law, especially sabbath-keeping), good deeds, observance of sacraments (e.g. circumcision, baptism), church membership (not even in an acclaimed "true" church), or any other. To resort to any of these is to seek salvation in "a refuge of lies" (Isaiah 28:17). Salvation from God's wrath is found in Christ alone, the only refuge of truth (John 14:6).
IV. Noah's ark was a pre-determined provision for salvation: it was built prior to the beginning of the deluge. God did not wait until after the rains started to provide the means of salvation therefrom, as though the ark was an afterthought.
Likewise, Jesus Christ is a pre-determined provision for salvation (Revelation 13:8): He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Before God created the heavens and the earth, He foresaw man's fall and need of a Savior, and He then ordained His own Son to be the sacrifice for man's sin. Salvation in Christ was not an afterthought!
Your servant for Jesus' sake.
Address all questions to pastor
Daniel E. Parks (2 Corinthians 4:5) e-mail RedeemerBC@aol.com
Pastor, Redeemer Baptist Church
2801 Cleveland Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40206 / 502.899-9205
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