The Flood

Introduction

In the late 1800s and few powerful men Such as Andrew Carnegie, Andrew Mellon, and Henry Frick came together in South Fork PA to start the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club

After years of neglecting to repair the damn a storm came through and the dam bursts.

The town of Johnstown was down stream from the dam and flooded, killing over 2000 individuals, the largest loss of life on American soil at the time.

Three Facts about the Flood

1. It is Real

Moses presents it as real

Not a myth, not a poem, not an allegory, but as a historical narrative

Jesus believed it was real:

(CSB)

37 As the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.

Scientifically the flood is real

38 For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.

39 They didn’t know until the flood came and swept them all away. This is the way the coming of the Son of Man will be. Scientifically the flood is real

Peter believed it was real

1 Peter 3:18–20 CSB

18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20 who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people—were saved through water.

2 Peter 2:5 CSB

5 and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others, when he brought the flood on the world of the ungodly;

Scientific evidence suggests that it is real

Issue of fossils, geological strata, and geographical features such as mountains and canyons , what explanation exists for their existence

Uniformitarianism: Slow process of time

Catastrophism: A big event (like the flood

Check out these 2 resources

Answers in Genesis: https://answersingenesis.org

2. It is Relevant

Institute for Creation Research: icr.org

2. It is Relevant

It is Scriptures most devastating revelation of the judgement of God outside of the Lake of Fire called Hell.

The mistaken notion that God does not care about sin is put to rest by the flood

If God is a righteous judge, all sinners must be concerned with His judgement

3. It is Radical

The Scientific community scoffs at it

The academic community scoffs at it

Our secular culture scoffs at it

Peter’s prediction

(CSB)

Three Phases of the Flood Narrative

3 Above all, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days scoffing and following their own evil desires,

4 saying, “Where is his ‘coming’ that he promised? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.”

5 They deliberately overlook this: By the word of God the heavens came into being long ago and the earth was brought about from water and through water.

6 Through these the world of that time perished when it was flooded.

7 By the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

First Two Aspects of the Flood Narrative

1. The Accusation (6:5-7)

A. The Problem

Wickedness was widespread (outward actions)

Inclination (planning to do evil) of the mind and heart was evil (Inward thoughts)

B. The Pain

The Lord regretted (repented KJV, was sorry) His creation

The Lord was grieved

He felt the pain of our rejection and sin

C. The Proposal

Wipeout mankind and wipe out all living creatures

Why the creatures? Because we are their stewards. Our sin affects a lot more than we realize.

Application: While sin may not be a big deal to our culture today, it is a big deal to God. If you are a sinner (spoiler alert, you are) you better be aware of the consequences of your sin and be asking “what can I do about it?”

2. The Ark

(8) Noah finds favor with the Lord

God is going to save someone (Noah)

Why Noah?

(9) Noah was righteous, Noah was blameless, Noah walked with God

(22) When it came to building the ark Noah did everything God commanded.

Application: Is this teaching works salvation? No it is not. Noah lived in a day where the primary light of God that anyone had was their conscience. By following the “law of his heart” as Romans puts it Noah was demonstrating a faithfulness to God. However this would be of no use to him for spiritual salvation. Salvation always has and always will be by faith. One thing to remember though is that while the root of salvation is faith, the fruit of salvation is in obedience. To be saved from God’s wrath one must believe the gospel. Please make sure you have not only the root of the gospel, but that your life shows the fruit of the gospel.

The gospel and the ark

Noah had to walk through the door. After that he was protected from the judgment of God (flood narrative)

The New King James Version Chapter 10

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Will you enter salvation by walking through a door named Jesus?

Conclusion

One of my gospel heroes is the late Adrian Rogers. He had quite possibly the best suited preachers voice of all time. That voice has often been imitated, but never duplicated. This morning I want to repeat the phrase he repeated the most in his messages, it is the phrase “come to Jesus”. I wish I could say it like he said but honestly that is just vanity. The reality is that whether I say it like the golden throated prince of preachers could say it, or if I just say it in my middle GA twang, the power is not in the messenger, but the message. So let me say to you. Come to Jesus. Has God revealed to you this morning you are a sinner? Come to Jesus. Tired of living in guilt, come to Jesus. Want to be forgive, come to Jesus. Want a home in heaven, come to Jesus.

Let me give you the words of Chris Rice’s untitled hymn:

Weak and wounded sinner Lost and left to die O, raise your head, for love is passing by Come to Jesus Come to Jesus Come to Jesus and live!

And with your final heartbeat Kiss the world goodbye Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus and live! Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus Fly to Jesus and live!