THE ROCK of MY SALVATION

Scriptural Text: 1 Cor. 10:1-4

THE ROCK of MY SALVATION

The Rock Didn’t Move

A sailor in a shipwreck was thrown upon a rock where he clung in great danger until the tide went down. Later a friend asked him, “Jim, didn’t you shake with fear when you were hanging on that rock?”

“Yes, but the rock didn’t,” was the significant reply. Christ is the Rock of Ages.

Isaiah 44:6–8 (ESV): Besides Me There Is No God:

6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel

and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:

“I am the first and I am the last;

besides me there is no god.

7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.

Let him declare and set it before me,

since I appointed an ancient people.

Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.

8 Fear not, nor be afraid;

have I not told you from of old and declared it?

And you are my witnesses!

Is there a God besides me?

There is no Rock; I know not any.”

What are the reasons for which our God is compared to a rock?

First, then, a rock is steadfast: its stability, as contrasted with the flowing waters of the sea or the shifting sands of the desert, is the first thing that strikes us. "With him is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Next, a rock is often chosen as the site of a stronghold, from the security it gives. Men build their castles upon a rock, for purposes of defence: the wise man built his house upon the rock for safety in the storm: "The Lord is my rock and my fortress."

God the Rock is his people’s security 2Sa 22:3 pp Ps 18:2 See also Ps 9:9; 27:1; 37:39; 43:2; 52:7; Joel 3:16

Psalm 18:2 (NKJV) 2The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 9:9 (NKJV) 9The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) 1The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

..And the rock that gave security was also a source of refreshment: for "he opened the rock, and the waters gushed out;" so that they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ."

He is the smitten rock out of which comes the "water of life"—the Holy Spirit's saving power. Until the rock was smitten, the streams of salvation were pent up.

The meaning of "Salvation" is deliverance from danger, to be safe, to be prosperous, and to be in the enjoyment of liberty.

TEXT: “They drank of a supernatural Rock which followed them; and the Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4b, Exodus 17:1–7, Numbers 20:2–13)

Jesus is called many things in many metaphors. He is called “The Lily of the Valley,” the “Bread,” the “Water,” the “Way,” the “Light,” and more—

He is also called the “Rock,” Rock as a Messianic title. In poetry He is “the Rock of Ages.”

Observe how He is presented in terms of the Rock.

I. He is the Foundation Stone (see Isa. 28:16, Matt 16:18).

Isaiah 28:16 (NKJV) 16Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.

A. He is the foundation of His church (see Matt. 16:18).

B. He is a tried, tested stone.

C. He is a precious cornerstone in the Foundation.

II. He is the Rock of our salvation.(John 3:16, John 10:10)

A. Here and now.

B. In eternity.

III. He is the stone cut out of the mountain without hands; He is the crushing stone (see Dan. 2:34).

Daniel 2:34 (NKJV) 34You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; but when it falls on anyone, it will crush him (see Luke 20:18).

IV. He gives an invitation, “Come to him (see 1 Peter 2:4–8).

1 Peter 2:4–8 (NKJV) 4Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

5you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

On Christ the solid rock I stand.

The Rock of MY Salvation is Our Spiritual Rock

“… they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (1 Cor. 10:4).

I. The Rock of Redemption (2 Samuel 22:47, Acts 4:12, 2 Cor 5:17)

“… exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation” (2 Sam. 22:47).

2 Samuel 22:47 (NKJV) 47“The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation!

A. Christ is the door by which we enter into salvation (Acts 4:12).

Acts 4:12 (NKJV) 12Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

B. When we repent of our sins and believe unto salvation, everything becomes new. We are changed (2 Cor. 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

C. When we make a total commitment to Christ, the Holy Spirit cleanses us. This is part of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ (Heb. 13:12).

Hebrews 13:12 (NKJV) 12Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

II. The Rock of Restoration(Isa 32:2, Ps 37:7, Ps 23:3)

“And a man shall be … as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land” (Isa. 32:2).

Isaiah 32:2 (NKJV) 2A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

A. Christ is the Christian’s protection. When the storms of life are raging He is our rock in whose shelter we can safely hide.

B. Christ is the Christian’s rest. When we become exhausted by the hurry and scurry of our busy times, we can find healing through prayer and the promises found in His Word (Ps. 37:7).

Psalm 37:7 (NKJV) 7Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

C. Christ restores our strength in time of need. He is the rock of restoration to those who trust Him completely (Ps. 23:3).

Psalm 23:3 (NKJV) 3He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

III. The Rock of Resolution (Ps 40:2, 1 Pet 5:10, Prov 3:5-6)

“He … set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings” (Ps. 40:2).

Psalm 40:2 (NKJV) 2He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

A. Many Christians are undependable. They are up and down, in and out. You never know where to find them.

B. Christ wants us to be established (1 Peter 5:10).

1 Peter 5:10 (NKJV) 10But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

C. When we give God first place in our lives and trust Him implicitly, He enables us to make the right choices.

D. When we are determined to live for Christ, He establishes our lives and keeps us from falling (Prov. 3:5, 6).

Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV) 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:6 (NKJV) 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

IV. The Rock of Rejoicing(Isa 42:11, Ps 37:4)

“Let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains” (Isa. 42:11).

Isaiah 42:11 (NKJV) 11Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

A. Some Christians mar their testimony by wearing long, unhappy faces. They fail Christ, for He expects us to witness and work for Him joyfully here on earth.

B. Christians who are forgiven, cleansed, and on their way to heaven should be the happiest people on earth (Ps. 37:4).

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) 4Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

C. If Christ is our rock of rejoicing here below, we shall also rejoice with Him in the life to come, for He is the “Rock of Ages.”