sf766 - The Good Ship Grace (Genesis 6 11-22)
Genesis 6:11-14
Introduction
The flood is an historical fact
Archeological evidence
Ø Found in the writings of almost every ancient civilization.
Geological evidence
Biblical evidence
Ø Jesus said the flood had taken place.
Matthew 24:37-39 (ESV) 37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
The Ark is a wonderful object lesson.
The Ark pictures the work of Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:18-22)
Today we are going to examine how the Ark portrays salvation.
We will examine…
The symbolism of the ship
The salvation through the ship
The security in the ship
1A. The Symbolism of the Ship
1B. The substance of the ship – “gopher wood” (cypress) (6:14)
This was indestructible wood.
The wood represents Christ’s humanity
Isaiah 53:2 (ESV) 2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.
2B. The safety of the ship – “pitch” (6:14)
Noah was to cover it inside and out to make it water tight
“pitch” = kaphar, to cover - make (an) atonement (70x)
The pitch reminds us of the blood atonement of Christ.
Leviticus 17:11 (ESV) 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.
Romans 5:9 (ESV) 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
1 John 2:2 (ESV) 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
3B. The size of the ship – 450 x 75 x 45, 674,000 cubit feet (>56,000 cubic meters) (6:15);
Ample room for all it was intended to carry. (
There is room at the cross for you.
“If every one of you should come to Christ, with real penitence in your hearts, and true belief in him, you would find that there was room enough for you. That saying is still true, “And yet there is room.” There is not room enough for a Pharisee, for a man who does not feel himself a sinner, for a hypocrite; no, nor for a formalist; but there is room enough for every convinced sinner under God’s heaven. Our Redeemer is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him. He is able to save all of you. If the Father, who hath sent him, draw you, and you come unto him, doubt not that there is room for you.” (Spurgeon, The Parable of the Ark)
4B. The shape of the ship – coffin (6:15)
Coffins were made of cypress
Pictures the death of Christ
5B. The structure of the ship (6:16)
Only one ship (John 14:6)
Only one door
John 10:7 (ESV) 7 So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
Only one window
Colossians 3:2 (ESV) 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
6B. The supply for the ship (6:21)
Jesus is all we need.
7B. The schedule of the ship (8:4)
The Ark landed on the seventeenth day of the seventh month
Ø Jewish calendar begins in October
Ø Seventh month is April
Ø When Jesus died, Passover was the fourteenth day of the seventh month.
Ø Resurrection was the seventeenth day of the seventh month.
Mount Ararat = Mount of holiness
Jesus stood the storm of God’s wrath and “landed” safely on the 17th day!
Ø He is our rest!
2A. The Salvation through the Ship
The Ark saved Noah – Jesus saves us. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
1B. We are saved by grace alone. (6:8)
Salvation is not a reward for the righteous; it is a gift for the guilty.
Romans 11:6 (ESV) 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
2B. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone.
Noah acted in faith (7:1)
Ø Not mere intellectual assent
Ø Not mere temporal faith
3B. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
Acts 4:12 (ESV) 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
4B. We are saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)
Noah went to work AFTER he got “on board.”
He worked because God had saved him.
I will not work my soul to save;
That work my Lord has done.
But, I will work like any slave;
For the love of God’s dear Son.
3A. The Security in the Ship
1B. It was secure because God purposed it.
God planned the design and the motive for the ship, it was His ship.
The Father purposed our salvation.
Revelation 13:8 (ESV) 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.
Acts 2:23-24 (ESV) 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
2B. It was secure because by God performed it. (7:16-24)
The Son purchased our salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:3 (ESV) 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
3B. It was secure because God was presiding over it. (8:1-12)
The Holy Spirit possesses us in salvation.
"In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit," (Ephesians 1:13, ESV)
Application
You do not have to hold out or hold on!
Jesus is the Ark of our salvation!
1A. The Symbolism of the Ship
1B. The ____________ of the ship – “gopher wood” (cypress) (6:14; Isaiah 53:2)
2B. The ___________ of the ship – “pitch” (6:14; Leviticus 17:11; Romans 5:9; 1 John 2:2)
3B. The _______________ of the ship (6:15);
4B. The ___________ of the ship – coffin (6:15)
5B. The ______________ of the ship (6:16)
Only one ship (John 14:6)
Only one door (John 10:7)
Only one window (Colossians 3:2)
6B. The ______________ for the ship (6:21)
7B. The ________________ of the ship (8:4)
2A. The _____________________ through the Ship (Ephesians 2:8-10)
1B. We are saved by grace alone. (6:8; Romans 11:6)
2B. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone.
3B. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (Acts 4:12)
4B. We are saved to do good works (Ephesians 2:10)
3A. The ________________________ in the Ship
1B. It was secure because God purposed it. (Revelation 13:8; Acts 2:23-24)
2B. It was secure because by God performed it. (7:16-24; 1 Corinthians 15:3)
3B. It was secure because God was presiding over it. (8:1-12; Ephesians 1:13)