Title: Noah’s
Text: Hebrews 11:7
Subject: Noah’s
Date: Tuesday Evening –
Tape # W-42b
Introduction:
Martin
Luther wrote, “If you want to interpret (the Word of God) well and confidently,
set Christ before you, for he is the man to whom it all applies,
every bit of it.”
“We do not find Christ in the Old Testament
by spotting accidental references or similarities here and there. He is the
center, the structure of the whole history of the Old Testament.”
-- Edmund P. Clowney
Tonight we will look at one of the most
beautiful, instructive, and soul-cheering types of Christ in the Old Testament.
Our text is Hebrews 11:7.
[Hebrews 11:7]
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith."
“By faith Noah” – God the Holy Spirit is
showing us how that “faith is the
substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.” He is
showing us how that “without faith it is
impossible to please God.” The example he selects and holds before us in
this text is Noah.
The
basis of Noah’s faith was the Word of God. – “By faith Noah, being warned of God of
things not seen as yet.” Faith
must have a foundation. And the foundation of all true, saving faith is the
Word of God (Rom.
·
The Universal Flood, Though It Had Never Rained.
·
The Building Of An
·
The Saving Of Himself And All Creatures In The
·
The Destruction Of All Who Were Not In The
The evidence of Noah’s faith
was his reverence for and obedience to the Lord God. -- “Moved with fear, (He) prepared
an ark to the saving of his house.” Noah feared God, because he believed
God. He had an awesome sense of God’s holiness, justice, and truth. And he was
overwhelmed with the sense of God’s goodness. His reverence for the Lord caused
him to obey his Word. Immediately, without delay, before the first raindrop
fell, Noah began preparing an ark exactly according to the pattern God had
given him. And his object in doing so was that he and his family might be saved
from wrath, according to the promise of God. Like James, Noah showed his faith by
his works. Faith believes the Word of God and acts upon it. Show me a man who
believes God, and I will show you a man who reverences God and obeys God.
The
fruit of Noah’s faith was justification. Noah’s faith condemned the
world. By his faith in and obedience to the Word of God, “he condemned the world.” As a preacher of righteousness, he
declared the certain condemnation of all who would not believe. And by his
actions, he both reproved the unbelieving and aggravated their guilt. At the
same time, Noah himself “became heir of
the righteousness which is by faith.’ Neither his faith nor his obedience
made him righteous. But by faith he received the righteousness of God in
Christ, which is justification and eternal life.
Will
you, or will you not, believe God? There is a storm of wrath
approaching. God will, most assuredly, punish sin. But he has made a way for
sinners to escape his wrath (John
The ark of Noah and the flood are facts of history,
plainly revealed in the Word of God. The ark is not a myth. It is a fact. The
flood is not fiction. It is a fact. Let the critics, the infidels, and the
scoffers say what they will. We look upon them with disdain, as fools and
liars. The Word of God is true. We rest our souls upon the validity and
veracity of Holy Scripture.
The Cause of God’s judgment upon the earth was the
sin and depravity of the human race. Only 1,000 years after the fall, man had
become so degenerate that “the thoughts
of his heart were only evil continually” (Gen. 6:5). Generation after
generation, man became more and more vile, until at last “it repented the Lord that he had made man upon the earth, and it
grieved him at his heart.” God did not change. But he was so grieved by
man’s sin that he turned against the human race in wrath and justice. Man had
rejected the counsel of God and despised the longsuffering of God. So the Lord
God came against him in his holy wrath.
“But Noah
found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:8). The cause of Noah’s salvation was God’s
sovereign grace. The Scripture does not say, “The Lord found grace in the eyes
of Noah.” The Scripture says, “Noah found
grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Because God from eternity set the eye of
his grace upon Noah, the Lord God found a way to be gracious to Noah. God found
a way to save Noah.
·
The ark was devised by God, not Noah.
·
Noah alone was chosen as the object of God’s grace.
·
Because he was chosen of God, Noah was effectually delivered from the
wrath of God.
·
The Lord God established his covenant, preserved his seed, and
accomplished his purpose with Noah.
The
means of salvation was an ark. Noah and his family were saved in the flood by a
ship, an ark, which God commanded him to build. There are three arks mentioned
in the Word of God. Each ark was a place of shelter and safety.
1. Noah ark secured those who were in
it from the violent wrath and vengeance of an angry God.
2. The ark of bulrushes protected
God’s chosen one, Moses, from the murderous designs of a wicked ruler –
Pharaoh.
3. The ark of the covenant
sheltered the two tables of stone upon which the law of God was written.
Each of these arks speak of
Christ. In Christ every believer is sheltered from the wrath of God, the
assaults of Satan, and the condemnation of God's holy law.
Proposition: Tonight,
I want to show you how that Noah’s ark was a type and picture of the Lord Jesus
Christ and our salvation in him.
As there was but one ark in the days of Noah, there
is but one way of salvation. The whole world was drowned under the flood of
God’s wrath, except for those eight happy souls in the ark. Christ alone is the
Savior of men. “There is none other name
under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” If
you would be saved…
·
You must be robed in Christ’s righteousness.
·
You must be washed in Christ’s blood.
·
You must come to the
Divisions: Turn
to Genesis 6. I want to show you five things.
1.
The
ark was planned, purposed, and provided by God.
2. The ark was an
all-sufficient refuge for all who entered into it.
3. Noah and his family came
into the ark by divine invitation.
4. The ark beautifully
represents our atonement by Christ.
5. All who were in the ark were
perfectly safe.
I.
The
[Genesis 6:13-16] "And God
said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled
with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
[14] Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and
shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. [15] And this is the
fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall
be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of
it thirty cubits. [16] A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a
cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the
side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou
make it."
Before
the flood came, before the first drop of water fell from heaven, the Lord
provided for the salvation of his own. The ark was not an after
thought with God. It was not provided after the waters had begun to rise. It
was something God had planned and purposed long before his judgment fell.
·
God determined the size, shape, and material of the ark.
·
God determined who would be saved by the ark. It was designed and built
to house a specific number of residents, both of men and beasts.
·
God determined where, how, and when the ark would be built.
Even so, the Lord God
planned and purposed the salvation of his people by Christ before the world
began in his eternal counsels of grace. The Lord Jesus Christ was provided and set
up in the purpose of God, before the clouds of Divine wrath began to swell
against fallen man. Salvation was not an after thought with God. He provided
salvation in his Son before the world began (Acts 2:23; 1 Pet. 1:18-20; 2 Tim.
1:9). Christ was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8).
A.
Long before we sinned in Adam, the Lord God planned the salvation of
his elect in Christ.
1.
God
determined who he would save (2 Thess.
2. God purposed to save all he
elect by the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ (Rom.
3. And God’s purpose of grace
is sure and immutable (Rom.
B. In the fullness of time God
provided his own dear Son to be the salvation of sinners (John
Illustration: Simeon – “Thy Salvation”
The ark was God’s provision
for Noah. And Christ is God’s provision for sinners.
O the love that drew
salvation’s plan!
O the grace that brought it
down to man!
O the mighty gulf that God
did span,
At
_________
Hail! Sovereign love that
first began
The scheme to rescue fallen
man!
Hail! Matchless, free,
eternal grace,
That gave my soul a hiding
place!
II.
The
The ark was a huge, immense
ship. There was no lack of room. But there was no wasted space. There was room
enough for Noah and his family. There was room enough for two of every unclean
bird, beast, rodent, and insect in the world. There was room enough for seven
of all the clean animals. And there was room enough in the ark to supply all
the people and animals on board with food for a year.
I repeat -- The ark was an
immense ship 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet
high! It housed all kinds of creatures.
Even
so, the Lord Jesus Christ is a great and mighty Savior, an all-sufficient
refuge for sinners of every kind. As the ark was an immense vessel, in
which a vast multitude of animals, as well as Noah and his family, floated
safely through the storm of God’s wrath, Christ’s salvation is an immense
salvation, delivering a vast multitude, which no man can number, from the wrath
of God.
A.
There was only one door in the ark, but that one door was enough!
All
who entered the ark, clean and unclean, large and
small, male and female, all came in through the same door. And there is but one
door of salvation. That Door is Christ (John 10:9; 14:6).
1. If you would be saved, you
must enter in by the Door – Grace is a great leveler!
2. This one Door is sufficient
– All who will, may enter in!
B.
There was only one window in the ark, but that one window was enough.
It gave all the light that was needed!
That window represents God the Holy Spirit through
whom Christ, the Light of the world, the Sun of Righteousness, shines into the
hearts of men. All who come to Christ and receive salvation by him are
illuminated and taught by God the Holy Spirit (John
[John 16:13] "Howbeit when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he
speak: and he will show you things to come."
[1 John 2:27] "But the
anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that
any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is
truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in
him."
All who are born of God are
taught of God. And all who are taught of God are well taught. “Ye have the
mind of Christ.” Those who have the mind of Christ, all
who are taught of the Spirit, are spiritual and discern all things. We
are taught …
·
Of sin! – Our sin!
·
Of righteousness! – His righteousness!
·
Of judgment! – Blood atonement!
C.
There was plenty of room in the ark for all who entered into it!
It is true, there was no wasted space. Every room
was filled. But none were turned away. There was an abundance of room. And in
Christ there is room enough for all who will and do come to him. The saying is
still true, “And yet there is room!” If the Father, who sent Christ,
draws you and you come, there is plenty of room in Christ for you. The Good Ship
Grace is large enough for all who will enter in by the Door Christ Jesus.
D.
In the ark everything needed was provided for all who entered by the
door into the ark.
And you can be sure of this: Every needy sinner who
comes to Christ shall find all his needs abundantly supplied in him.
1. All the grace I need is in
Christ (Eph. 1:3).
·
Blood enough!
·
Pardon enough!
·
Righteousness enough!
·
Power enough!
3.
All
the temporal blessings I need in this life are in Christ (Phil.
[Philippians 4:19]
"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in
glory by Christ Jesus."
4. All the spiritual blessings
I need for all eternity are in Christ (Col. 1:18; 2:9-10).
[Colossians 1:18] "And he
is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence."
[Colossians 2:9-10] "For in
him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are
complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
Everything that God can or
will do for sinful men, he has done for us in Christ.
Everything that God can or will give to sinful men, he
has given to us in Christ.
E.
This is what I want you to see – The Lord Jesus Christ is a
mighty, all-sufficient, able Savior for sinners!
1. He is able to do all that he
has promised (Rom.
2. He is able to save to the
uttermost all who come to God by him (Heb.
3. He is able to keep that
which we have committed unto him (2 Tim.
4. He is able to keep us from
falling (Jude 24-25).
5. He is able to raise us from
the dead (Phil.
III.
Noah and his family came
into the
[Genesis 7:1]
"And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all
thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this
generation."
God
graciously revealed his thoughts of love, mercy, and grace to Noah. Had the
Lord not made himself known to Noah, Noah would have perished with the rest of
his generation. In the same way, the Lord graciously revealed his love, mercy,
and grace in Christ in the hearts of his elect by the gospel (2 Cor. 4:6).
[2 Corinthians 4:6] "For
God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our
hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Jesus Christ."
A. This was a divine call. -- God himself spoke to Noah!
B. This was a personal,
particular, distinguishing call. -- The Lord called Noah!
C. This was a sovereign,
powerful, effectual, and irresistible call.
“Noah went in!” (Gen.
7:5). Most gladly, most willingly, most cheerfully, those who are called by God
the Holy Spirit flee to Christ, the
IV.
This
There are two things in particular which set forth
our Lord’s work of atonement.
A.
Noah was commanded to pitch the ark within and
without with pitch (Gen.
6:14).
[Genesis 6:14] "Make thee
an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it
within and without with pitch."
The word which is here translated “pitch”
simply means “to cover,” or “to take away.” At least 70 times in the Old
Testament it is translated “to make atonement.” The pitch was a covering which
sheltered Noah, and all who were in the ark from the terrible storm of God’s
wrath.
Illustration: The Mercy-Seat!
·
The pitch without is redemption accomplished (Heb.
·
The pitch within is redemption applied (Heb.
B. Notice also that the storm
of God’s wrath fully fell upon the ark.
As the rains descended and the depths of the earth
were broken up, the angry, merciless billows of God’s unmitigated wrath beat
against the ark. Everyone in the ark went through the undiluted storm of God’s
wrath – But the ark took all the punishment!
When Christ was made to be
sin for us, the terrible storm of God’s wrath fell, full force, upon him and
beat him without mercy, until his wrath was fully expended. As our adorable
Redeemer hung upon the cross, dying as our Substitute, he cried, “All thy
waves and thy billows have gone over me” (Ps. 42:7). And in him, all of
God’s elect have gone through the storm of his wrath – But Christ our
V.
All who were in the
Though the ark passed through the horrible storm of
Divine wrath, all who were in the ark were perfectly safe and secure. The Lord
had shut them in. And the Lord kept them in.
A.
There were three stories in the ark, the lower, the
second, and the third decks (Gen. 6:16).
1. Some suggest that these
three stories represent our threefold salvation by Christ (2 Cor.
·
I have been saved.
·
I am being saved.
·
I shall be saved.
2. I think there is also a
picture of the safety of all God’s elect in Christ.
·
Some who are in Christ are in the lower deck of doubt and fear – but
they are in the
·
Some are up in the second deck of strong faith.
·
Some are in the upper deck of full assurance.
But all who were in the ark were perfectly safe and
secure. God had shut them in. And all who are truly in Christ, be they strong
or weak, be their faith great or small, are perfectly
safe. They are all kept by the power of God. (John 10:28-29; Rom.
3. All who entered into the ark
passed through the flood and came out of the ark unharmed (Gen. 8:18-19; John
18:9, Rom.
[Genesis 8:18-19] "And Noah
went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him: [19] Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever
creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark."
B.
The ark was a place of peace and rest for all who
were in it. -- It had many “rooms” (margin – “nests”) in it
(Gen. 6:14).
In Christ we have something more than a refuge. We
have a resting place. We are like young birds in their nests, the objects of
another’s constant, loving care.
Illustration: The dove found rest only in
the ark.
Christ is our Rest, our Sabbath.
NOTE: Though they were tossed upon the stormy tempests,
all were safe and secure in the ark. Like frightened birds, they nestled down
in their nesting place. Is it not true with you? In Christ we pass through the
storms and trials of life unharmed (Isa. 43:1-7).
[Isaiah 43:1-7] "But now
thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O
Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy
name; thou art mine. [2] When thou passest through the waters, I will
be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when
thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the
flame kindle upon thee. [3] For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy
One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave
C. There is safety and security in the ark Christ
Jesus!
All on
board the Good Ship Grace are safe!
1. Satan cannot harm us.
2. The law cannot condemn us.
3. God has sworn that his wrath
shall not be poured out upon us again (Gen. 8:20-2; Isa. 54:9-10; Rev. 4:3).
4. The Lord Jesus Christ cannot
fail to save all who trust him (Isa. 42:1-4).
“Firm as his throne, the
gospel stands, my Lord, my hope, my trust.
If I am found in Jesus’
hands, my soul can never be lost.
His honor is engaged to keep
the weakest of His sheep.
All that His heavenly Father
gave, His hands securely keep.
Not death, nor hell shall ever remove His
people from His breast.
In the dear bosom of His
love, we shall forever rest.”
Application:
1. Are you in the
·
The Door is open for all who will to enter in and be saved.
·
If you perish, it will be because you despise God’s
2. Are you in the
·
The Lord put you in.
·
In the
·
The Lord will keep you in.
·
Let us, like Noah, offer up spiritual sacrifices of praise and
thanksgiving.
·
Let us ever rest in the covenant of his mercy (Isa. 54:9-10).
[Isaiah 54:9-10] "For this is
as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters
of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be
wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. [10] For the mountains shall depart,
and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither
shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on
thee."
[Isaiah 54:9-10] "For this is
as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters
of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be
wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. [10] For the mountains shall depart,
and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither
shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on
thee."