Sermon #815 Miscellaneous Sermons
Title: Noah’s
Text: Hebrews 11:7
Subject: Noah’s
Date: Sunday Morning –
Tape #
Introduction:
“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 ark, though no ship had ever been built.
· The saving of himself and all creatures in the ark.
· The destruction of all who were not in the ark.
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.
Today, I hold Noah before you as an
example. 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
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. “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.
4. 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.
· Noah ark secured those who were in it from the violent wrath and vengeance of an angry God.
· The ark of bulrushes protected God’s chosen one, Moses, from the murderous designs of a wicked ruler – Pharaoh.
· 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:
Today, 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.
A. The ark was planned, purposed, and provided by God (Gen. 6:13-16).
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 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 ark was an
all-sufficient refuge for all who entered into it.
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. 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 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
All who are born of God are taught of God. And all who are taught of God are well 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!
2.
All the temporal blessings I need in this life
are in Christ (Phil.
3. All the spiritual blessings I need for all eternity are in Christ (Col. 1:18; 2:9-10).
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 ark by divine invitation (Gen. 7:1).
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).
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 ark by which
Noah was saved beautifully represents our atonement in Christ.
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).
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” (Psa. 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 ark were perfectly safe – “And the Lord shut him in” (Gen. 7:16).
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.
Illustration: The Salvation Army captain.
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.
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).
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).