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Follow the Lamb

“The Ark of Salvation” Genesis 7:1-24

Date:September 3, 2023
Author: Wayne J. Edwards

Introduction:

 

Sunday evening, at 6:00 PM, we will continue our sermon series, “Follow the Lamb,” tracing the types, examples, and illustrations of the Lamb of God in the Old Testament. In our next sermon, we will focus on the “Ark of Salvation,” as found in Genesis 7:1-24. 

While more than 7 billion people were drowned in that worldwide flood, the eight people who were in God’s Ark were saved. You see, it wasn’t Noah’s Ark, it was God’s Ark, because Noah built it according to God’s divine blueprint! Salvation from God’s judgment was given to those few who were in the Ark of God. Therefore, the Ark is a picture; a type of the Lamb of God.

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Heritage Baptist Church Sermon

Follow the Lamb
“The Ark of Salvation”
Genesis 7:1-24

Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor

The Bible tells the story of sinful man, always moving towards God’s final judgment, and along the way, in God’s sovereign grace and for His purposes, some sinners being rescued from that judgment.

  • God gave us a preview of that final judgment in what is known as “Noah’s Flood” – a world-wide, cataclysmic event that wiped out all humanity except Noah and his family.
  • Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of man be!” (Mt. 24:37)
    • Not only in the wicked behavior of mankind.
    • But also, in the final judgment of a Holy God.
  • What God did by water in the days of Noah, He will soon do by fire at the end of this age, and only those who are in God’s Ark of Salvation will be saved.

  1. Man’s Acts of Sin – Genesis 6:1-13 – Vs. 5 – “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

At this time in history, civilization is moving in two streams:

  • The ungodly are following Cain – Adam’s second son
  • The godly are following Seth – Adam’s third son

Hebrew

English

Adam

Man

Seth

Appointed

Enosh

Mortal

Kenan

Sorrow

Mahalalel

The Blessed God

Jared

Shall come down

Enoch

Teaching

Methuselah

His death shall bring

Lamech

The Despairing
Noah

Rest, or comfort

In less than 1500 years, the population of the world had grown to more than 7 billion people, and the whole civilization was corrupt with sin – especially sexual sins.

  • Adam, Enoch and Noah continued to preach the Word of God, warning them of His impending judgment.
  • Sinful man would not hear their preaching or heed their warnings.
  • Having rejected God, they became corrupt in their minds, evil in their thoughts and perverted in their actions.

God said He was “sorry He made man”, and He determined to destroy him from the face of the earth.

  • “The end of all flesh is before me” – God could already see the end result of His judgment.

  1. God’s Act of Grace – Genesis 6:8, 14-22 – Vs. 8 – “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”

Having determined to destroy every living thing on earth, God also determined to preserve the godly seed of the Savior through a man named Noah, and his family.

  • Of the 7-billion people living on earth in that day, God found only eight people who truly loved Him
    • Noah and his family stood as lights in the darkness.
  • But Noah and his family were not saved because they were looking up to God – but that God, in His grace, was looking down upon Noah.

God told Noah to build an Ark, 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high, with three decks inside, with compartments and rooms, one door on the side and a window at the top.

THE ARK OF GOD

  • God revealed to Noah how He was going to destroy mankind from the earth.
  • Noah saw how God was going to preserve the godly seed from everlasting destruction.
  • The same waters that would destroy the unrighteous would save the righteous!

Genesis 6:18 – “But with thee I will establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the Ark, thou and thy sons, and thy wife and thy son’s wives with thee.”

  • This is the first use of the word “covenant” in the Bible – God’s promise of provision and protection.

  1. Noah’s Act of Faith – Genesis 7:1-24 – Vs. 5 – “And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.”

Hebrews 11:7: “By faith, Noah, being warned by 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.”

  • Noah was 480 years old when God called him to do something no man had ever done before.
  • Noah took what God said by FAITH, and built the Ark to God’s specifications.
    • 120 years building a barge in the middle of the desert where a drop of rain had never fallen.
    • 120 years preaching his heart out – warning the people of the judgment to come, even as he was preparing for his own family.
  • Noah was saved because of his faith in God’s Word.
  • Noah’s family was saved because of their faith in Noah’s obedience to God!

Three important truths:

  • God always judges sin – though He waited 1650 years to make His decision, and another 124 years of final warning, the day came when the judgment fell.
  • Even in His judgment, God reveals His grace – God prepared and provided for Noah’s salvation through the Ark – Noah’s part was to take God at His Word and build the Ark.
  • God’s judgment is coming to this earth again – this time by fire. The second coming of Jesus Christ will rid the world of the curse of sin, and at the same time, lift those who believe in Him (The Ark of God) to safety, security and glory.