BUILDING A PICTURE OF SALVATION Saturday November 15, 2014 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household (Hebrews 11:7). The ark is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace through faith. God called Noah to a gargantuan task. Conservative figures estimate that the ark was about 438 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 44 feet high. That makes it almost one-and-a-half times the length of a football field and more than four stories high. Its three decks totaled almost 96,000 square feet with a total volume of about 1.3 million cubic feet. Naval engineers concur that its shape and dimensions constitute an incredibly stable ship design. But beyond the enormity of its size and precision of its measurements, the ark is a wonderful illustration of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. For example, Noah was instructed to cover the ark inside and out with pitch (Genesis 3:14). The Hebrew word for pitch has the same root as the word for atonement. The pitch kept the waters of judgment from entering the ark just as Christs atoning blood keeps judgment from the repentant sinner. The ark was large enough to hold two of each species of animals plus every person who turned to God for safety. Only eight persons chose to be saved on Gods terms, but had more come, surely He would have accommodated them. It is His desire that none perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Those who perished in the Flood did so because they rejected Gods means of salvation. Similarly, Jesuss blood is sufficient to atone for every sinner and every sin since mans fall in the Garden of Eden. No one who comes to Him will be cast out (John 6:37), yet so few avail themselves of His gracious provision (Matthew 7:14). Noah was a man who walked with God (Genesis 6:9), yet he wasnt without sin. Thats obvious from his drunken and immodest behavior after the Flood (9:20-21). But Noah, like every true believer, was justified by Gods grace, his faith being counted as righteousness. That has always been the basis of salvation (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:5). Suggestions for Prayer: Thank God for His amazing grace, by which He saved you and continues to cleanse you from every sin. For Further Study: Read Romans 4:1-8 Romans 4:1-8 NIV What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” From Drawing Near by John MacArthur.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 10:56:04 +0000
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