ARK AND CHURCH

1. Based upon the Scripture that was read, Peter told his readers about Noah and the ark.

2. Peter saw a connection between the Old Testament ark and the New Testament.

3. Today we want to consider parallels and points of distinction between the ark and the New Testament.

FROM GENESIS SIX WE GET THE BASIC FACTS ABOUT NOAH AND WHAT HE DID.

a) God tells us how the ancient world was wicked (Gen. 6:12); today, society is still evil.

b) God planned to wipe clean the ancient earth and allow humanity to have a new start.

c) God carried out His plan by a flood—a flood I maintain was worldwide.

2) One of the first things we see in the story of Noah is a threat.

3) There was danger (the flood) and God provided a place of shelter.

4) As we look at the New Testament we can ask if these same two things exist.

5) They do.

6) We have a pressing danger; the Bible calls it sin. Noah’s world had this same problem.

7) God tells us how serious sin is in places like Rom. 6:23; sin results in death.

8) God had a plan for sin in Noah’s time and He has offered a solution for us.

9) Luke 19:10 says that Jesus came to the earth. Jesus said He was looking for people.

10) The Lord came to “seek and save the lost.”

11) In Noah’s day and time, God had only one solution.

a) This was an ark, and it was a very specific place of safety.

b) To use modern terminology, it was the “Designated shelter.”

c) It is not improbable that other kinds of water craft existed before the flood.

d) According to Genesis, there was lots of water upon the earth.

e) There were rivers, and the existence of rivers suggests other bodies of water.

f) In view of this people may have constructed rafts, canoes, or boats of some other type.

g) No matter what kind of watercraft was available, God offered only one safe place.

h) When the rain started to come, a person might have said, “I will use my boat.”

12) There may have been many things that floated, but God had only one boat that would work.

13) Saying only one craft would work was exclusive and narrow. It is certainly restrictive.

14) God made one provision for the ancient world and He did not approve of any other.

15) In the New Testament we find a similar thing.

16) Jesus said He would build His “church” (singular), Mt. 1:18. Jesus built only one church.

17) Today people say to their friends, “come to my church/we have our own place of worship.”

18) What if this kind of statement had been made in Noah’s day—I will use my own boat?

19) There was only one option: go with Noah and the ark he built or drown.

20) Today God has a similar instruction: Safety and refuge are with Christ and the church He built.

21) As we look at Noah’s boat, we find some specific details.

22) Here are the instructions in Gen. 6:12-15 – READ.

23) God specified the length, width, and height of the ark.

24) Heaven told Noah to build rooms and include a door and window.

25) The ark was to be constructed from a specific kind of wood.

26) This craft was to have multiple stories.

a) All these details interest me when I turn to the New Testament.

b) Matthew 16:18 tells us that Christ built His church.

c) Acts 20:28 adds that the purchase price was Jesus’ blood.

27) What we often hear from people in the world concerning the church is something like this:

28) “Yes, we agree that specific instructions were given to Noah about the ark.”

29) “When it comes to the church, we can do whatever we want.”

30) We should be shocked at this kind of reasoning.

31) Noah’s ark was for a limited period of time and for a physical deliverance.

32) The church, however, is Christ’s body (Eph. 1:22-23).

33) The church was bought with Christ’s blood.

34) The church is going to spend eternity with God, but Noah’s ark is not going to be in heaven.

35) Did God give detailed rules about an old boat, but few to no rules for the church Christ died for?

36) If the lesser had guidelines and rules (the ark), the greater (the church) certainly has them.

a) God has a plan for the church.

b) He has a plan for what we do, how we do it, when we do it, why we do it, and where we do it.

c) We are going to install a deacon this morning. Why are we doing that?

d) The basic reason is that this is part of God’s plan and we pledge to follow it.

e) Noah had to follow God’s plan to be saved; we have this same obligation.

37) One of the restrictions placed upon Noah is found in Gen. 6:18 – READ.

a) The ark was a place of safety; Noah had to “go into it” (and by implication stay there).

b) For us who live under the New Testament, does God have a place of safety?

c) Yes. Our safety place is called “in Christ.”

d) According to Eph. 1:3, all spiritual blessings are “in Christ.”

e) Noah had to enter into the ark, and we must enter into Christ.

f) It is for this reason that Gal. 3:27 says, quote.

g) If we are in Christ, we are part of His body.

h) Since Jesus’ body is called the church, Col. 1:18, our safety is in the church.

i) We enter into the Lord’s church by water baptism.

38) We can see this in the Bible, but what do people tell us?

39) We hear things like, “I love God but I am not part of any religious group.”

40) “I have my own private spiritual life.”

41) What if those in Noah’s time had something similar:

a) “I have a house on the hill, so I am okay if a flood comes.”

b) “I have my own boat and don’t need to be with your group.”

c) “I have allergies and can’t stand to be with all those animals.”

d) People with these kinds of attitudes died. They died physically and they died spiritually.

e) Satan sold a lie to many ancient people—you don’t need the ark—you are okay.

f) Today millions upon millions are still believing a similar lie straight from the pits of hell.

42) When Noah was building his vessel, people were encouraged to enter into the ark.

43) A similar thing happens under our covenant.

44) We encourage people to find Christ and enter into His spiritual body.

45) We implore people to find spiritual refuge, but many refuse to come.

46) Noah could not control the people of his day, and we cannot control those of our time.

47) We can, however, make sure we are in the right place.

48) 1 Tim. 3:15 says that God has a house (singular, not plural).

49) Paul said this “house” is the “church.”

a) Some of us know what it is like to be locked out of a car or house.

b) We might stand on the outside and look inside, wishing the door could be opened.

c) As we stand locked out, we might think, “If only I had not left the key inside.”

d) “If we had only thought a few more seconds more before closing the door.”

e) We do not want to be locked out of our house or automobile.

f) If it is sad to be locked out of our house, what about being locked out of heaven?

g) God says this will happen if we are not in Christ.

h) Paul said people are baptized into Christ, and he meant what he said.

i) We can be in God’s house and know we are in His house if we are obedient.

50) Throughout the years I remember people telling me about their homes.

51) Some have said they do not have people over because their house is too small.

52) We have no evidence that Noah’s ark was too small for the job intended it to do.

53) Certainly the church is not too small for God’s family.

54) God built only one spiritual body (church), and it is large enough for all people.

55) Mt. 22:10 tells of servants who went out into the highways and byways.

a) People were told to “come in”—there was plenty of room.

b) Not every organization on the earth has room for everyone.

c) If we have been in sports or some other competition, we learn something pretty fast:

d) There is room for only one first place winner.

e) Not everyone can stand in the champion’s circle.

f) Certain clubs are limited to gender, intellect, social status, wealth, or something else.

g) There are organizations that are even blunt: you are not wanted/qualified.

56) When it comes to God’s place of refuge, all are welcome.

57) God made the ark and church large enough for all, and He did other things too.

58) For instance, He refused to design a craft that would be unsafe or untrustworthy.

59) Heaven did not want Noah to have to “adjust things” after 6 months of floating.

60) God made a careful plan, and He got it right the first time.

61) We find this same thing in regard to the church.

a) Eph. 3:10-11 says the church was part of God’s “eternal plan and purpose.”

b) God’s church needs no adjusting.

c) Eph. 3:10-11 will one day indict a lot of religious people.

d) How many of us have we heard of someone say, “We need a new church”?

e) Think about those words: We need a “new church.”

f) Human beings typically live less than 100 years.

g) Suppose someone starts planning for a new church when they turn 11.

h) They continue to plan for the next 84 years (this would make them 95).

i) What kind of plan (church) could a person develop in 84 years?

j) Suppose that this is just the starting place; the plan develops for a total of a thousand years.

k) Whatever was devised, it will always be inferior to the one church created by God.

l) God planned the church from eternity, Eph. 3:10-11. His church is the prefect church.

m) Because it is perfect, He says to all people, “come to mine, the one bought by My Son’s blood.”

62) When we study the ark, we read about one door.

63) This again seems pretty restrictive.

64) Why not have right and left side doors, a rear door, and a forward door for the ark?

65) God allowed for only one door.

66) In Christ’s one church, there is only one door.

a) Jesus said He is that door (Jn. 10:7.

b) To get through this door we follow “the faith” (Jude 3).

c) The system that leads us through the door is faith, repentance, confession and baptism.

d) Jesus said any other door is going to take us to a place that is not heaven.

67) Noah and other interested parties were called into the ark, Gen. 7:1.

68) Today God calls people into His church.

69) He doesn’t send us an e-mail or use a telephone, He uses the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14).

70) While in the ark, there were undoubtedly some rough moments.

71) Floods are generally times of trouble and anxiety. Water is turbulent.

72) In the church, we are not free from trouble or anxiety.

73) If we stay in God’s house, we will be okay.

74) Noah and those with him were preserved, and such is also true for those in the church.

75) Safety was in the ark and the people emerged to find a new and better life.

76) A similar thing is true with respect to the church.

77) When we join ourselves to Christ’s body, we have a new and better life.

78) After we leave the earth, we will be allowed to enter into the presence of God.

79) We can look at Noah’s ark and understand how safety was provided.

80) A similar thing (1 Pet. 3) is now available. We need safety and God says it is available.

81) Have we been baptized into Christ, and are we abiding in the refuge of Christ’s church?

82) A flood is coming, but it will not be literal water. It will be a flood of judgment and anxiety.

83) As sinners and saints were separated in Noah’s day, that same kind of division will again occur.