1 Peter 3: Peter 3:19 22 (NKJV) 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the

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2 1 Peter 3: Peter 3:19 22 (NKJV) 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us baptism

3 1 Peter 3: Peter 3:19 22 (NKJV) (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

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5 1. Over the last three weeks we have examined: 1. The real cause of the flood Sin. 2. The nature of God that is both concerned and consuming! 3. The obedient faith of Noah. 2. Today we bring all three together to consider the Ark and its implications for our own salvation. 3. So the title of today s sermon is: Our Ark

6 One Ark

7 One Origin The Plan Genesis 6:13 14, And God said to Noah, The end of all flesh has come before Me Make yourself an ark of gopherwood The Salvation Genesis 6:8, But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. 1. Certainly Noah was a sinner for we recognize that all sin (Rom. 3:23), so in that sense he was not worthy of salvation as no one is truly worthy. 2. Yet, God s grace provided the plan and the subsequent salvation. 3. This is underscored by Genesis 7:16 (NKJV) 16 So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the Lord shut him in. 1. Did you notice that God shut Noah in??? 2. It was by Divine decree and power that the door of that ark was shut and sealed to the salvation of Noah and his family. 4. Everything started and starts with God!

8 One Entrance By Faith Hebrews 11:7, By faith Noah, prepared an ark for the saving of his household and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. By Obedience Genesis 6:22 (7:5), Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did. 1. The ark would have never been built if Noah did not possess an obedient faith rooted in godly fear. 2. God offered salvation by His grace, but Noah had to believe and build! 3. If the fateful day of the flood had arrived without an ark do we believe he and his family would have been saved? 1. Consider the contrast between Noah and the people around him while Noah was preparing, they were living it up! 2. Luke 17:26 27 (NKJV) 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

9 One Place Inside vs. Outside Genesis 7:21 23 (NKJV) 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive. 1. Can you imagine being there, seeing Noah enter the ark? 2. Can you imagine when the windows of heaven were opened and the fountains of the deep were broken up? 3. Consider that we have found entire animals, frozen suddenly in a great force of water and change that was the great flood, that was the destruction that for a moment all of these people faced. 4. Inside the ark was safety and salvation, outside was destruction and damnation. 5. Where would you have wanted to be?

10 One Church 1. If you said that you wanted to be in the one ark, then you need to know that today God has prepared another ark. 2. This ark is not made of wood and pitch, but was purchased with the blood of Christ for all men to flow unto. 3. Acts 20:28 (NKJV) 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 4.

11 One Origin The Plan Revelation 13:8 (NKJV) 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. The Salvation Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 1. The plan of God for Christ to suffer and to build his church wherein one can find salvation is attested to throughout the New Testament. 1. Remember Acts 20:28 said that the church was purchased with the blood of Christ. 2. Acts 2:23 says that all of this happened according to the foreknowledge of God: Acts 2:23 (NKJV) 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 3. Peter says all of this was intended so that we might be redeemed, 1 Peter 1:17 21 (NKJV) 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 2. Jesus, Himself, said that He planned to build His church:

12 One Entrance By Faith John 20:30 31 (NKJV) 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. By Obedience Romans 6:17 (NKJV) 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 1. Remember that Eph. 2:8 said that we are saved by grace through faith. 2. That faith is focused upon believing and accepting Jesus Christ as the Son of God by submission to Him. 3. Mark 16:16 (NKJV) 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 4. Herein is faith combined with obedience that results in being added to the church: 1. Acts 2:36 39 (NKJV) 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. 2. Acts 2:47 (NKJV) 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved Peter 3:19 21 (NKJV) 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being

13 One Place: Inside There is only one church and the saved are in it: Ephesians 1:22-23, "Head over all things to the church, which is His body" with 4:4, "One body." Acts 2:47b, "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."

14 One Place: Inside Galatians 3:26-27, " For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." 1. The saved are in the church, which is the body, which is to be in Christ. 2. In Christ are all spiritual blessings, including no condemnation ( 3. Outside of Christ, is damnation and destruction.

15 One Place: Outside 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, "And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed." 1. Remember that the saved with all spiritual blessings are in Christ, in the church. 2. What does that leave outside?

16 Our Ark: The Church Jesus Christ purchased our salvation and the church with His blood. There is only one entrance by faithful obedience to the Gospel through hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized. There is only one church and those who are not in the ark of safety will face eternal destruction.

17 Have You Boarded Our Ark of Salvation?