The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. - 1 Peter 4:7
This morning I will preach the 19th message of “The Unnamed Church” sermon series. During this earliest era of Biblical history, there was no particular people group who served as the LORD’s representatives on the earth. Instead, God appeared directly to various individuals who aspired to lead their families and others around them in the faith. As we have discovered, with no designated community of believers present, mankind became exceedingly evil and corrupt.
In our previous sermon, we read that God commanded Noah to build an ark in anticipation of the coming flood. He gave Noah basic instructions for its construction, dimensions, and design. The ark would carry Noah, his family, land animals, and birds, and save them from destruction. Over the next several decades, Noah worked diligently building this enormous vessel and outfitting it with all of the necessary food and supplies.
Today we will discuss the final days leading up to the Great Flood. This sermon is titled “Noah Enters the Ark”. We will be reading from Genesis 7:1-10 and 13-16.
I. LAST CALL (v1-5)
The LORD spoke to Noah and told him that it was almost time to enter the ark. In a week’s time, just 7 more days, He would send torrential rainfall that would persist for 40 days and nights, would flood the earth, and wipe out all life on the land. During these final days, Noah was to load the animals on the ark. He was to take 7 pairs (male and female) of every clean animal and bird and 1 pair (male and female) of every unclean animal with him.
It is commonly believed that Noah took 2 of every kind of animal on the ark, but that’s only true of the unclean animals. He actually took 14 of each type of clean animal, 7 pairs of a male and its female. Scholars reason that Noah carried more clean animals so that he would have a few extra to sacrifice (and possibly eat) after the flood ended while still protecting them from extinction. With this in mind, it is estimated that there were approximately 6,750 individual animals on the ark.
Critics argue that this passage proves the story of Noah’s ark is make-believe. They say that clean and unclean animals were not distinguished from each other until the Mosaic Law was given many centuries later (Leviticus 11). Thus, Noah wouldn’t have known the difference and this is an error in Scripture. However, this argument can’t be substantiated. Just because it hadn’t been formally written into the law yet doesn't prove that God hadn’t already revealed it. Based upon the animal sacrifices made prior to the exodus (by Abel, Noah, Abraham, and possibly others) it would appear that the basic difference between clean and unclean animals was already well known. Thus, it seems likely this practice or tradition was included, clarified, and perhaps expanded by the law.
II. ALL ABOARD (v7-9; 13-15)
During the last week before the flood, all of the animals and birds - both clean and unclean - that God intended to preserve came to the ark. They came in pairs, male and female. Noah saw to it that they were all properly loaded and prepared for the journey ahead. Then, in the final hours, just before the rain began, Noah and his wife, along with their 3 sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth) and their wives, entered the ark. Now everyone was safely aboard.
There is a famous line from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” that says, “If you build it, they will come”. The actual line in the movie says “he will come”, but people have changed it over the years. Anyway, I always think of this line when I read the story of Noah’s ark. Noah was commanded to build the ark, and because he did God sent the animals. Noah didn’t gather them himself, but rather received them as they arrived.
While I don’t necessarily think this is an instructive passage, I can’t help but notice a parallel between the manner by which these animals came to the ark and the manner by which lost people come to Christ. The Bible teaches that no person can come to God unless they are drawn by Him (John 6:44). In other words, a lost person cannot come to the point of salvation on their own volition, but rather must be brought there by the Spirit of God through genuine conviction. Only then can they find true salvation, as illustrated by safe refuge aboard the ark.
III. SHUT THE DOOR (v6, 10, 16)
After all of its passengers were safely aboard, God Himself shut the door of the ark. The final week of preparation had passed and the rain began to fall. Noah was 600 years old when the Great Flood began.
Noah didn’t close the door from the inside. Rather, God closed the door from the outside. This act symbolized His divine protection of those aboard. They were safe and secure in His hand. He would protect and keep them during the raging flood. Furthermore, it ensured that nobody else would get in. What God closes, no man can open. The opportunity for salvation had passed and now judgment was coming.
Many theologians have drawn a connection between the single door on the side of the ark and the exclusivity of Christ. In the gospels, Jesus taught, “I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved.” (John 10:7, 9) He later said, “No one comes to the Father but through Me”. (John 14:6) The Bible plainly teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation. To deny this is to deny Scripture itself. Beloved, there is only 1 door that leads to eternal security, and His name is Jesus.
CONCLUSION
I don’t want to minimize the importance and necessity of evangelism and outreach, but I do want to highlight a principle illustrated in today’s passage and elsewhere in Scripture. If we, like Noah, are faithfully obedient in doing the things God has called us to do, we can trust Him with the results. Our fruitfulness doesn’t depend on our own abilities or merits. Just as He brought the animals to the ark, so also God will bring people to salvation (and, incidentally, to our church) as He sees fit. When we preach the gospel, boldly and uncompromisingly, the Lord will draw people to Himself (John 12:32). As believers, our job is to obediently sow the seed, and trust Him for the harvest.
Next Sunday we will discuss the greatest catastrophe in human history… so far. God will unleash judgment upon the earth and blot out wicked humanity. Only those on the ark will survive. If you are here listening this morning, it is not by accident. God has led you here. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive forgiveness and salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ. The door will be closing soon.
This morning I will preach the 19th message of “The Unnamed Church” sermon series. During this earliest era of Biblical history, there was no particular people group who served as the LORD’s representatives on the earth. Instead, God appeared directly to various individuals who aspired to lead their families and others around them in the faith. As we have discovered, with no designated community of believers present, mankind became exceedingly evil and corrupt.
In our previous sermon, we read that God commanded Noah to build an ark in anticipation of the coming flood. He gave Noah basic instructions for its construction, dimensions, and design. The ark would carry Noah, his family, land animals, and birds, and save them from destruction. Over the next several decades, Noah worked diligently building this enormous vessel and outfitting it with all of the necessary food and supplies.
Today we will discuss the final days leading up to the Great Flood. This sermon is titled “Noah Enters the Ark”. We will be reading from Genesis 7:1-10 and 13-16.
I. LAST CALL (v1-5)
The LORD spoke to Noah and told him that it was almost time to enter the ark. In a week’s time, just 7 more days, He would send torrential rainfall that would persist for 40 days and nights, would flood the earth, and wipe out all life on the land. During these final days, Noah was to load the animals on the ark. He was to take 7 pairs (male and female) of every clean animal and bird and 1 pair (male and female) of every unclean animal with him.
It is commonly believed that Noah took 2 of every kind of animal on the ark, but that’s only true of the unclean animals. He actually took 14 of each type of clean animal, 7 pairs of a male and its female. Scholars reason that Noah carried more clean animals so that he would have a few extra to sacrifice (and possibly eat) after the flood ended while still protecting them from extinction. With this in mind, it is estimated that there were approximately 6,750 individual animals on the ark.
Critics argue that this passage proves the story of Noah’s ark is make-believe. They say that clean and unclean animals were not distinguished from each other until the Mosaic Law was given many centuries later (Leviticus 11). Thus, Noah wouldn’t have known the difference and this is an error in Scripture. However, this argument can’t be substantiated. Just because it hadn’t been formally written into the law yet doesn't prove that God hadn’t already revealed it. Based upon the animal sacrifices made prior to the exodus (by Abel, Noah, Abraham, and possibly others) it would appear that the basic difference between clean and unclean animals was already well known. Thus, it seems likely this practice or tradition was included, clarified, and perhaps expanded by the law.
II. ALL ABOARD (v7-9; 13-15)
During the last week before the flood, all of the animals and birds - both clean and unclean - that God intended to preserve came to the ark. They came in pairs, male and female. Noah saw to it that they were all properly loaded and prepared for the journey ahead. Then, in the final hours, just before the rain began, Noah and his wife, along with their 3 sons (Shem, Ham, and Japheth) and their wives, entered the ark. Now everyone was safely aboard.
There is a famous line from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams” that says, “If you build it, they will come”. The actual line in the movie says “he will come”, but people have changed it over the years. Anyway, I always think of this line when I read the story of Noah’s ark. Noah was commanded to build the ark, and because he did God sent the animals. Noah didn’t gather them himself, but rather received them as they arrived.
While I don’t necessarily think this is an instructive passage, I can’t help but notice a parallel between the manner by which these animals came to the ark and the manner by which lost people come to Christ. The Bible teaches that no person can come to God unless they are drawn by Him (John 6:44). In other words, a lost person cannot come to the point of salvation on their own volition, but rather must be brought there by the Spirit of God through genuine conviction. Only then can they find true salvation, as illustrated by safe refuge aboard the ark.
III. SHUT THE DOOR (v6, 10, 16)
After all of its passengers were safely aboard, God Himself shut the door of the ark. The final week of preparation had passed and the rain began to fall. Noah was 600 years old when the Great Flood began.
Noah didn’t close the door from the inside. Rather, God closed the door from the outside. This act symbolized His divine protection of those aboard. They were safe and secure in His hand. He would protect and keep them during the raging flood. Furthermore, it ensured that nobody else would get in. What God closes, no man can open. The opportunity for salvation had passed and now judgment was coming.
Many theologians have drawn a connection between the single door on the side of the ark and the exclusivity of Christ. In the gospels, Jesus taught, “I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved.” (John 10:7, 9) He later said, “No one comes to the Father but through Me”. (John 14:6) The Bible plainly teaches that faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to salvation. To deny this is to deny Scripture itself. Beloved, there is only 1 door that leads to eternal security, and His name is Jesus.
CONCLUSION
I don’t want to minimize the importance and necessity of evangelism and outreach, but I do want to highlight a principle illustrated in today’s passage and elsewhere in Scripture. If we, like Noah, are faithfully obedient in doing the things God has called us to do, we can trust Him with the results. Our fruitfulness doesn’t depend on our own abilities or merits. Just as He brought the animals to the ark, so also God will bring people to salvation (and, incidentally, to our church) as He sees fit. When we preach the gospel, boldly and uncompromisingly, the Lord will draw people to Himself (John 12:32). As believers, our job is to obediently sow the seed, and trust Him for the harvest.
Next Sunday we will discuss the greatest catastrophe in human history… so far. God will unleash judgment upon the earth and blot out wicked humanity. Only those on the ark will survive. If you are here listening this morning, it is not by accident. God has led you here. Don’t miss this opportunity to receive forgiveness and salvation by trusting in Jesus Christ. The door will be closing soon.