Lesson 2: Salvation

The Ark speaks… Who we are?  What’s the essence of The Ark?  SALVATION.  The Ark defines our Identity.  Before God’s judgement was imminent, the Bible says, “But Noah found favour in the eyes of God.” (Genesis 6:8).  Then God told Noah to build an Ark for protection.  And here The Ark means SALVATION.  Or you can say function of The Ark is salvation.  People in The Ark spared the wrath of God.  People in the Ark tasted saving grace from God and His loving mercy.  We saved by God’s grace.  Sola Gracia – Grace Alone.  It’s neither from the world nor you but God.  What means grace?  Grace is God gives us what we don’t deserve.  We deserve punishment because of sin, and because of what we’ve done wrong God and wrong people.  But God grants us a way out.  The Ark shows God’s way out, God’s attitude to sin and God’s grace to repent people.  The Ark defines those who were willing to get onboard into The Ark and those who remained stay in The Ark.  Some Bible scholars make a simile that The Ark as Jesus Christ who saves.  People who remain stay in The Ark (Jesus Christ) enjoys God’s saving grace and now we call these people are Christians or Jesus’ followers.  That’s our true identity which is defined by God more that defined by the world or by your business name cards.

God announced judgement beforehand was His grace.  “He said to Noah: I am going to put an end to all people.” (Genesis 6:13).  It is a warning signal.  It gives people time and opportunity to repent.  It is God’s grace.  The Ark is a severe invitation to return and repent.  Friends, it is a call.  A question worthy for each of us to think of: Where I will go if I continue to live life like the way I’m living now?  Where will I go eventually?  What’s the ultimate destination of my life?  We need to secure our life more than secure our money.  For your life sake, you need to return to God.  I challenge you to get onboard The Ark to become an Ark people to secure your life, enjoy salvation offered by God, receive His protection, and anchor your life in His saving grace.  And I pray that you would like Noah – that you would “find favour in the eyes of God” in the wicked world.