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The Ark: A Type of the Church
by: Dalton Gilreath

i.              Introduction

A.   The Bible is filled with symbolism and shadows

                                          i.    Many details in the Old Testament prefigure things in the New

                                        ii.    We call this a “type” of something

1.    For example, Joseph was a type of Christ

2.    The tabernacle is a type of the church

B.   This study focuses on the ark of Noah as a type of the church

                                          i.    Consider ten ways that the ark prefigured the Lord’s body

ii.            Built by a servant of God

A.   Noah was the only faithful patriarch in his time (Gen 6:13-14)

                                          i.    God asked him to build the ark because He would destroy everyone and everything else

B.   Jesus was the servant of God who built the church (Matt 16:18)

                                          i.    Notice, both of these were built and did not just happen by chance

iii.           Made of one material

A.   The ark was made solely of gopher wood (Gen 6:14)

B.   The church is made up of living stones (1 Peter 2:5)

                                          i.    Christians are those living stones

                                        ii.    What does that suggest when stones are missing from the building?

iv.           Only one entrance

A.   God had Noah build one door for the ark (Gen 6:16)

B.   Jesus is the only entrance into the church as well (John 10:9)

                                          i.    Mohammad, nor anyone else, can serve as a door to salvation

v.            Only one source of light

A.   The ark had one window on the top to allow in light

B.   Jesus gave us the light when He left the Earth (John 9:5)

                                          i.    He was the light but took the light to Heaven (Rev 21:23)

                                        ii.    He left us with our sole light, the gospel (2 Cor 4:4, cf Psalm 119:105)

vi.           Only one family

A.   Noah’s family was the only one on the boat (1 Peter 3:20)

B.   The Bible teaches there is only one family in Christ (Rom 12:5)

                                          i.    Denominations are multiple families and are not acceptable (1 Cor 1:10)

                                        ii.    All the saved are added to the same family, the church (Acts 2:47)

vii.          There is work to be done

A.   Noah had to feed and care for the animals on the boat (Gen 6:21)

B.   The church has to feed and care for one another spiritually (1 Cor 15:58)

                                          i.    We can’t just get on the boat and sit and expect to be pleasing to God

viii.        Saved by water

A.   The ark was lifted up in safety from destruction (1 Peter 3:20)

                                          i.    Noah was saved by the water that destroyed the filth of the world

B.   Baptism saves us in the same way (1 Peter 3:21)

                                          i.    We are saved by water as the blood of Jesus washes our sin away

ix.           Only one location

A.   There was only one boat acceptable for salvation (Gen 6:14)

B.   There is only one church as well (Eph 4:4, Col 1:18)

                                          i.    In Noah’s day how many other homes survived?

                                        ii.    Why would we think it will be different this time?

x.            Destruction outside of it

A.   Nothing was spared outside the ark without exception (Gen 7:21-22)

B.   Nothing outside the church will be spared (Rom 8:1)

                                          i.    If we are not in Christ we are not saved and therefore lost

xi.           Hope of life in a new world

A.   The flood changed the Earth (Gen 7:18-20)

                                          i.    It must have been so different when he got off the boat

B.   We have hope of an even better world when our ship of life ends

                                          i.    Heaven will be 100 times better than all we lost here (Mark 10:29-30)