Austin Bible Church
Noah’s Ark was made of one material, gopher wood, which represented the humanity of Christ. The growing tree refers to the life of Christ. Cutting the tree is a picture of the Cross. Whoever provides salvation must die twice - spiritually and physically. Gen. 6:14-16; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 2:17.
““Make for yourself an ark of gopher wood; you shall make the ark with rooms, and shall cover it inside and out with pitch. “This is how you shall make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. “You shall make a window for the ark, and finish it to a cubit from the top; and set the door of the ark in the side of it; you shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.” (Genesis 6:14-16, NASB)
“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17, NASB)
The ark represented Jesus Christ as the Messiah and contained eight believers in Positional Truth. No judgment would come to them because they were in Christ Jesus. The world outside was destroyed. Those inside remained safe. Rom. 8:1.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NASB)
The ark was covered with pitch as waterproofing. This is a picture of unlimited atonement where the work of Christ on the Cross paid for the sins of all mankind, not just those who choose to become believers. Rom. 5:11; Heb. 9:15.
“And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:11, NASB)
“For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:15, NASB)
The ark was built from a single set of plans with specific dimensions that made the ark an inherently stable vessel. This is a picture of God’s plan. God’s plan begins at salvation for the believer. Acts 16:31.
“They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”“ (Acts 16:31, NASB)
God’s plan mandates that we stay in fellowship in the spiritual life by repeated use of 1 John 1:9. Eph. 5:18.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NASB)
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18, NASB)
In so doing, we grow spiritually and are to witness to the unbeliever using pertinent doctrine in our soul. John 3:36; Acts 1:8.
““He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”“ (John 3:36, NASB)
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”“ (Acts 1:8, NASB)
Our eternal future with Jesus Christ is mentioned in John 14:3.
““If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3, NASB)
The ark had only one door and is a picture of the single path to salvation through Jesus Christ. John 14:6.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6, NASB)
The ark had only one window and represents God the Holy Spirit. There is only one way to have fellowship with God and that is confession of known sins to God the Father using 1 John 1:9.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, NASB)
The ark had three floors that represented the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are three areas of positional truth - Retroactive Positional Truth based on the Cross, Current Positional Truth based on our permanent union with Jesus Christ, and Experiential Positional Truth based on whether our sin nature controls our soul (carnality) or the Holy Spirit controls our soul (spirituality). See the category on Sanctification.
The storm came from below and above. It rained 40 days and nights. Up to this time, the earth was watered by mist from the earth below. Noah believed God. It did rain, even though it hadn’t ever rained prior to that time. Gen. 2:6.
“But a mist used to rise from the earth and water the whole surface of the ground.” (Genesis 2:6, NASB)
God kept the air inside the ark clean and breathable and miraculously removed waste products. The storm fell on the ark, but not on the inside. This represents the safety of believers in union with Christ as protection from any judgment. Judgment fell on Christ for all of us as He hung on the Cross. Rom. 8:1.
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NASB)
There was only one category of survivors – believers. Twice in human history, all unbelievers are removed from the earth leaving only believers on the earth. These were the Great Flood and the Baptism of Fire at the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.