Building a Picture of Salvation - Protestant Caucus/Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 1993 | John McArthur, Grace Community Church

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"By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household" (Heb. 11:7). The ark is a beautiful picture of salvation by grace through faith.

God called Noah to a gargantuan task. Conservative figures estimate that the ark was about 438 feet long, 73 feet wide, and 44 feet high. That makes it almost one-and-a-half times the length of a football field and more than four stories high. Its three decks totaled almost 96,000 square feet with a total volume of about 1.3 million cubic feet. Naval engineers concur that its shape and dimensions constitute an incredibly stable ship design.

But beyond the enormity of its size and precision of its measurements, the ark is a wonderful illustration of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. For example, Noah was instructed to cover the ark inside and out with pitch (Gen. 3:14). The Hebrew word for pitch has the same root as the word for atonement. The pitch kept the waters of judgment from entering the ark just as Christ's atoning blood keeps judgment from the repentant sinner.

The ark was large enough to hold two of each species of animals plus every person who turned to God for safety. Only eight persons chose to be saved on God's terms, but had more come, surely He would have accommodated them. It is His desire that none perish, but that all come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Those who perished in the Flood did so because they rejected God's means of salvation.

Similarly, Jesus's blood is sufficient to atone for every sinner and every sin since man's fall in the Garden of Eden. No one who comes to Him will be cast out (John 6:37), yet so few avail themselves of His gracious provision (Matt. 7:14).

Noah was a man who "walked with God" (Gen. 6:9), yet he wasn't without sin. That's obvious from his drunken and immodest behavior after the Flood (9:20-21). But Noah, like every true believer, was justified by God's grace, his faith being counted as righteousness. That has always been the basis of salvation (Gen. 15:6;Rom. 4:5).

Suggestions for Prayer

Thank God for His amazing grace, by which He saved you and continues to cleanse you from every sin.

For Further Study

Read Romans 4:1-8.

From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.

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Studying God’s Word ping

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Romans 4:1-8 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

[Babba Gi]

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat?”

[Babba Gi]

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat?”

[ealgeone]

And this is important: Once all were inside it was God Who shut the door. They were sealed in through His protection. Believers today have been sealed by the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t unseal us!!

[ViLaLuz]

Amen!!

Prayer Of Faith For Our Victory In Christ

Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You for the glorious victory Christ gained through His death, burial and resurrection, breaking the power of Satan and sin in the lives of all who trust in Jesus’ name and banishing death and hell forever in the lives of all who believe in Him. Father, I acknowledge that the victory is Christ’s alone but thanks be to God, that by Your great grace You have given us that same wonderful victory, through our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Father, although this glorious triumph was completed 2000 years ago, nonetheless it is as potent and powerful in the lives of believers today as it was when the angels declared, “He is not here - He is risen.” Keep me ever looking to Jesus, knowing that this glorious victory has not lost any of its ancient power, but is the single means of overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil, for all believers who choose to abide in Him and He in them.

I pray that I will run the race that is set before me looking to Jesus, and that I may finish the course that You have given to me, as I yield through word and deed to the working of the Holy Spirit within. This I ask in Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/prayer/prayer-of-faith-for-our-victory-in-christ-1262

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And thank God for that as I don’t trust myself.

I know me too well to even want my salvation to depend on my doing stuff or works or adherence to religious activities.

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And when God rescued Lot, he about had to drag him out of the city. And yet, He did.

God WANTS to save people. That was quite the revelation for me. I grew up thinking He was just looking for excuses to zap us for not being good enough.