Water and Salvation

Introduction

A. By having a better appreciation for the Old Testament, we may have a better understanding of the New Testament. In fact, the things “written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4).”

B. Thus, with a better appreciation of Noah’s relationship to God, we can have a better understanding of our relationship with Him.

Body

I. God saved Noah through water.

A. The wickedness of man was great; the intents of man’s hearts were only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).

B. God planned to destroy man from the face of the earth (Genesis 6:7).

C. Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD (Genesis 6:8-9).

1) He was a just man.

2) He was “perfect” in his generations.

3) He walked with God.

D. Noah built the ark according to God’s instructions, and gathered the right number and kind of animals (Genesis 6:13-22).

E. The floods came, and those on the earth perished; Noah and his family were saved (Genesis 7:1-24).

II. God saves us through water.

A. All men have sinned (Romans 3:23; Galatians 3:22).

B. God destroys those who serve sin, yet saves those willing to serve Him (2 Peter 2:4-5; Romans 6:23).

C. God’s grace has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11; 2 Timothy 1:9-11).

D. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:1-8; Hebrews 11:6-7; Romans 4:13-16; James 2).

E. As eight souls were saved through water, so baptism saves us (1 Peter 3:18-21).

1) Christ sanctifies and cleanses the church with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:25-27).

2) We must be born of water and the Spirit in order to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5).

3) Baptism allows us to die to ourselves, to be buried with Christ, and to rise again in a newness of life (Romans 6:1-7; Acts 8:36-39).

Conclusion

A. Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

B. He had faith in Him, and did what God commanded of Him.

C. God’s grace that brings salvation has appeared to all of us.

D. Are we willing to do what He commands us?

Salvation:  Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully