Why is this church called the Ark?
We believe that the Ark in the Bible is a picture of salvation and the work of the church. Also, just as in Noah’s day where there was a day appointed for judgment, so it is today. In Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus compared the days we are living in to the days of Noah. He said:
“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
The Ark represented salvation from the coming judgment:
God offers us salvation through Jesus Christ so we do not have to suffer judgment for our sins
• Genesis 6:13 “So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.”
• Genesis 6:17-18 “I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you.”
• Genesis 7:7 “Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.”
• Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Salvation was available to all but only those who came to God, in His way, through the open door of the Ark would be saved:
Salvation is still available to all, in God’s way, through the open door which is Jesus Christ.
• Genesis 6:16 “… Put a door in the side of the ark …”
• Genesis 7:15-16 “Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark … Then the Lord shut him in.”
• John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• John 10:9 “I(Jesus) am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved…”
• 1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
The creatures came to the Ark because they desired to live:
People will come because they desire more than what this life has to offer and God will give them eternal life
• Genesis 6:20 “Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive.”
• Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me (Jesus), all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
• John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
• John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Noah and his family needed to grow, gather and store food to feed the animals and their family on the Ark:
The Ark Church needs to feed those who come, teaching them the unchanging truth of God’s Word (The Bible) and mentoring them to live a life that glorifies God.
• Genesis 6:21 “You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”
• Matthew 25:35-36 “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
• Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God saved Noah and his family through the Ark:
The Ark Church shares the Gospel (Good News) and prays for the salvation of families
• Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household…”
• John 4:53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.
• Acts 16:30-31 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
• Acts 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household.
