Preached at Riverview Baptist 798 Santa Fe Pike Columbia TN

Audio of 8:30 AM Services

Audio of 11 AM Services

Study Notes:

From the beginning of mankind, we have always tried to do the impossible. When man saw fire from the sky he studied it, and learned to make fire from friction, from flint and rock. When we saw birds flying man wondered how we could fly. Over time we learned how to seemingly defeat gravity – to soar into our atmosphere and even to the moon and beyond. We developed ways of communicating so that now we can sit in an auditorium like this and call anywhere in the world. We developed the Internet to share information, both good and bad, and Social Networks to share our lives with strangers.

How were we able to do all these things.

Because God made us in His image and His likeness.

God gave us the command to take dominion over the earth.

We have power and dominion because God has granted it.

We are not animals. We are the offspring of God. God gave us the ability to invent, to conquer, to make. We have even split the atom, and created terrible weapons that can kill millions.

But God is still God.

For all of science, for all of our advances, God is still the Only God.

Though God gave us the ability to invent and design,

God NEVER relinquished His authority.

God is God. God says:

Malachi 3:6 (NLT) “I am the LORD, and I do not change.”

We have changed. We have grown in knowledge and ability. We are doing amazing things as science and medicine advances. We grow daily. But God does not change. The Psalmist says:

Psalms 90:2 (ESV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

God is the First Cause Who is caused by none. God has no beginning nor any end. Though God has allowed us to adjust or modify His physical laws, God establishes what is right and wrong. God defines evil and God defines good. This is immutable and unchangeable:

God Judges Sin

I do not judge nor define sin.

You do not judge nor define sin.

God judges and defines sin.

Let’s read responsively the words of our Lord in …

Matthew 24:35-39 (KJV) Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. [36] But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. [37] But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. [38] For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, [39] And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

In just about every Church nursery and in many baby’s rooms across our nation there is a mural of Noah and his smiling animals. You know what I mean. There’s a cartoon Ark in multicolor, and oversized animals poking their heads up, with a smiling Noah at the helm. Underneath is the pretty blue water, and above a beautiful sky with a rainbow in it. Everyone is happy. It’s cute, and I’m sure comforting to the parents and the child. The Ark is a sign of hope. The rainbow is a promise of judgment passed. But judgment came before the smiling of the Ark.

God judges sin.

Jesus spoke of a time when He would come and judge the world, and compared His Coming to “the days of Noah”. People think that God no longer judges sin. People think that because we have imitated the birds and can fly, and because our technology has made us wise with worldwide wisdom, that the concept of sin does not exist. We believe there is no sin. We believe that the God of the Old Testament was a big old Meanie, but the God of the New Testament is nothing but Love. Since He is love, since the Scripture says:

1 John 4:8 (KJV) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

that God does not judge sin. In fact, we think there is no sin today except what WE think is sin. But God judges sin. Jesus said:

Matthew 24:37 (KJV) But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the SON OF MAN be.

The Days of Noah and the Second Coming of Christ are tied together by Jesus. He said “Just AS the days of Noah were, so SHALL the coming of the Son of Man be”. The “Son of Man” is a reference to the Messiah, to Jesus Christ. Daniel saw the Coming of Christ:

Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV) I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. [14] And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Jesus is coming a second time. He came the first to to be the PROPITIATION for sin, the PAYMENT for those who will believe in Him. Jesus came the first time to suffer for sin, because God judges sin. Jesus will come the second time to overthrow the sinner and to protect His Children. God judges sin.

People say “God does not judge sin like He used to judge sin”. The Old Testament God judged sin harshly, but the New Testament God does not. That’s not true. Jesus compared His Second Coming with the Old Testament truth of the Noahic Flood.

The Flood Came Because People Rejected God

Matthew 24:38 (KJV) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage …

What led to the flood that killed all but Noah and his family? The people were “eating and drinking”. These are normal things. We all eat and drink. We need this to live. The people were “marrying and giving in marriage”. Marriage is a beautiful thing. Marriage – Biblical Marriage between one man and one woman – is instituted of God. God told Adam and Eve

Genesis 1:28 (NASB) … “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it..”

This is a command of God. God commanded man and woman to come together, to be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth. Biblical marriage is a beautiful thing. It is what God designed us to do, to make children, to raise children to love Him. But here’s the key. God did not divorce Himself from mankind. We were to eat and drink – but with gratefulness to God. We were to multiply and fill the earth, but with hearts filled with love for Him Who made us and gave us every blessing. Man enjoyed the blessings of God. God gave us:

Matthew 24:45 … meat in due season …

As mankind drifted farther from God, God continued to watch and to wait. God in His Grace still provided good even to those who were evil.

Matthew 5:45 (AMPC) {God} makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers [alike].

God continued to bless, even though man continued to curse. And God watched. Then one day God had enough.

It was not that mankind was eating and drinking and marrying that caused the flood. It was that mankind was living with no thought for God – only for self. And this degraded humanity!

Genesis 6:5 (KJV) … GOD SAW that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Evil had saturated creation.

No longer did man look to God to define evil.

Humanity took a vote, a poll, and whatever seemed popular was deemed OK.

To be right was no longer defined as being right with God,

but being in one accord with the majority.

Rather than preach what was unpopular the preachers decided to be popular, to change with the times. But the majority without God is not a majority. The world divorced itself from God. So God said:

Genesis 6:7 (KJV) …. I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

God must judge sin.

Everyone Died In That Flood

Because God Judges Sin

Matthew 24:38 (KJV) … For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

The world continued eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage. Day after day passed. God called Noah and told him to build an Ark, and Noah had 120 years to do. The Bible says that

NOAH FOUND GRACE in the eyes of the Lord

Noah became a recipient of Grace.

He was saved by Grace.

Now what does that mean? First of all, it means that Noah was in the world, but his PURPOSE was not to please the world. His purpose was to please GOD.

The world was under the judgment of God, but Noah was not.

Noah was given a purpose.

His purpose was NOT TO COMPROMISE with the world, but to PLEASE GOD.

God is watching. Noah knows that. Noah lives for God.

Noah talked with God Those saved by Grace talk to God. God is their Father. They are born again. They pray because they NEED to hear from Him.

Noah listened to God God comes to Noah, and tells him:

Genesis 6:13 (KJV) And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is COME BEFORE ME; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

The farther man gets away from God the horrible society becomes. God judges sin because sin causes death. The wages of sin is death. God judges sin because He loves His creation. God judges sin because sin, once it grabs hold, destroys what it touches.

Like Leprosy, Sin is contagious, infecting all it touches.

The prostitute, molested by her family, is born of sin.

Like Cancer, sin eats into the life and kills.

The killer was beaten and abused by many.

Like Alzheimer’s, sin causes us to lose our minds.

To wander aimlessly looking for happiness where there is none.

God told Noah “build an Ark”. God gives His children saved by Grace a purpose. Our purpose is not to pacify or placate those in sin, but to do His Will. God told Noah EXACTLY what to do. God designed the Ark. Those who got in the Ark were safe. Noah promoted the Ark. He built the Ark.

Matthew 24:39 (KJV) … And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;

Everyone was “taken away”.

The unsaved sinner was “taken away” by death.

The saved Child of God was “taken away” by Ark.

The rejector of God drowned of his own fault.

He could have been saved but would not get on the Ark.

Judgment was coming, but the world didn’t know when. The world watched Noah build the Ark. Noah spoke of the flood. Learned people studied the skies. Philosophers heard what Noah said, and saw what Noah was doing. But when the flood came, it took them ALL away. God judges sin, but God offers Grace.

I am sure that Noah had his share of visitors during that 120 years of building. Some came to make fun. “Do you REALLY believe that God will destroy the world? Do you REALLY believe that only those on the Ark will be saved?” They mocked Noah just as they mock the Christian today.

Do you REALLY believe that Jesus Christ is the only Way to God?

Do you REALLY believe He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that

no one comes to God the Father but by Him? (John 14:6)

Do you REALLY believe that a person must be born again? (John 3:3)

Do you REALLY believe that a person must turn from sin

and receive Christ as Lord and Savior?

As Noah built the Ark mankind mocked him. Some were kind. “Old Noah, he’s touched in the head. He means well, but he’s so out of touch with today’s person.” But Noah kept building, he kept listening to God, and he kept preaching that Gospel.

Get on the Ark or the flood will take you.

God judges sin, and judgment is coming.

I am not your judge, but God is – REPENT. Turn to Christ.

I am sure some people toured the Ark like people tour churches today. People will come if Noah serves a buffet. People will come if Noah has a coffee shop, or a school for the kids, or a swimming pool on board. People walked through the Ark and were amazed at its size, and pointed out it’s imperfections. “Noah, if I were you I’d put more than one window in here”. People toured, and advised.

You know, more people would get on this Ark if you’d relax that sin restriction.

More people would come to Church if you’d be more tolerant.

We could build a better Ark, just whisper sweet nothings.

The Ark may look imperfect to the world, but it was as God designed, and it was perfect. The world outside the Ark all drowned, but those within, walking on it’s wooden decks, were safe. Those surrendered to God’s Word were saved, but those who rejected Him were lost.

God Will Judge Sin But None Know When

Matthew 24:39 (KJV) And knew not UNTIL the flood came,

Some may have even begun to believe – a little – that Noah wasn’t mad. Perhaps they thought about getting on the Ark, but decided to wait a while. God judges sin, and Jesus is coming again to judge sin and save His people. But we do not know when.

Matthew 24:36 (KJV) But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

An old time preacher named Henry Smith said “a door that is almost shut is open; a man who is almost honest is a thief; a man who is almost saved is damned”. The great preacher C.H. Spurgeon declared:

“Here then is the solemn truth of God – all out of Christ lost – all in Christ saved. All unbelievers perish – all believers are preserved in Him!”

We do not know when judgment will come, but the Scripture is clear:

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) And as it is APPOINTED unto men once to die,

but after this the judgment:

In the days of Noah people were living their lives without God while Noah lived his life in God. They built up their bank accounts and families and possessions, but Noah built the Ark.

Genesis 6:22 (KJV) Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Noah did what God told him to do. The world followed itself, but God’s Child followed God. Then one day God said:

Genesis 7:1 (ESV) … “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I HAVE SEEN THAT YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS BEFORE ME in this generation.

Noah, get in the Ark. Noah, do what God said. And Noah got in the Ark, he and his family, and God sealed up the Ark. Noah did not know when judgment would come. He rested in the Grace of God. He live in communion with the Lord Who loved him. He trusted God His Savior.

And all who were in the Ark were safe.

The rains came, and then the Ark looked good. But it was too late. Too late! The storm came and drowned both mouse and lion, both giraffe and hippo. As the flood of judgment came the Ark rose above the waters, but the people, young and old, died under judgment.

Oh my Beloved, Jesus is coming again. He is coming for His people. He is our Ark. Noah ignored the world and clung to God. He entered through the door when that door was open. Jesus said:

John 10:9 (NKJV) I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

The Ark had but one door by which you could enter. Jesus is the one Door by which you can come to God to be saved and to be sustained. He SAVES and SUSTAINS. Oh, enter by the Door! Enter the Ark while there is yet time. Judgment is coming. None of us know when. God bids you “Come into the Ark” (Genesis 7:1). Come to Jesus. In Him is the promise of salvation from God. Jesus is “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). It is Jesus Christ alone that we are saved.

Romans 3:21-25 (KJV) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; [22] Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: [23] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

God must judge sin. Christ took the judgment for our sins on Calvary. Those in the Ark were protected from the flood because the rain and the wind hit the Ark. The Ark took the punishment, and those inside were safe. Christ took our punishment. It was Jesus Who was bruised for my sins and for your sins. All of our sins were

Colossians 2:13-14 (NKJV) And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) {Jesus} Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Jesus is our Ark. He is coming again one day to receive us to Himself. Are you ready? Have you received Him as Lord and Savior? Do not delay. God will save you from the gutter-most to the uttermost. God will love you. Receive Christ as Lord and Savior. Enter His Ark. Let God take care of you!