When people like Augustine and Thomas Aquinas spoke of Noah’s ark representing the church, and taught there is no salvation outside of that, they meant the Roman Catholic Church.  Yet others who teach that Noah’s ark represents the Christian church speak in reference to something else. 

Was Noah part of a church when he found grace in God’s eyes?  Not by the definition of those who have taught that church membership represents being in Noah’s Ark.  Noah had worship among his own family.  It is obvious that others would have been welcome to join Noah’s family in worship if they were willing to separate themselves from the corruption of the world (God’s moral law is everlasting and known to all); and willing to do whatever was known that God had ceremonially prescribed for worship by this time.  

Do you think that Noah wasn’t told then that he needed “to get himself and his family into fellowship”?  Do you think there weren’t wicked religious leaders who disdained Noah’s righteous preaching?  It’s not hard to picture them saying “Noah thinks he’s too good for us”- right as corrupt politicians and women who looked and acted like harlots read quotes from Cain during the corrupt church’s worship service.  

There may have even been more conservative groups who supported a movement to recover Cain’s descendants from the Land of Nod (and this movement, when really examined, justified and promoted theft and many other sins- this of course corresponds to the Zionism prevalent among Evangelicals now).  

Do you think there weren’t people telling Noah “God is love” in the context of using this as an excuse to not forsake their sins. They eventually found out the hard way that God’s love doesn’t mean He allows rebellion against His righteous authority.  

Note also that the congregation on the ark was not the ark.  The ark was prepared by a faithful man who spent himself for its construction.  Jesus Christ spent Himself to prepare a way for people to be redeemed to God and safe on the day of His wrath.  He died as the perfect Lamb of God to make a way into God’s grace for us.  He applies His blood and pours out His Spirit to cleanse and set apart as holy those who come to the Father through Him.  Therefore, it is obvious that both Noah himself and the ark which Noah built are types and foreshadows of Jesus Christ.  

At this point the “Church is the ark” people are likely to say something about how Christ’s grace is given in the context of some visible entity which they call a church.   The burden of proof is on them to demonstrate that Christ’s grace is in the hands of their particular church.  I recommend you hear them out to get a prime example of presumption.  

In reading 1 Peter chapter 3:15-22 it is evident that exercising a living faith in Christ by doing what it takes to have a good conscience towards God in being subject to His authority is the ticket on to the ark.  Those who are so walking by faith in Christ are His true church.  Forsaking fellowship with these on righteous terms really will send a person to hell (see Hebrews 10:25 and Matthew 25:31-46).  

Note that those who would be among that true church must also necessarily reject congregations corrupted by idolatry, man-made religious traditions, and other sins.  They should of course also not expect others to have fellowship with them in the context of such groups and/or if they walk in sin otherwise.  

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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