Genesis 7:1-8:19

Our salvation depends on the rescue of God; Three ways our salvation rescues us from God’s judgment.

Outline

First, God rescues us from the penalty of his judgment (7:1-16)
- Why does God rescue us from the penalty of his judgment? (7:1-5)
- Who does God rescue from the penalty of his judgment? (7:6-10)
- How does God rescue us from the penalty of his judgment? (7:11-16)
Second, God rescues us from the power of his judgment (7:17-24)
- The power of God’s judgment is seen in the fury of the flood (7:17-20)
- The power of God’s judgment is seen in the force of the flood (7:21-24)
Third, God rescues us from the presence of his judgment (8:1-19)
- God remembers his promise and relents from his judgment (8:1-5)
- God removes the presence of his judgment and reveals the gift of new life (8:6-12)
- God renews our creation and restores our calling – (8:13-19)

The only people rescued from God’s judgment are those who are with Noah in the ark. Noah and those united to him are the only ones saved, which is true of us in Christ. We are only saved if we are united to Christ our covenant head. Only he receives the promise and through faith we are saved.
The dove bringing the good news of a restored creation points to the dove that hovers over Christ in his baptism. The rescue of Noah is pointing ahead to the rescue we have in Christ. In both cases, it shows us how God works—his salvation brings us through the waters of judgment and raises us to new life.

Psalm 69:1-3 shows us how the Flood can teach us when suffering, sin, shame overwhelm us. Just because you are on the boat doesn’t mean the waves won’t be choppy. Doesn’t mean there won’t be trials. God doesn’t promise us a life of ease after he saves us from the penalty of sin. Instead, we endure the storms of life because God is using those to make us more like Jesus.