GOD’S WAY OF SALVATION
Jesus spoke of salvation and destruction: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:37). However, the Word of God tells us how God’s way of saving from destruction today differ from that of Noah’s day. All scripture is written that people might learn and be saved from their sins (Romans 15:4). For God is “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
GOD’S WAY IN NOAH’S DAY
‘The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time…But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord… Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God…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.So make yourself an ark of cypress wood”’ (Genesis 6:5-14).
God then told Noah “you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 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. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them” (Genesis 6:18-21).
Noah did everything God commanded him to do (Genesis 6:22). And God saved all who entered the ark (Genesis 8:18-19).
GOD’S WAY TODAY
The Bible tells us: “In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised…But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word…the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance– and believe in his Son Jesus Christ to be saved (2 Peter 3:3-9: John 3:16).
JESUS WANTS US TO TELL OTHERS GOD’S WAY
Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). The Bible tells people how Jesus is the way to come to God:
- All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
- The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
- For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life…but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son (John 3:16-18).
- Unless you repent, you too will all perish (Luke 13:3)–eternally separated from God (Matthew 7:23; 25:41).
- “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38)
Our Savior and Lord tells us who knows he loves us and saves: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16:15-16). “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). And whoever tell them Jesus is the way will be greatly rewarded in this life and receive eternal life (Mark 10:29-30).
