What Saved Noah? What Saves Us?

By Edd Sterchi

The Grace of God
We are told in Genesis 6:8 that “Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” The grace of God activated and validated Noah’s salvation. He couldn’t have been saved without it. We need to realize that it is by this same grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8). It is only due to the fact that God desires us to be saved that we can ever be saved. None of us can go to heaven without it.

Faith
Hebrews 11:7 reveals that “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household...” Noah’s belief and faith in God motivated him to do what God asked, which led to his salvation. Today also we are saved by faith. We must believe in God and that He can save. Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace you have been saved through faith...” (see also 1 Peter 1:3-9).

Obedience
Genesis 6:22 and 7:5 each mention that Noah did exactly as God commanded him concerning the building of the ark, etc. This also led to his salvation. Please note that Noah was not earning his salvation in any way – he was simply meeting the conditions that God set forth. We are also saved by obeying the commandments of the Lord. Hebrews 5:9 mentions that Jesus “became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” We must obey God’s gospel plan of salvation to be saved – it defines the conditions He has set forth.

Water
1 Peter 3:20 mentions another aspect of Noah’s salvation: “in which...eight souls were saved through water.” Note that Noah was not saved by water, but through water. The water was the means through which God exercised His saving power. Just as water saved Noah, so baptism now saves us (1 Peter 3:21). Again we must note that we are not earning our salvation by being baptized; water is simply the means God uses to have us imitate Christ’s death so that we can contact His cleansing blood (Romans 6:3-5).

“God...did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah...” (2 Peter 2:4-5). God saved Noah, and He wants to save you. God is willing to do His part – have you done yours?

 - Edd Sterchi preaches for the Broadway Church of Christ in Campbellsville, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.broadwaychurchofchrist.net/