Looking back at these two ancient events at the
time of Noah and Lot, one clear pattern clearly emerges.
- Before the destruction comes, God's mercy is revealed,
showing the way how man can be saved.
- For man to benefit, it is necessary that
one should follow God's instruction as the evidence of his faith.
- Failure
to believe and act upon these instructions shall result in disastrous
consequences.
With this
knowledge as a guide, let us apply it to the
last subject we just studied - "The End Of The World"
38E1. What does
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ say, that man must do so as to be saved from
the wrath of the Lord?
In John 10:9, the Lord Jesus Christ
invites anyone so as to be saved:
"I am the
door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, . . . . . .
(John 10:9, NKJV)
The same verse, in the New American
Standard Version
"I am the
door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, . . . .
(John 10:9, NAS)
The instruction for salvation is clear: Christ said that in order to be
saved, one must "enter by Him" or "enter through" Him."
38E2. How could man enter in by Christ? First of all,
what kind of a door is Jesus?
Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
(John 10:7, NKJV)
Jesus is likened to a door of the sheep
Where could we find the sheep of Christ who have
entered through Him?
"And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring,
and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
(John 10:16, NKJV)
They can be found in one flock or fold. Please
note: that they are in one flock and not scattered in many flocks.
38E3. Which is this flock and why
does Jesus instruct anyone who want to be saved to enter therein?
In Acts 20:28, the Bible gives the answer:
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock,
over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of the
Christ which he has purchased with his blood. (Lamsa Translation)
The flock is the Church of Christ which
He purchased with His own blood. Those who enter into the
church shall obtain the benefits of redemption through Christ's blood.
From what are they going
to be saved?
In Romans 5:8-9, this is written:
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
(Romans 5:8-9, NKJV)
They are the ones who shall be saved from the wrath of God
come Judgment day.
38E4.
Can we be sure that it is really the members of Christ's Church that are the
beneficiary of Christ redemptive blood? Which shall be saved by the Savior?
In Ephesians 5:23, the answer is clearly written:
For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
(NKJV)
The Bible says that "Christ is the Savior of the Church, His
body" so it is the Church that Christ shall save. Clearly
then, becoming members of Christ's Church is the exclusive means of carrying
out Christ's instruction for salvation.
38E5.
What will happen to those who refuses to enter Christ's Church? Is there salvation outside
the church?
For what have I to
do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to
judge? God judges those outside. "Drive out the wicked person
from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:12-13, RSV)
God judges those outside the Church. If
a man choose to remain outside the Church, he will incur God's judgment
which is the second death in the lake of fire.
This is the reason why the Savior's instruction is to "enter in" and not to
remain outside the Church.
Christ
instruction for salvation is simple and clear"
"I am the door. If anyone enters through Me,
he will be saved",
_______________________
The lessons learned during the
time of Noah and Lot must not be forgotten but should serve as a guide to
man's pursuit for eternal life.
- During the time of Noah, God planned to
destroy the ancient world because of wickedness. The place of salvation
was in the ark, hence, the instruction is to enter the ark. When the
flood finally came, those inside the ark were saved and all those
outside perished.
- During the time of Lot, God planned to
destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of wickedness. The place of salvation
was in the hills, thus , the instruction was to get out of the city and
flee to the hills. When fire and brimstone finally came, all those who
remained in the city perished. Those who got out and went to the hills
without looking back were saved.
- In these last days, God also plan to
totally destroy the world with all ungodly people because of wickedness.
The place of salvation is in Christ's Church and the instruction is to
"enter in through Christ in order to be saved".
Looking back at the disastrous lessons of the
times past and knowing the truth about the impending "end of the world",
now the opportune time to find the true Church of Christ and "enter in" by
becoming a member, thus faithfully following the Savior's instruction for
salvation from the wrath of God.
_________________________________________________________
End
Of Lesson ■
Thank You For Your Time!
We hope that the
lesson "The
End Of The World,
The Great Flood, and
Sodom and Gomorrah" was made clear and
meaningful to you
by the verses of the Holy Bible.