Romans 3:20-25 “By the
deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge
of sin. But now
the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the
Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith
in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have
sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a
propitiation by His blood, through faith.”
I heard an interesting thing the other day. A “Nave” is
defined as “the main part of the interior of a church; especially: the long narrow central hall
in a (Cross-shaped) cruciform church” (see diagram attached).
It is from “Nave” that we get our English word “Navy”.
Because Noah’s Ark (a ship) was a foreshadowing representation of “Salvation in
Christ” as the Ark was the instrument God used to save His people from the Genesis
Flood (Genesis 6-10), so His church is the instrument God uses to save His
people, even today. The church’s job is to know Christ and make Him known because
to be safe from destruction, you have to be inside the Ark (in Christ), in the nave. Not just
know of Him, but know Him. Not as something we do, but as “who we are” in the
Lord. Not just bringing the message of the Gospel, but being the message lived
out. It’s not about accommodating the pagan culture that has no fear of God and
His wrath to come. God’s grace is finite.
2 Peter 2:4-9 “For if
God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains
of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness,
bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,
condemned them to
destruction, making them an
example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by
the filthy conduct of the wicked — then the Lord
knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust
under punishment for the day of judgment.
Yes, there is a hell and there is a day of judgment. Let’s
send out God’s Navy (His church) to reach a lost & dying world with the
gospel of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of the world and bring them
safe into the “Nave” for refuge and salvation. The church, with the gospel
message of repentance of sin, forgiveness in Christ’s atoning blood, and
salvation from hell to eternal life in heaven, is never irrelevant or unnecessary
in any age. May the truth be told. Rejected or not, God’s plan of salvation is
found only in Jesus Christ – Acts 4:11-12 “This
is the ‘stone
which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor
is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved.” Bottomline: Sin must be paid for. Know the truth and make
the choice.
John 14:1-6 “Do not let your
hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it
were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for
you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him,
“Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
For those who trust in Jesus, He is preparing a place in
heaven and He will come back for you, who believe, so that we will be with Him
forever. Christ is the way. Jesus is the “nave”. Get in!
1 Corinthians 1:29-30 “No flesh should glory in His
(God’s) presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us
wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption’.”
In Christ, Brian
4 comments:
That is interesting.
I'm so grateful to know Jesus.
Ma, When we know the TRUTh of the gospel and God's love in His plan of Salvation, and then see ourselves paying the death penalty with eternal separation from God in Hell's "lake of fire" without our Lord & Savior Jesus taking our place, then we can truly say "I'm so grateful to know Jesus." There is a world of dear people who still need to know Him. The Child of God must help them find their way through the darkness of lies and unbelief to the foot of the Cross for a "saving" knowledge of their Redeemer & King. Blessing you in your ministry and thank you for your precious comment.
In churches with exposed beams, if you look up at ehe ceiling from the nave, you can imagine that you are looking at the keel and ribs of a ship.
Underground Pewster the view that you describe symbolizes to me that I am safe in the Ark of Jesus Christ, my Savior & Lord. As safe as those who were in Noah's Ark, protected by God the Father. How cool is that?! Thanks for the great comment.
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