02-14-2018, 08:10 PM
So I was at a Ladies Bible study this morning and I am not joking when I say my entire perception of the flood has been shattered and I'm not quite sure where to go. The theme of our book is Seeing Jesus in Genesis. We were talking about Noah and his family going into the ark. I have always, since Sunday School flannel graphs and ABeka Bible class flash cards, heard that for the 120 years that Noah was building the ark, he was preaching and warning people of what was to come. They ignored his message, and they all perished. I clearly remember that one picture even had them banging on the door and trying to get in once they realized the rain was coming. This has also been referenced in sermons, since the ark is a type of salvation, and everyone has a chance, and once the judgement comes, they will not be able to repent, etc...
This website clearly states that "anyone" could have entered.
http://bscln.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Genesis-13.pdf
"B. Even in Judgment, God Displays His Grace Though the world perished, one man and his family were saved. Until the day the flood came, the door was open. Anyone could have entered."
6.Once God shut the door, no one else could enter. While the door was open, anyone could enter and be saved from the coming flood. Once the door was shut, it would not be opened again until the flood was over. Today is the day of grace. The door of salvation is open to all who will enter. Whosoever will may freely come."
But in the course of the conversation this morning, someone challenged me on that and said that NOWHERE does it say that anyone else had an opportunity. I literally was so dumbfounded that I'm still reeling. I've been reading Genesis 6 all day, and I can't find anything that says that anyone else even had a chance.
6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
I surely can't be the only one who had this image in my mind of the entire world rejecting the truth. But is there any scripture anywhere else in the Bible that clearly states that anyone besides Noah's family had a chance? And if they didn't have a chance, then does the story of the ark really represent that salvation is for everyone? Or am I skating too close to Calvinist territory![[Image: 1f609.png]](https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f609.png)
This website clearly states that "anyone" could have entered.
http://bscln.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Genesis-13.pdf
"B. Even in Judgment, God Displays His Grace Though the world perished, one man and his family were saved. Until the day the flood came, the door was open. Anyone could have entered."
6.Once God shut the door, no one else could enter. While the door was open, anyone could enter and be saved from the coming flood. Once the door was shut, it would not be opened again until the flood was over. Today is the day of grace. The door of salvation is open to all who will enter. Whosoever will may freely come."
But in the course of the conversation this morning, someone challenged me on that and said that NOWHERE does it say that anyone else had an opportunity. I literally was so dumbfounded that I'm still reeling. I've been reading Genesis 6 all day, and I can't find anything that says that anyone else even had a chance.
6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
I surely can't be the only one who had this image in my mind of the entire world rejecting the truth. But is there any scripture anywhere else in the Bible that clearly states that anyone besides Noah's family had a chance? And if they didn't have a chance, then does the story of the ark really represent that salvation is for everyone? Or am I skating too close to Calvinist territory
![[Image: 1f609.png]](https://s.yimg.com/nq/yemoji_assets/latest/yemoji_assets/1f609.png)
"The first week was a consolation, a pure relief. The world will give you that once in a while, a brief time-out; the boxing bell rings and you go to your corner, where somebody dabs mercy on your beat-up life" (The Secret Life of Bees)