Grace Series: NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD

Grace Series: NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD

Through the story of Noah and the flood in Genesis, we examined how Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord amidst a corrupt world filled with evil and wickedness. 

Chapter Markers

• 0:00 Introduction to Noah's Story
• 2:15 Understanding Grace in Context
• 5:30 The Corruption of Humanity
• 10:00 God's Judgment and the Need for Grace
• 15:45 Noah: A Just Man in His Generations
• 20:20 The Provision of Grace for Noah and His Family
• 25:00 The Nature of God’s Grace
• 30:15 Grace and Character: A Deeper Look
• 35:40 The Permanence of Grace
• 40:00 God's Covenant with Noah
• 45:30 Conclusion: Living Under Grace Today
  
  

Chapters

• 0:00 Noah Enters The Story
• 1:02 Corruption, Violence, And Divine Grief
• 4:12 Grace Appears In A World Of Judgment
• 7:09 Exemption And Extension Of Grace
• 11:30 Does Character Earn Grace
• 14:07 Grace That Trains Character
• 18:04 Noah’s Obedience And Imperfection

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Now let's look at examples in the Old Testament of those who found grace. The first example here is Noah. We can look at this account in Genesis chapter 6, verse 8 to 12. I read, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God, and Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. Like I said previously, where sin is, where God's judgment is, where destruction is, grace appears. If you look at the previous verses in chapter six, we see that God saw the wickedness of men, of humanity, and their wickedness was so great. The intent of the thoughts of their hearts, their hearts and their thoughts were constantly engaging in evil, in wickedness. And as a result, God was not happy, God was not pleased. And God also made a confession that he was sorry that he had made man on earth, male and female, humanity, and he was grieved in his heart. And that's the conclusion that God made. When God created man in his image and likeness, when God was done, the creation of mankind, the feedback, the confirmation that God gave himself, and and and we have in the scripture that it was very good. But now, are you trying to tell me that God has changed his mind? God was sorry for making us in this earth? And the reason is because of sin. Sin is so destructive, sin is deadly. Sin is what has caused the separation between the creator and his image and likeness, Biaraz. But guess what? God didn't like the fact that the earth was corrupt. Wickedness was on the face of the earth. So what God did God decided to destroy man whom he has formed on the face of the earth. Not just man, including beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. For he was sorry for making them. So we as human beings, when we live in disobedience and in sin, it affects nature. It affects the entire society. This is when I tell people that your actions that can actually not only affect you, but it can affect those that are close to you. And it can also in some extent affect your community and society. So we should be very considerate and take into account that our actions will definitely not only affect us, but will also affect others and society at large. In the midst of the present of sin, God's judgment on sin and the destruction in which God would judge humanity. Guess what happened? Grace appears. And Noah was a product of God's provision of grace. Look at what it says in Genesis 6 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah God initiated the provision of grace for Noah. And that provision of grace for Noah also extended to the family of Noah. And we shall see. God looks down on the earth from heaven to see what he can do about this situation. To have a remnant that can continue the human race. Not only God was looking down from heaven to destroy the human race, God was also looking down from heaven to see if He can show mercy and extend grace and also to make the necessary provision to initiate, to invite someone to have grace freely and unmeritedly. Noah was the recipient of God's provision of grace. God's grace exemption is God freeing, delivering Noah from God's wrath, from God's judgment on the earth. And we also see God's grace extension, which is inclusion of God's grace to all that concerns Noah. Everything and everyone that is related to Noah, that is Noah's family, God extended grace to Noah's family. So the grace of God excludes you and I, as it prevents God's wrath and judgment and destruction from happening to us and those who are related to us. Look what it says to confirm God's grace exemption, which is exclusion, freeing from God's destruction in the life of Noah. It says in Genesis 6 13, and God said to Noah, The end of all flesh has come before me. The earth is filled with violence through them, and behold, I will destroy, I will destroy them with the earth. And look at Genesis 7 verse 1. Then the Lord said to Noah, Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. So we see that Noah found grace, and as a result of Noah found grace in the sight of God. God's grace exempted Noah from God's wrath, judgment, and destruction, and that same grace was extended to Noah's family, as it states here in Genesis 7, verse 1, that God made a provision, a shelter of safety by instructing Noah to build an ark of salvation, an ark of deliverance from God's wrath, judgment, and destruction on the earth, not just for Noah, but also extended to Noah's household. Because Noah was seen as a righteous man before God in that generation. You might say the reason why Noah found grace was because of Noah's character, because of Noah's lifestyle. Let me share something that is very insightful when it comes to this question, and that's a good question for you to ask. Because the Bible states in verse in Genesis 7, verse 1, that God commanded Noah and his household to come into the ark. And the reason is for God's salvation and deliverance of Noah and his household was because of Noah's character. And Noah is seen by God as a righteous individual in his generation. What we know is the Bible telling us what God thinks about Noah in terms of Noah's character, nothing else. God, the Bible doesn't mention the character of Noah's children or wife. But what I want to throw light on is this God's grace comes before your goodness in character and conduct. Because, like I said earlier on, that grace is God's unmerited favor freely given to you without your input, your contribution. So there's no way you can present your goodness and character and conduct before God as the basis, as the ground in which God can extend grace to you. Grace comes before our righteousness because the Bible states that our righteousness are like filthy rags. Yes, I hundred percent promote righteousness. I hundred percent encourage righteousness. But grace, but the grace of God comes before our goodness and character and conduct. Grace precedes our righteousness, not the other way around. Now, and the reason why grace precedes our righteousness, not the righteousness of God, is God does not want you and I to boast, to prevent us from boasting or claiming glory based on our own merit, but to highlight that you and I we have obtained grace as a result of God's again intention, initiation, invitation, and interaction. So the grace of God precedes our righteousness. Do you know that grace has what it takes to shape you and I into the image and likeness of God in our character, Christ's likeness. Look what it says in Titus chapter 2, verse 11 to 12, just to confirm that grace has what it takes to shape our character. It says, For the grace of God that brings salvation, yes, but the grace of God also brings sanctification, our character development, our character building to conform into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ, has appeared to all men, teaching us, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. So, what grace can do for us, like I said, grace is personified in Jesus Christ. So there are two aspects of grace I mentioned previously: the provision of grace and the personality of grace. So grace as a person in Jesus Christ teaches you and I to deny ungodliness and worldly lust for us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age. So, what grace can offer us? Grace can offer us wisdom, righteousness, and godliness in our time, in our age, in our present age, and we are under the new covenant of grace. Let's look at Noah's character. The Bible says in Genesis chapter 6, verse 9, this is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. In his generations, Noah worked with God. So there are key points that highlight certain characteristics of Noah. First, we see that Noah is mentioned as a just man, a righteous man, perfect in his generation, a righteous man in Genesis chapter 7, verse 1, a man who walked with God, an obedient man, because in in Genesis chapter 6, verse 22, when God commanded Noah to build the ark, the Bible says in Genesis chapter 6, verse 22, that Noah did according to all that God commanded him, so he did. So we see that Noah is also was also an obedient man. So the Bible highlights the goodness and character and conduct of Noah. So when we found grace, grace does not give you an ideal license to sin. Instead, grace shapes us into the righteousness of God, into galliness, into soberness. So God's choice of Noah is not necessarily based on Noah's character or conduct. Because even after the flood, Noah got drunk. Noah sinned against God. If God was going to use the basis for Noah to escape God's wrath, judgment, and destruction, I do not think that Noah would have qualified on the basis on his merit of how he lived his life. Look what it says. Genesis chapter 9, verse 21. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk and became uncovered in his tent. This was the man who found grace in the sight of God. The Bible described him as a righteous man, a perfect man in his generation, a just man, a man who worked with God, an obedient man. But after the flood, we should expect this man not to sin against God. But this man did. But this man was still a product of God's grace. Another insight of God's grace. When God gives you grace, you are living under the grace of God. God cannot take his grace away from you. When God gives, it does not take back. And you cannot do anything to make God take away what he has given you. So the grace of God in our lives is permanent. Although Noah is a man of character, he is not necessarily perfect. Noah found grace in God's sight, which is solely based on God. Not Noah calling on God for salvation, for deliverance from God's wrath, judgment, and destruction. It is only God's own intention, initiative, and invitation to save Noah and extended it to his family. Also, following God's statement that he will not blot out all living things. So there's hope for humanity for God to have a remnant. So God extended grace to Noah and his family without the input or merit of Noah, allowing for the human race to have a remnant of his image and likeness, Biarah, to preserve us, to continue the human race. And look what it says when God created Adam and Eve first, he pronounced a blessing upon them. And that same blessing is also pronounced upon Noah. It says in Genesis chapter 9, verse 7, and as for you, be fruitful and multiply. Bring forth abundantly in the earth and multiply in it. Look what it says in Genesis chapter 9, verse 1. And God blessed Noah and his sons, and he said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. The same blessing that was pronounced on Adam and Eve is the same blessing being pronounced on Noah and his son for them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, to preserve and continue the human race. What we see here, the grace of God saved Noah and his family. Of all the people living at that time of the flood, only Noah and his family found grace in God's sight. We also see that the grace of God shaped Noah. What we can learn from this account of Noah found grace in the sight of God is God's grace reaches to Noah and his family. God's grace remembers Noah and his family. Another insight and principle that we can learn from grace is that grace ushers in God's covenant. God made a covenant with Noah and look looked at the covenant in Genesis chapter 9, verse 8 to 9, and to his son with him saying, And as for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you.