Sermons From The Old Testament - Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of The Lord

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               "NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD"

                              Genesis 6:8

INTRODUCTION

1. In Gen 6:5-7, we read of God's displeasure with the world and its
   wickedness

2. But as God pronounces judgment upon the world, and prepares to
   destroy it with a flood, we find encouraging words concerning one
   man:

      "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." - Gen 6:8

3. This simply means that Noah found favor in God's sight, and we know
   the result of that favor:  escape for him and his family from the 
   flood!
   a. But why Noah?
   b. Why did Noah find grace in the eyes of the Lord?
   c. And how might we apply this to our situation today?

[Well, notice first...]

I. WHY NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

   A. HE WAS "A JUST MAN" - Gen 6:9
      1. Some translations say "righteous"
      2. This likely refers to his moral relation to God (Keil & 
         Delitzsch)

   B. HE WAS "PERFECT IN HIS GENERATIONS" - Gen 6:9
      1. Other translations (NASV, NIV) use the word "blameless"
      2. Not that he was sinless, but that there were no blatant faults
      3. He was a man of moral integrity among the people

   C. HE "WALKED WITH GOD" - Gen 6:9
      1. This is how he manifested his righteousness and integrity 
         (Keil & Delitzsch)
      2. In walking with God, he imitated the example of Enoch, his 
         great-grandfather - Gen 5:24
      3. Walking with God in Noah's case likely involved...
         a. Calling upon the name of the Lord (which began in the days
            of Seth - Gen 4:26)
         b. Offering sacrifices to God (which began in the days of Cain
            & Abel - Gen 4:3-4)

   D. HE "DID ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE LORD COMMANDED HIM"
      1. Twice this is emphasized in the Scriptures - Gen 6:22; 7:5
      2. We learn from the writer of Hebrews that this obedience of 
         Noah came from faith - He 11:7

   E. HE WAS "A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" - 2Pe 2:5
      1. He not only "lived" a righteous life
      2. But he also "proclaimed" the need for righteousness, even though
         he lived in a very ungodly world

[Noah certainly was an unusual man, but perhaps we see well why only he
and his family "found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

What about ourselves?  Is there a need for us to "find grace in the 
eyes of the Lord" today?  Yes!]

II. WHY WE NEED TO FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

   A. NOT BECAUSE WE FACE THE THREAT OF A WORLDWIDE FLOOD...
      1. After Noah and his family were saved from the flood, God 
         promised He would never again destroy the world in such a 
         manner - Gen 9:8-11
      2. The rainbow is a constant reminder of God's promise - Gen 9:
         12-17

   B. BUT BECAUSE WE FACE THE PROMISE OF THE END OF THE WORLD!
      1. Peter reminds us that just as the world was once destroyed by
         water, so it shall be destroyed by fire when Jesus returns!
         - 2Pe 3:3-13
      2. In view of this promise, Peter calls upon us to "be diligent 
         to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless" 
         - 2Pe 3:14
         a. Just as Noah "found grace in the eyes of the Lord"...
         b. So we need to "found by Him in peace, without spot and 
            blameless"
      3. Is this not simply another way of saying that we, like Noah, 
         need to find grace in the eyes of the Lord?

[Indeed, it is!  When the end of the world comes, we had better be in a
condition where we too find grace in the eyes of the Lord!  Otherwise,
we will be like those left outside of the ark when the floods came!

Using Noah as an example, then, consider...]

III. HOW WE CAN FIND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD

   A. WE MUST BE "JUST" IN HIS SIGHT...
      1. Fortunately, the good news of the gospel is that God sent 
         Christ in order to make us "just" (righteous, forgiven) in His
         sight! - Ro 5:8-9
      2. This blessing is available to all who demonstrate true faith 
         in Jesus - Ro 3:24-26
      3. Being justified, we can have peace with God (concerning which
         Peter wrote) - Ro 5:1; cf. 2Pe 3:14

   B. WE MUST BE "PERFECT" IN OUR GENERATION...
      1. That is, to be complete, mature, to be everything God desires
         of us
      2. Again, the good news of the gospel of Christ is that God has 
         provided the necessary elements for us to be "perfect"!
         a. The blood of Christ, to cleanse us of our sins - 1Jn 1:7-9
         b. The Word of God, to guide us to completion - 2Ti 3:16-17
         c. The strength of the Spirit, to help us in our struggles - 
            Ep 3:16; Ro 8:13
         d. The providence of God, who will work with us and lead us to
            victory! - 2Th 3:3; 1Pe 5:10

   C. WE MUST "WALK WITH GOD"...
      1. Of course, this would mean that we can "no longer walk as the 
         rest of the Gentiles walk..." - cf. Ep 4:17-20
      2. Rather, it requires that we be "followers of God as dear 
         children" (Ep 5:1), and that we...
         a. "Walk in love" - Ep 5:2
         b. "Walk as children of light", exposing the sins of darkness 
            - Ep 5:8-11
         c. "Walk as wise", with an understanding of what the Lord's 
            will is - Ep 5:15-17

   D. WE MUST "DO ALL THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED"...
      1. Observing not just "some" things, but "all" things - cf. Mt
         28:20
      2. For in so doing, we demonstrate our faith to be "a living
         faith" - cf. Jm 2:17,24,26

   E. WE MUST BE "PREACHERS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"...
      1. It is God's will that we "proclaim the praises of Him", which
         would include His righteousness - cf. 1Pe 2:9
      2. This can be done most vividly by example, in living 
         transformed lives - cf. Ro 12:1-2

CONCLUSION

1. God does not want anyone to perish in the great conflagration that
   is yet to come, but He does require all to come to repentance - 2 Pe
   3:9; Ac 17:30-31

2. And when we turn from sin and turn to God, what do we find?  The 
   same thing Noah and his family found:  "grace in the eyes of the 
   Lord"!

3. Speaking of the salvation of Noah should remind us of the comparison
   Peter makes between Noah's salvation and our own...
   a. I.e., the part baptism serves in our salvation - 1Pe 3:20-21
   b. Just as God used the element of water to save Noah from a wicked
      world...
   c. ...so in His grace God utilizes water in our salvation through
      the blood of Jesus!

If you have not done so, why not find favor in God's sight by being
baptized for the remission of your sins (Ac 2:38; 22:16)?  Then, as we
look forward to the coming of the Lord in which He will usher in "the
new heavens and new earth", give special heed to the words of Peter:

   "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent
   to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless."

                                  - 2Pe 3:14
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