Noahic Covenant

Intro

English Standard Version Chapter 6

9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 15 This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. 16 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 17 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. 20 Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. 21 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them.” 22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

English Standard Version Chapter 9

Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

The Triumph of Sin

There are two lines that come out of the Garden of Eden: There is the seed of the woman, and there is the seed of Satan. For the rest of the Bible, these two lines are going to be highlighted

Seed of woman: Job, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Mary, Jesus himself.

Seed of Satan: Many of the inhabitants of Caanan, Ishmael, Jesus refers to the Pharisees as of their father the devil, the Antichrist

Genesis makes it clear that the seed of Satan is prospering in the land.

It is clear in our world today that we still see sin enjoying a great deal of victory. Why do we think God would allow this to be the case?

Judgement on Sin

God promises to judge the increasing sin on the land, and he sends a flood

God is going to judge the world for its sin. How should that change the way we live?

Preservation of the Seed

God doesn’t wipe out everyone, but he remembers his seed and preserves that line through Noah and his family.

Things to note:

God enters into relationship through “establishing my covenant with you”

Noah’s family is included in the covenant

The ark becomes an important image in the rest of Scripture to describe how God keeps covenant and preserves a people for himself in the midst of judgement

How do we see God preserving a remnant for himself today?

Common Grace elements in Covenant

There are elements of this covenant which apply to the entire creation, which sets the Noahic covenant apart as somewhat unique

This universal aspect of the covenant does not imply that the whole world will receive saving grace; only common grace.

What are some examples of common grace today? Who receives it? Is common grace enough to save a person?

This is necessary so that the world can continue to exist while God works his plan of redemption in it.

Redemption elements in Covenant

It is specifically Noah and his family that are preserved, and it is through them that God will repopulate the Earth.

Even still, these two lines of people will continue to grow on the Earth.

As we will see next week, it is to a certain people that God promises a saving grace, who he will establish his covenant of grace more thoroughly with.

Since God has allowed the world to continue in sin so that his redemption could be accomplished and applied, what should we do as redeemed people of God’s covenant today?

Questions:

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