ONE Faithful Man

I. Introduction

Would you get out your copy of God’s Word and open up to Genesis chapter 6. This morning we’re going to be moving along in Genesis....taking a look at the corruption of the descendents of Adam, Eve, Caine and Abel.

Looking around at our world today, it’s easy to think that the world has never been worse. I mean we have rampant celebration of sinful behavior.....we have the government sanctioning sinful behavior....and we have a culture that is hostile to anything that is truthful. The world we live in today is absolutely obsessed with covering up Truth or denying it exists. Things are bad.

But as we look into God’s Word, we do see a time when things, if you can believe it or not, were actually much worse. The Bible says that the world had gotten so bad, in fact, that only ONE man and his family found favor with God because He loved the Lord....and that man’s name was Noah.

Just think of it! What an awful state when only ONE family on the whole planet didn’t absolutely disgust God. Now as bad as things are today, I do not believe we are yet at that point. But: This story is a dire warning of how God feels about sin and how He will eventually deal with all of it once and for all.

a. Scripture: Genesis 6 (1-22)

I’m going to ask you to stand with me, if you are able, as we read from God’s Holy, Perfect, Sufficient and inerrant Word.

<Pray>

Thank you, and you may be seated.

Now when we read the words of these verses of Scripture, we see that the world has, indeed been as corrupt or perhaps more corrupt than it is now. The biggest difference is really this: God lost patience very quickly and took these people out…and for some reason, which totally escapes me, God continues to stay patient with our current world.

II. Major Points

The Result of Sin is Corruption

The Result of Faith is Redemption

Noah’s Story is OUR Story

III. Point #1: The Result of Sin is Corruption

Explanation

Now I want to clarify just a few points as we get going here…pay attention to verse 2 very quickly: it mentioned “the sons of God saw the daughters of men.” Many people believe that this means that angels had relations with human women and thenoroduced giants in verse 4. When it comes to verses like this, you have to read the original Greek to see what Moses was saying when he wrote these words. First of all, “sons of God” is translated from the Greek word “be-nay” - which simply means “sons”....it’s a human word. If Moses had meant “angels” he would have used one of several Greek words for angels, but he didn’t. What this really means is the sons of those who most found favor with God, which would mean the descendents of “Abel”.....then it says they saw the “daughters of men”....now yall do the math with me here: if the sons of God meant the descendents of Abel, then the daughters of “men” must mean they were the descendents of “CAINE!” - So what is this talking about? It’s talking about the dangers of believers becoming intermarried and intertwined with unbelievers....that is what the Apostle Paul called “being unequally yoked” in 2 Corinthinas chapter 6.

And you say “Brother Vic, what about in verse 4 where it calls them ‘giants?’” Well I’m glad you asked....the Hebrew word that the King James writers translated as “giants” there is the word “Nephilim”....they word literally means “Great” or “Powerful” person....you ever heard the phrase “that person was a GIANT of the Christian faith” or “so-and-so was a GIANT in the world of acting?” That’s all it means: there were people of great ability during that time.

And THAT generation....the ones who would draw themselves to be like the world got more and more out of control....becomign more and more sinful....becoming more and more corrupt.

Now when we look at this story, I want you to see that it is not disconnected from the rest of Genesis. All of what we have talked about so far is related. Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden in Genesis 3 brought sin into a perfect world. It seemed like such a small thing....eating forbidden fruit....but it was theft from God....it was disobedience....it was pride from people who wanted to be their own god and make their own rules. And as a result, everything that God had created in utter perfection on earth was now corrupted. Man, who was created to live forever in Eden with perfect communion with the Lord now had not only His spirit corrupted, but also his body. You ever wonder where misery, disease, and death came from? It came from the moment that man destroyed God’s perfect masterpiece.

If Adam and Eve had not sinned, death would have never been a physical or spiritual reality. Now man’s days on earth are numbered. Even the ground is cursed that man has to toil over it to make food. Women now have the terrible pain of childbirth.

And through that one sin, man lost his communion with the same Almighty God that Adam used to hang out with face-to-face in His garden. And things got no better…in fact, we see that they became worse. Man moved away from God and embraced sin…and how many of you know that once you sin, it becomes easier and easier to sin? As we discussed a few weeks ago: sin escalates doesn’t it? It’s just like being in a row boat: the further you drift away from something, the fainter it’s sounds become....the further you drift away from the Lord, the harder it is to hear His voice and to feel convicted by sin....we become more and more corrupt.

We see Adam and Eve’s sons affected by this drifting....Caine becomes angry and jealous....and he gives in to his angry thoughts and kills his brother Abel....a truly haneous sin....and man becomes even more marred....

And throughout the years after that embrace of sin, man becomes more and more distant from the Lord.

We all know that sin leads to corruption…and eventually death. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death....why? Because sin causes corruption and that which is corrupted eventually dies.

Now according to the IRS, the wages of sin are unreported.

Application

But church, hear me this morning: Sin leads to corruption. I hope you have seen that throughout the beginning of Genesis.

Adam and Eve’s sin led to corruption of the entire human race and even God’s perfect masterpiece....

Caine’s sin further corrupted mankind and split it into two groups…his own descendents were degenerates like him.

Abel’s descendents began marrying unbelievers and forgetting God....that corrupted what was left of huanity....and things got worse and worse to the point that only ONE man and his family could be found with an ounce of decency....and it grieved the Lord to the point He wished He had bever even created the world.

I don’t care how little or big you think your sins are....they lead to corruption....they affect not only you but they affect others....they look bad on the KIngdom of God....they destroy your witness....they harm others, even those we love. Understand that sin can tear you appart....and stear clear of it. It is the primary tool of the devil....and it is still just as deadly as it was that day in the garden. In fact that ONE sin in the garden was so powerful, you and I are still suffering its effects thousands of years later.

Stay away from sin. It corrupts and destroys.

IV. Point #2: The Result of Faith is Redemption

Explanation Now as bad as sin was and is for humanity....one man’s faith stood out to God. ONE man warranted he and his family’s survival…and that man was Noah.

Now Noah was not a perfect man. Even though some translations say in verse 9 that he was “perfect” the Greek indicates that he was a “just” man. By his living for righteousness and his faith in God, righteousness was accounted to Him, despite any of His flaws....and we all have flaws, don’t we?

Illustration For instance, I once asked Hannah to make a list of my flaws…do you remember that babe?

Well you did, and I remember it: It said:

Vic’s Flaws:

1. He doesn’t listen…or....something like that.

Anyhow, we all have flaws....

You remember the story by author Mary Shelly about Dr. Frankenstein and the monster he created from body parts of dead people....yall remember that story? Dr. Frankenstein definitely had his flaws didn’t he? But you know, even him, despite his flaws (you know…stealing body parts and making monsters and all)....he had some good things going for him…I hear that he really knew how to bring people together?

We all have flaws.

Application And here Noah was, with his flaws and everything…however, Noah, despite his flaws, stood head and shoulders above the corruption and sin of his generation. He lived for the Lord, and though he made mistakes, he was trying to live for God. He loved the Lord and acknowledged Him in his life....He sought to please the Lord....He led His family as a godly man…He raised His children to love the Lord.

And here’s the point: While God punishes the corrupt world with the just punishment of death for sin....He REWARDS Noah with life for Faith. The world’s consequences for disobedience and corruption led to their destruction....Noah’s faith and the faith of his family led to life…forgiveness…and redemption.

Church: getting caught up in sin will destroy you. It will make you more and more corrupt....it will make it harder and harder to hear from the Lord. But if, by faith, you trust the Lord, and do as Jesus said in the sermon on the Mount and hunger and thirst after righteousness…or what is good: you will be blessed....I didn’t say that, Jesus did! He said BLESSED are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Sin leds to the path of corruption and destruction....FAITH leads to right living, blessings from the Lord, and a closer relationship with Him…and, get this: a closer relationship with the Lord leads to a more fulfilled, happier life. That’s what it means to live in victory. James 4:8 makes us a promise....if we draw near to God, He’ll..what?.... draw near to us…The closer you get to Him in your faith and your actions, the closer He’lldraw to YOU…and then stand back, because life will never be the same. Amen?

V. Point #3: Noah’s Story is OUR Story

Explanation Now I want you to see this progression of this story....because, the story of Noah is a Typology....A type in the Bible is a symbol of something else…it represents something other than just what it is on the surface.

Let me explain to you what I’m talking about....Noah was a real person, and what happened to him was real. I’m not going to get way into that because we don’t have time....but the old testament confirms a great flood, the New testament confirms a great flood, the Apostles and Disciples believed in it, and Jesus referenced it as well…so HE believed in it. So when somebody tells you that the flood didn’t happen or it was just an allegory or false made-up story meant to teach us morality....then tell them to explain that to Jesus…Look over in Matthew 24:37-39, Jesus believed in it....was HE wrong? Also, the geological record indicates a flood. How have we had paleantologists digging up at the tip top of mountains and they found sea shells under the dirt there? How about the fact that many, many ancient cultures also have a Great Flood legend, including the Mesopotamians AND many native American tribes?...So let’s start from that premise: the flood happened.

So when I say that its a Type, or a symbol for something else, that doesn’t mean I’ms aying it didn’t happen....because it did. What I mean is, God, in His infinite wisdom, USES this real life event to illustrate Christian salvation thousands of years before Jesus ever walked on earth.

Let me show you what I mean:

Step 1: Noah is born into a corrupt world. (How many of you can identify with that?)

Step 2: Noah has a choice…He can live a life of sin and pleasure in this corrupt world, OR he can choose to love the Lord by Faith and serve HIM. (Folks....that’s the same choice YOU have right now).

Step 3: God extends a way out to the faithful. Now in this case, the only people of faith are Noah and his family. What was the way out? Well God was very specific: if you want to live, build the ark....and get on it. It requires action....no matter what people may say or how they may taunt you....you have to do the right thing…and that can be a fight sometimes, can’t it? How many of you have ever had people give you a hard time in life because YOU tried to do the right thing? Well sometimes you have to fight…I saw a little thing on facebook the other night and it said: If you're gonna fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's Ark... and brother its starting to rain. Folks....God has extended a way to US too…just like he did for Noah.

But our choice is a lot easier....we don’t have to spend 120 years building a big boat like Noah did (by-the-way, look it up…genesis 6:3....Noah spent 120 years building the ark and he was 480 years when he started according to Genesis 7:11)....I ain’t gone be here long enough to turn 480…and even if I made it to that age I guarantee you I wouldn’t be building no giant floating zoow without a sail or even a rutter. No, no....our decision is MUCH simpler....it’s simply this: believe in Jesus. Jesus is the spiritual ark, necessary to deliver us from hell.

You see, the Genesis story of Noah....is OUR story, Christians. It shows how we’re desperately lost, away from the Lord…and God, who loves us, provides a way from us to be redeemed....all we have to do is accept it.

The old hymnist wrote:

The Vilest offender, who truly believes, that moment from Jesus, a pardon recieves.

VI. Conclusion

a. Let me ask you this morning: if God came to destroy the earth and remake it, as He has promised to do....would he find a faithful person in you?....let me ask you: are you redeemed? Let me hear you amen? We get all excited about a ball game....but are you excited to be saved from hell by Jesus? One more more time: are you excited Jesus saved you, amen? Amen....me too.

b. Let’s Pray