Two Streams in which to Swim - Genesis 6:9-8:19

Genesis 6:9-8:19 Two Streams in which to Swim 20210704 Respond to God’s grace with faithful obedience Noah’s story is important for the past lessons it can teach us about living today, but also as it anticipates and unfolds future patterns for us. I want you to be mindful of this as we work through this story this morning. What do I mean about future patterns? When Jesus spoke to his disciples about the last things, which Old Testament saint did he draw on as an example? Noah. Just as things were in the days of Noah, so also will things be when the last day comes. People were eating and drinking and marrying right up until the flood swept them away. Peter, similarly, as he looks forward to coming judgement, gives his readers a look back at the pattern found in the time of Noah. In Noah’s case the earth was judged by water, but in the future it will be judged by fire. In fact not in one letter, but in both of Peter’s letters, he looks back at the past lessons from Noah to understand future patterns of judgment and salvation. So this story of the flood is critically important. It’s important that we see and realize the need to respond to God’s grace with faithful obedience, as Noah did. Despite the wickedness surrounding him, and the sinful nature within him, he obeyed God. Scripture Passage: Genesis 6:9-8:19 Noah’s Righteousness and Earth’s Corruption 1. 6:9 “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” - What does it mean to be a righteous person? It means living a life separate from wrongdoing and evil, in pursuit of God and his holiness. Righteousness is the living out of holiness. And notice that, even before the Mosaic Law was given, there was an understanding of right and wrong, of good and evil. 1. Most here are probably familiar enough with this story to know the direction it goes. If you’re unfamiliar, I’ll tell you that Noah and his family are saved while all other people are drowned in the flood. Why was Noah saved? Because he was righteous? Yes. But it’s vital that we get things in the right order. We’ve started today’s sermon in Genesis 6:9, but it’s not the beginning of Noah’s story. It’s important that we back up to 6:8, where we read that Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Like lighting a fuse on a firecracker, God’s grace was that initial flame that started the whole process of righteousness, blamelessness, and obedience in Noah’s life. 1. Our recent study through Ephesians showed this same initiative of God. Ephesians 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” Don’t be misled into believing that Noah was saved because he pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, cleaned himself up, made himself presentable, and so God spared him. God was gracious to Noah, and that is what made the difference in Noah’s life. Noah’s righteousness, blamelessness, and obedience came as a result of God’s grace. 1. Illustration (car battery?). 2. 6:11-12 “Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.” - In contrast to Noah’s righteousness, we have this account of the earth’s corruption. We read that it was filled with violence. Not half-filled with violence, but to the brim, as full as it could be. 3. 6:13-21 God tells Noah of his plan to destroy the corrupt earth, but to save righteous Noah and his family. And, notably, in v.18 he tells Noah that he will establish a covenant with him. We’ll learn more about this covenant next week, but I want us to see it here, as it’s the first mention of covenant in Scripture. It’s initiated by God, and is a covenant of grace. 4. 6:22 “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” - God has a plan to save Noah and his family, so he tells him to build an ark. God lays out the specifications of it, and his plan for the flood. And we read this in v.22. 1. Do you understand what all is contained in Noah’s obedience? A boat 450 feet long. That’s a football field and a half. With the help of many of you we spent a year to build a house that was 40’ long, along with the aid of power tools and pneumatic nailers, cranes, digging equipment, and modern materials that arrived on site ready to be cut to length and installed. It took us a year, and it was exhausting. The ark took 100-120 years to build, and Noah didn’t have the support of friends. 2 Peter 2:5 As well as living a life of righteousness, Noah was a herald of righteousness. 100 years felling timber, shaping boards, fitting and fastening them into place, and no doubt receiving questions and mocking from the corrupt generation he lived in. All along Noah worked and preached, day after day, doing as God commanded him. Transition: We’ve seen Noah’s Righteousness and the contrasting Earth’s Corruption. Next we see the result of these, in Noah’s Salvation and the Earth’s Destruction. Noah’s Salvation and Earth’s Destruction 1. 7:1-4 “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation… For in seven days I will send rain…” - The time has come. The ark is complete. The Lord tells Noah that in seven days the rain will begin, and will come down for 40 days and nights, and every living thing will be blotted out from the earth. 2. 7:5 “And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.” - We see this phrase repeated, that things happen as God has commanded. Noah obeys, but 7:9,16 the animals obey as well. I bring this to your attention because, as we transition from Noah’s Righteousness to Noah’s Salvation, obedience is a vital link. Noah didn’t work for his salvation, but as Paul writes in Philippians 2:12–13 “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” 1. James 2:18, 20 - faith that works. Abraham was ready to offer up his only son, Isaac. Rahab hid the spies and sent them safely out of Jericho another way. Their works demonstrated their faith. So Noah as well. Hebrews 11:7 tells us that Noah was warned by God concerning events yet unseen, so in reverent fear constructed an ark for he saving of his household. In doing so he condemned the world and became an heir of righteousness that comes by faith. 2. Saving faith partners with God, in the strength and ability which God supplies. God initiates. God energizes. Our part is to obey. Let me put it another way - Luke 18:18-24 The ruler with great wealth came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to be saved. How did Jesus answer? Obey the commands - do not commit adultery, do not murder, steal, bear false witness, and to honor your father and mother. The ruler said he had done these things, so Jesus tells him to sell all he has and to follow him. At this the ruler went away very said, for he was extremely rich. This rich ruler passed up eternal life for some temporary pleasures of wealth. He didn’t obey what Jesus had commanded him. 3. 7:16 “And the LORD shut him in.” - This is divine grace and sovereign security. The Lord shut the door and sealed it, keeping everything and everyone to be destroyed outside of the ark, and everything and everyone inside the ark safe and secure. I’ll plant the seed that this door and God’s sealing would make for a fascinating CG discussion. 4. 7:17-20 The flood waters increase, covering the entire earth. 5. 7:21-24 makes clear that God’s intention was accomplished. All flesh died. Everything on dry land with the breath of life died. God blotted out every living things from the face of the ground. Only Noah and those in the ark were saved. Transition: As we move to Genesis 8, we see that responding to God’s grace in obedient faith brings a new beginning. A New Beginning 1. 8:1 “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts…” - Not that God had forgotten, but now God acts. 2. 8:2-14 The long and slow process of the waters receding, and finally the earth drying out. 3. 8:15-16 “Then God said to Noah, ‘Go out from the ark…’” - Over a year had passed (7:11; 8:14), and now God speaks once again. There’s instruction given to go out from the ark, and to be fruitful and multiply. 4. 8:18 “So Noah went out…” - Again, Noah is obedient to God’s command. Noah, his wife, his sons, and his sons’ wives, along with every living creature on the ark, went out by families. This is a new beginning. 1. As I said in the opening this morning, this story of Noah is important because it shows us patterns of salvation and judgement. I’d like to end this morning by looking together at 2 Peter 3 and seeing the final display of this pattern of salvation and judgement. 2. 2 Peter 3:3-7 Scoffers will come, saying things are continuing the same as they always have. But don’t forget the Great Flood! By God’s Word the waters came. But the final judgement won’t be through water, but by fire. 3. 2 Peter 3:11-13 Seeing the pattern in the story of Noah, and knowing it will come through fire in the future, this should invigorate us to live lives of holiness and godliness as we wait for new heavens and a new earth. Conclusion Are you righteous? Have you been made righteous by faith, through the blood of Christ shed for your sins? Are you righteous in practice, working out your faith in obedience to God’s commands? Though imperfect, trusting in Jesus and pursuing holiness and godliness? Beloved, history is not circular, but as we’ve seen in Genesis, God has a plan of redemption, and he is working out and accomplishing that plan, and will bring it to its final completion in the day of Christ, when he returns as conquering King. Maybe you’ve come to realize, along with me in the last year, that life can radically and drastically change, and do so quickly. Don’t assume tomorrow, don’t be ignorant of God’s future plan, but be diligent today to walk in faithful obedience to God’s grace. 2 Peter 3:18