Noah Found Grace
Genesis 6:5-8
A couple weeks ago when I was working on topics and scripture for this month I listed “Noah Found Grace” as the topic for this Sunday. Gay, my secretary, looked at the title and asked, “After Noah Found Grace” then what did he do. My first response was, “He lived happily ever after.” The fact is because He Found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord, He did live and did not die in the flood. But as you read the rest of the story it was not “happily ever after.” That part of Noah’s life is for another sermon. Today I want to focus on “God’s Grace.”
In the time of Noah people forgot God their creator. They reduced their Creator to gods made of idols stone, trees and nature. They rebelled against their creator. Verse 5, “Now the Lord observed the extent of their people’s wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil.”
How quickly people forget that God is Holy and God is Just. God hates evil. God cannot do anything contrary to His character. The Apostle Paul may have had the people of Noah’s time in mind when he wrote in Romans 1:28 NLT, “When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.”
God commands his people to “Have no other gods before Him.” The people in Noah’s day refused to worship their Creator and instead worshipped His creation.”
Genesis 6:6-8 “So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them, it broke his heart. And the Lord said, ‘I will completely wipe out this human race that I have created. Yes, and I will destroy all the animals and birds too. I am sorry I ever made them.’ But Noah found favor with the Lord.” NLT
Genesis 6:9-10 tell us why Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man living in a corrupt world. He walked with God and was a good example to his wife and three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. When God asked Noah to build an Ark his family pitched in and helped him build the Ark and when God told them it was time to enter the Ark his family went in with him without arguing.
When we talk about “God’s Grace” we are talking about what God does for us that we don’t really deserve. “Grace” is often defined as receiving unearned or unmerited favor. Romans 5:8, describes “God’s Grace”, “God gave His love to us in that even while we were sinners Christ died for us.”
How Far Down Does God’s grace reach?
Are there certain sins that are beyond the Grace of God? Have you ever wondered how God could ever forgive a person for all the wretched sins they committed?
This past week I read about the life of Jeffrey Dahmer. You type in his name on “Google” and you get the graphic story of his life. He was convicted of 17 murders between 1978 and 1991. His cruel and vile lifestyle was beyond what a human being should be capable of. The story of how he treated his victims is sickening.
When I read the story of Jeffrey Dahmer I had a hard time believing his conversion. While he was in the Columbia Correction Facility in Portage, Wis. He told the world that he repented of his brutal sins and was “born again.”
Months before he was murdered in the prison by another inmate he said he repented and put his faith in Jesus and was baptized. He began to read the Bible and Christian book and regularly attended chapel.
It doesn’t seem fair. For all the evil Jeffrey Dahmer did he deserved to spend an eternity being punished in the fires of hell separated from God’s love and grace.
After all isn’t God’s grace reserved for average sinners like you and me? Romans 1:26-30, makes it clear that God’s anger is shown against: “sexual sin, evil, selfishness, hatred, jealousy, murder. God you need to judge people living a life of sin. Your grace is primarily for us good righteous people.
When we begin to filter God’s grace through our personal views then we get into trouble. The Bible commands us to “Judge not so you are not judged.” When you want to hold the gavel and pronounce judgment on someone turn to Romans 2:1-4 and see what God has to say about your judging others.
From time to time when we complain that God and life aren’t fair, we need to remind ourselves that God is Fair, He is just, He is perfect in His judgments.
Jesus welcomed the repentant Thief on the cross and said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Saul before his conversion and name change to Paul was a zealot in persecuting the church and gave oversight to the stoning and death of Stephen. (Acts 7) God’s grace reached out to Saul and his life was transformed. Later Paul referred to himself as “The chief of sinners.”
Is anyone beyond the grace of God? No! People beyond God’s grace are people who continually say “no” to God’s love and grace. People who die in unbelief and an unrepentant heart do not experience God’s grace. God’s grace is available but they refuse to take it.
Do we deserve or need God’s grace?
In the Men’s Ministry study last Wednesday night we were discussing the various response people have toward death.
Some say that there is no need to worry about death, because at death it over, there’s nothing after death.
Some say death is no problem because everyone is going to heaven.
Others say I’m good enough to make it to heaven.
Most of us say, “I know death is not the end and I need help for what’s next.”
I have talked to some people about preparing to meet God and they tell me that don’t know enough. They need to study more and know more so they will deserve God’s grace.
The fact is we all stand in the need of God’s grace because the Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:26 Sin demands a punishment: “For the wages of sin is death…” Sin separates us from God, “But your iniquities have separated you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:2
Do we need God’s grace, yes we do.
Do you think God’s grace is limited?
Have you ever received a cancellation on an insurance policy? Last year we received a letter saying that the insurance on our household furniture and other items was cancelled. I thought that insurance companies existed to provide insurance.
I know of one pastor and wife, not Carollyn and me, who had a heavy foot when it came to driving. Both had received multiple tickets in one year so they got a notice that their auto insurance was cancelled.
Do you think you have used up your quota for God’s grace? You committed one sin too many. You limited coverage has expired. For you grace has been cancelled.
The Thief on the cross may have felt that way. He called out to Jesus and Jesus gave grace. Peter may have thought that, when he denied Jesus three times. Jesus reached out to Paul and gave him a fresh start.
Whatever sin you may have committed in the past God’s grace is sufficient for you. 2 Corinthians 5:19,21, “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sin against t hem. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
The cost of sin to God was costly. God’s holiness demands that sin be punished. What can you do to pay the cost for your sins, nothing? Not good works, not good intentions, there is nothing you can do but turn to Jesus in repentance and confession of sin.
I have a dollar bill. The first person to come up and take it can have it.
God’s grace is a gift. For you to receive God’s grace you have to take it. God’s grace is a gift. Why are people reluctant to take it? Why do so few people take it?
Sin has locked you in a maximum security prison cell. There is no way to escape. Jesus died on the cross for your sin and fully paid the penalty for your sin. Jesus served your time and now you are set free. The cell door has been unlocked. All you have to do is open the door and walk out and enjoy freedom. Will you take the initiative and open t he door?
God’s Grace is not to be abused.
God’s grace is freely given, but His grace is not to be abused.
I have a spare time on my car. I don’t play on using the spare except in emergencies when I have a flat. I abuse the spare tire if I go looking for nails and glass to drive over so I can use the spare. That doesn’t make since.
The Apostle Paul said the same thing about God’s grace, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” Romans 6:1-2
God’s Grace sets you free now what are you going to do? What will you do with your new freedom?
Remember college days? Or when you first moved out of your parent’s home? You pack your car and head off to college or to an apartment. You are set free from the restrictions of mom and dad. You are now free to do what you want to do, right. If you want to get wild, party every night, no parent to stop you.
The Apostle Paul would say, “don’t be foolish.” Don’t abuse the grace of God. Make choices that will honor the Lord and decision that will not leave you with regrets.
When a woman was caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus for his condemnation and approval for the teachers of religion and Pharisees to stone her to death. Jesus said, “Let those who have never sinner throw the first stone.” John 8:7, Jesus then wrote on the ground, maybe naming some of their sins and their all left one by one. Jesus said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:11
When God gives you his grace, he expects you to stop repeating over and over again the same sin.
Jesus is God’s gift of grace to us. Here is a powerful promise in Ephesians 2:4-9.
Is God’s Grace Sufficient for every challenge in life?
When your life is going okay and all your experiences are positive. God’s grace seems easy to accept. But when deep hurts and critical challenges come, “Is God’s Grace Sufficient.”
The Apostle Paul said that he had throne in his life that was gave him a stabbing pain. He prayed and prayed but the pain remained. He testified that God said to him, “My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:8
Max Lucado tells in his book, “In the Grip of Grace” about a young man who attended college with him. After college Max went off to seminary and his friend, Craig enlisted in the Air Force.
Craig married Martie and the two of them lost interest in the Lord and lived in the fast lane. In time they began to seek the Lord again and got involved with other believers. He taught high school boys in Sunday school and his wife taught high school girls.
They believed God wanted them to go to the mission field and so Craig and Martie were commissioned to serve in Haiti.
They had been in Haiti only a week and Craig suffered a severe injury while diving into a pool. He suffered a broken neck and died that night in the hospital. Martie was now a widow. She cried out and her friends also cried out, “Why God?”
As Martie prayed and sought the Lord, the Lord spoke to her heart. Months later she wrote:
Thank You, Lord, for choosing me to view Your pain at Calvary.
Your tearstained paths of grief You share with me these days because you care.
Thank You for the time I cried within the garden, by Your side.
“If it be possible for Thee, please, God this cup remove from Me.”
Thank You, too, for the burden I bear for the loneliness, and for the despair,
For beneath this cross, and on this road I feel, in part, Your heavy load.
Thank you for the desperate plea, “God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”
“Because,” You answer tenderly. “I have a special plan for thee.”
Thank You for the hope You’ve given, for the truth that You have risen.
I, too, from suffering shall rise as I fulfill Your plan so wise.
Thank You, Lord, for letting me say, “By grace I’ve suffered in Your way.”
And, may I nevermore depart from this, the center of your heart.
-Martha Baldock Fellure p. 41 (The Grip of Grace)
Whatever your stabbing pain: knees, back, shoulder, or hurtful relationships, you have the promise of Jesus, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
The story is told about the Russian Czar, Alexander, who loved to disguise himself and mingle with his people to hear what they have to say. One night he visited the army camp and listened to some soldiers. While passing a tent he saw a young soldier sitting at a table with his head on his arm, sound asleep. The Czar tiptoed to the back of his chair and looked over his shoulder. There on the table before the young man was a loaded revolver. Beside the revolver was a sheet of paper listing a number of gambling debts.
After seeing the total the Czar saw a sentence below the figure saying, “Who can pay so much?” The Czar realized the young man was in deep debt and contemplating taking his own life as a way out. The Czar took up the pen and wrote: “I Alexander, Czar of Russia.” He quietly left and went to his own home.
The next morning the young officer woke up and immediately took hold of the revolver when suddenly he saw writing on his letter lying in front of him. He read the words of the Czar and dropped the revolver. At that moment a messenger came to his tent with a bag of money from the Czar. The young soldier’s debt was paid in full.
All of us are in deep debt from sin. There is no way we can pay for our debt of sin. Just as Noah received Grace from the Lord. Just as the Apostle Paul received Grace, we also can receive God’s grace and accept God forgiveness of sin and live a life of victory.
God’s grace reaches down to you. To receive His free gift of grace you must accept it and not abuse his grace. Yes, God’s grace is sufficient for every challenge in your life. This morning will you accept God’s amazing grace?
