Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Noah and repentance
The word "repentance" and its relationship with God is a relationship that is complex. However, the idea of repentance and mankind is just as complex. Here in Genesis chapter six, the subject is not mentioned directly, but the issue of righteousness and relationship with God is extremely strong. We start our study in verse eight.
Before we can get into that there are some important things to remember about Noah. First, the generations of Noah are important. Noah was not born supernaturally, came in the line of sinful men, and was part of the society that had continual, persistent evil motivations. Second, is in relation to God's pattern of dealing with men. He is executing a plan with a determined end, and means, while leaving men with liberty to decide their level and manner of participation. In this sense, God was letting the sinners be who they were up to the point He determined, while preserving His integrity and the promised line from which would come the Seed. Third, is in the context of the times. Moses has painted a horrifying picture of the anti-deluvian society. It is in this picture of total corruption that we find a sudden contrast in the person of Noah. For this reason, most translators put in the word "but."
The most important word in verse eight is the word "grace." Noah found grace. In the middle of all that wickedness, destruction, drunkenness, and degradation, Noah found grace. This shows us that God's grace is offered to men regardless of social status and history. This also shows us that grace can be found. Seek the Lord while He may be found. God's grace has always been the mode of salvation. Adam and Eve were under judgment, but received grace and promise of salvation. Cain was under judgment, but received grace and mercy from God. The same is true of Noah.
On this point, I wish to elaborate. Notice the structure of the chapter. First comes the grace of God, then the fruit. Noah was a righteous man, entire or a man of integrity, we read of his life. We find that he walked with God, something missing between Enoch and Noah. After this, God came to Noah, presented His plan of judgment, and the plan of solution. God made a covenant with Noah to save Noah and his family. Noah followed the plan of God, built an ark, preached salvation, collected animals, and escaped in the ark. Were all these works God's reason for offering Noah grace? No. They were exactly God's grace given to Noah. God never chooses to reveal Himself or work through someone because of the greatness or merit of that person. We do injustice to God when we offer salvation for favors of participation in a church organization, money, behavioral change, or anything else.
God's grace must be found in God's way. Too often we are looking for God's grace through the insecurity of our ability to make it happen. Did Noah repent? Absolutely. He left a sinful society and did something so radical that everyone laughed at him. In the end, he was saved both physically and spiritually. God's grace is found in His revelation. Learning to understand how God thinks and thinking along the same lines makes us change. Repentance is God's work of grace, not my work of merit. It was God's grace that accomplished all of these works in Noah's life. Where is your confidence?
Before we can get into that there are some important things to remember about Noah. First, the generations of Noah are important. Noah was not born supernaturally, came in the line of sinful men, and was part of the society that had continual, persistent evil motivations. Second, is in relation to God's pattern of dealing with men. He is executing a plan with a determined end, and means, while leaving men with liberty to decide their level and manner of participation. In this sense, God was letting the sinners be who they were up to the point He determined, while preserving His integrity and the promised line from which would come the Seed. Third, is in the context of the times. Moses has painted a horrifying picture of the anti-deluvian society. It is in this picture of total corruption that we find a sudden contrast in the person of Noah. For this reason, most translators put in the word "but."
The most important word in verse eight is the word "grace." Noah found grace. In the middle of all that wickedness, destruction, drunkenness, and degradation, Noah found grace. This shows us that God's grace is offered to men regardless of social status and history. This also shows us that grace can be found. Seek the Lord while He may be found. God's grace has always been the mode of salvation. Adam and Eve were under judgment, but received grace and promise of salvation. Cain was under judgment, but received grace and mercy from God. The same is true of Noah.
On this point, I wish to elaborate. Notice the structure of the chapter. First comes the grace of God, then the fruit. Noah was a righteous man, entire or a man of integrity, we read of his life. We find that he walked with God, something missing between Enoch and Noah. After this, God came to Noah, presented His plan of judgment, and the plan of solution. God made a covenant with Noah to save Noah and his family. Noah followed the plan of God, built an ark, preached salvation, collected animals, and escaped in the ark. Were all these works God's reason for offering Noah grace? No. They were exactly God's grace given to Noah. God never chooses to reveal Himself or work through someone because of the greatness or merit of that person. We do injustice to God when we offer salvation for favors of participation in a church organization, money, behavioral change, or anything else.
God's grace must be found in God's way. Too often we are looking for God's grace through the insecurity of our ability to make it happen. Did Noah repent? Absolutely. He left a sinful society and did something so radical that everyone laughed at him. In the end, he was saved both physically and spiritually. God's grace is found in His revelation. Learning to understand how God thinks and thinking along the same lines makes us change. Repentance is God's work of grace, not my work of merit. It was God's grace that accomplished all of these works in Noah's life. Where is your confidence?
