Wonderful Attributes of God
Grace
“Amazing Grace”
Noah Found Grace
Wonderful Attributes of God
“Amazing Grace”
Noah Found Grace
Genesis 6 -- “ (5) And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented the LORD (He was sorry, and He sighed heavily) that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved (pained, hurt) Him in His heart. (7) And the LORD said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth -- both man and beast, and all the creeping things, and the fowls of the air; for it repents Me (I am sorry) that I have made them.’ (8) But Noah found grace in the Eyes of the LORD.”
In spite of the dreadful, dark and wicked world that Noah and his family lived in, he found a special “favor” with God. This
“favor” was grace, and this grace is “a kindness, a favor, a pleasant or even precious bestowal”. Someone being gracious or showing grace is “merciful, having or showing mercy”. They will also “have pity upon” others. We are so used to the definition of grace as being “unmerited favor”, and it is that, but it so much more... for the LORD was kind to Noah, showing him favor and bestowing to him something very precious... not just his life, but the chance to be the progenitor (the “father”) for all those after him. Think about that...of all the humans alive at that time, the LORD singled out and selected Noah. But just what was so “special” about this man Noah? Looking at the next verse, in Genesis 6:9, we see -- “...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations”, and verse 9 also tells us ~ “Noah walked with God”.
Before we look at more of what Grace is, and what it does in our lives, let’s take a closer look at this man, Noah, of whom it is said that he was a “just man”. What -- exactly -- does this mean? It means Noah was “just, lawful and righteous” in all his ways -- before God, and before man. It also means he did what was necessary to be right (in a moral or legal sense); he kept himself spiritually cleansed and holy, and lived a life of true Godly righteousness. He did this, even in that evil, violent and corrupt world of his time, as we see in Genesis 6:11 & 12 -- “The earth was corrupt before God, and it was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted His Way upon the earth.” (All, that is, except for Noah...)
Here are what the words corrupt & violence mean:
Corrupt -- “To decay, to cause ruin; to batter, cast off (and in this sense the world had “cast off” any regard for the LORD, His Ways or His laws); one who corrupts, destroys, or is a corrupter or destroyer, bent on destruction; to mar, cause to perish, to spill, to spoil, to utterly waste or lay waste.” Violence -- “that which is wrong, including unjust gain; to be cruel (cruelty), to damage, to be false; injustice; an oppressor, one who is unrighteous, using violent dealings or violent actions; to do or be wrong (in one’s motives or actions); to be violent; to mistreat, to make bare, to shake off (as in “shaking off” any kind of authority, including governmental or even the Will of God), to violate or take away or seize violently.”
I am not an “environmental activist”, by any stretch of anyone’s imagination, even though I do my fair share of recycling and tending to certain environmental needs. However, as I read through the meanings of what the world was like during Noah’s day -- and as I recall what Jesus said, in Matthew 24:37 (“But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be”) -- I can see a very real and accurate correlation. Just looking at a few key words (such as “to cause ruin or damage; to cast off; to corrupt, destroy or bent on destruction; to mar, cause to perish, to spill, to spoil, to utterly waste or lay waste”), we can see that it does not take much imagination to see that what men are doing to each other -- as well as to the world itself -- must be very similar to Noah’s day and time.
From oil spills to nuclear waste; from wars and rumors of wars to oil embargos and price gouging; from corporate greed to increasing tests and trials at home and church -- in all these things we can see that we, of today, are pretty much “like the days of Noah”. In this sense, we are doing a pretty good job of bringing decay, ruin and destruction upon the world around us. And I’m not even going to “touch” the ozone layer or rain forest debates. To be more current, just recently (April 2001) the gas prices in North America have risen to $1.60 to $1.70 per gallon of regular gasoline, and it is on the increase. And I am certain it is true of other places around the world. This, to me, sounds very much like doing “that which is wrong, including unjust gain.” When will it stop? The Lord only knows...
Back to the man, Noah, for a moment. He was also careful to be just and to do right to those around him, including his family. Ah...how often we conveniently
“forget” to include our families -- to do right by them and to treat them fairly and with respect (this is what Noah did). Genesis 6:9 says that Noah was a “perfect man in his generations”, meaning he was “perfect and entire” in all his ways. This is something the New Testament speaks of in several places -- our being “perfect, complete and entire” in Christ Jesus (see 2nd Corinthians 13:11; Ephesians 4:13; Philippians 3:12-17; James 1:4 and Colossians 1:28).
Furthermore, perfect means to “walk in integrity and truth; having no blemish; being complete, full and perfect; being sincere and honest; being undefiled, upright; come to the full, to be complete and/or mature: maturity”. That last one, “maturity”, is what certain epistles of the New Testament spend much time on...teachings and principles that will make us mature as Christians. Mature is more than being emotionally or even physically “of age”...it is most importantly having to do with our spiritual growth and completeness.
Let’s take a moment to see what Paul writes, in Ephesians 5:25-27 -- “Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; so that it might be holy and without blemish”. What he is saying here is that the LORD desires that we be whole and complete and mature, just as Noah was in his days.
When it says Noah “found grace” in the Eyes of the LORD, it doesn’t mean that the LORD just “found Noah” or “chose” Noah to carry out His Will and His Plan...Noah was a complete, perfect and mature man of God, and he was righteous in all his ways. And, like Noah, even so should we strive to be such Christians. Grace, especially in the Old Testament, also means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior”, and we are the inferior ones. God oftentimes “bends or stoops” to show us kindness and favor.
Psalm 84:11 & 12 declares -- “For the LORD God is a Sun and Shield; the LORD will give Grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of Hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in You.” That word, “uprightly”, is the same as the meaning of what we saw concerning Noah...one who “walks in integrity and truth; without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincere, without spot and undefiled”. Proverbs 3:34 tells us -- “Surely He scorns the scorners, but He gives Grace to the lowly.” Here, lowly is one who “chastens or humbles self; one who is gentle of character and will; also one who is meek and lowly”. Again, this could very well describe Noah, and this should also be what describes us. And -- more importantly -- Jesus said of Himself:
One of the reasons we feel so “troubled” or “distressed” in our lives is because we fail or -- God help us -- we sometimes even refuse to take His Yoke upon us. We may take any and every other yoke upon us, but we somehow do not trust Him enough to take His Yoke. Ah, but when we finally come to the end of our selves, we gladly take His Yoke and learn His Way.
And here, if I may, I would like to interject a thought and ask a question, of all of us: How many ministers (including pastors, evangelists and anyone who preaches) do we know who truly “chasten or humble themselves”, and how many of those (who are constantly “in the limelight”, clamoring for our attention) are sincerely “gentle of character and will” and are also “meek and lowly”??? I do not ask these questions to be unduly harsh or judgmental, but to honestly compare, in a way, the ministers of today with the ministry of our Lord, Jesus Christ. He never sought His own; He never promoted Himself; He never “insisted” that we buy this book or that tape or attend this “special” meeting. He glady and freely shared His Truth with any and all who would come and follow after Him...and also, He said: ...freely you have received, and therefore you should freely give...
The prophet, Zechariah declares -- “12:(9) And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications.” There will come a day when the LORD shall manifest His Grace in such a way as man cannot resist it or deny it, but that day will be at the time of the end. We, as His children today, need to be as righteous and as just as possible, even as that day approaches. And let us also take upon our selves the Wonderful Yoke of Jesus, so that we might not only learn of Him and be at peace and rest in our own lives, but that we might also help others find that rest and find that place of peace in Christ Jesus.
If we can “chasten and humble ourselves”, and if we can learn (of Him) to be sincerely “gentle of character and will”, and if we are also able to become “meek and lowly”, then we might truly be able to also help others find that rest and find that place of peace in Christ Jesus. Grace -- His Grace -- allows us to do just that.
The New Testament meaning of Grace is basically the same,
adding just a few more thoughts to the Old Testament definition...
“the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude; favor, as a (free) gift, grace, gracious, liberality, pleasure, thanks, thanksworthy”.
Let us begin looking at New Testament Grace by taking a look at Jesus, Himself. Luke 2:40 -- “And the child (Jesus) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the Grace of God was upon Him.” When Luke writes that Jesus was “filled with wisdom”, that word filled is very similar in meaning as what we saw regarding Noah. It is “to make replete, to abound, to cram (a net); to satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prophecy), to accomplish, be complete, to end, to fill up, fulfill, make full, to be perfect, or fully supply”.
John 1:14 adds to that thought -- “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the Glory as of the only Begotten of the Father), full of Grace and truth.” Here, once again, we see that idea of being “full of” Grace. John 1:16 & 17 tell us further: “And of His Fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ.” John is saying, by direction of the Holy Spirit, that we, too, can become “full” of His Grace, because “we have all received”. “Receiving” His Grace is realized in our lives when our hearts and spirits can “get hold of, seize, accept, attain, obtain and even to be amazed at” this Wonderful Grace of God. To live, walk and to be “full of” the Grace of God depends very much on how well we understand His Grace. When John Newton penned those powerful words to that great hymn, “Amazing Grace”, he must have fully and completely grasped the meaning of God’s Wonderful and Amazing Grace.
We see another man who understood this Grace, in Acts 11 -- “(22)...and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. (23) When he came, and had seen the Grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (24) For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and many people were added unto the Lord.” Barnabus clearly understood the Grace of God, and rejoiced when he saw it manifested, and here, again, we see the phrase “full of” in relation to a man of God -- Barnabas, a good man and a righteous man (“full of the Holy Ghost and faith” -- v.24).
1st Cor. 15:10 -- “But by the Grace of God I am what I am: and His Grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me.”
Paul says that even the “work” he does is accomplished by and through the Grace of God given to him, and he firmly tells the Corinthian believers that he did not take for granted that Grace imparted to him, but labored more than anyone to do the work of the Lord... and yet, it was that very Grace that gave him the desire, the drive and the motivation to move forward and do that very work for God. He goes on to tell them, in 2nd Cor. 5 & 6 --
In other words, do not let the Grace that God has imparted to you become worthless or empty, producing nothing.
In Paul’s letter to the Galatian Christians, he immediately addresses a growing problem. It is a problem that, sadly, is still with us today. Galatians 1 --
The reason Paul is so adamant concerning those among the Galatian Christians that would “trouble them”, is because it is, after all, the Gospel of Grace that he and the other apostles are striving to bring forth into the lives and hearts of all believers. Those who come in, perverting this Gospel, are actually undermining God’s Marvelous Grace... definitely not a light charge against these trouble-makers. One of the main things that was happening in the church at Galatia, was the arrival of Jewish believers who were teaching the Gentile Christians that after they were saved, they must now “fulfill” the law of Moses and be circumcised. This completely violates the Law of Grace and the Spirit of Christ, and Paul strongly denounced such teaching.
In Galatians 5, he writes --
It is very interesting to note that Rom 5:2 included both hope and grace, and that so much of Paul’s words to the church were admissions that he could not have done all that he had done, nor would he have been the man of God that he was -- without the Grace of God. Grace, as we have already stated, means “unmerited favor”, among other things, and this grace is freely given, as we have seen from many verses. However, Paul also tells us that we have also been freely justified by His Grace (Rom 3:24).
Being freely justified means He has graciously and freely given us something...something from Himself that makes us righteous, undefiled and complete in Him, but there are cautions and concerns that Paul also mentions. These cautions were that we do not frustrate the grace of God, and that we do not receive it in vain (1st Cor. 15:10 & 2nd Cor. 6:1).
Galatians 2:21 warns us, via Paul’s observation -- “I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Most of Paul’s teaching, to the still-young church, was that of keeping them focused on and grounded in this one Truth... receiving and living in the Grace of God -- freely and without entanglements and bondages (Galatians 5:1).
And we also need to learn not to resist, deny, despise or reject this Grace that is so freely given to each of us. All of these words are definitions of frustrating the Grace of God. Let us each be careful and sure not to do such a thing as frustrate the grace of God. Instead, let us receive, accept and honor His Grace, even as Barnabas did, in Acts 11:22-24; and let each of us strive to become “good men and women, full of the Holy Ghost and of faith”. By His Grace we can and shall become just that.
After all...Noah found Grace in the Eyes of the Lord...
and so can we.
This is just one part of a series of teachings on the Attributes of God, where we take a closer look at some of the characteristics of our Great and Loving God. They are by no means an “exhaustive” look at such characteristics, but they are a look nonetheless.
“The Peace of God”will be the next Attribute...though it is not yet ready. I will place an 
image, back on the “Attribute Page”, as I complete each part in this series.
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since February 29, 2000.