But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord

(Gen. 6:5).  This Follows the pronouncement that every intent of the thoughts of man's heart was evil.  God was grieved in His heart, and had determined to send the flood (verses 6,7).  But Noah found Grace “in the eyes of the Lord.”  Noah was righteous before God “perfect in this generation” (6:9). The book of Hebrews clarifies what is being said here. We read “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household .... and inherited the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

The heroes of the faith were not perfect. King David was a murder and an adulterer, Noah had a drinking problem(Genesis 9:21). But when we confess and forsake our sins, we are forgiven, and God chooses to remember them no more.  In this way we are perfect “in the eyes of the Lord” (Proverbs 28:13; Hebrews 8:12). Noah received the righteousness of faith (Philippians 3:9), and this is part of what it meas to be saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8).

We see here in Genesis all the ingredients of a balanced Biblical view of salvation by grace. Grace is God's undeserved, unearned favour. It's not however, as some have perverted it, permission to live ungodly lives, to do exactly what the sinful nature wants to do.  Let's look first at Ephesians 2:8-10. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Paul is saying on the one hand that we cannot earn salvation. It's a gift, and you don't earn a gift! On the other hand, God has prepared things for us to do, not to earn our salvation, but embrace the new life in Christ. 


Paul puts it this way “The righteous requirement of the law is  fulfilled in those who do not walk according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). Paul also talks about “the obedience of faith” (Romans 16:26).  All this Noah fulfilled, for we read “Noah walked with God” (6:9), and that he “did everything just as God commanded him” (6:2; Hebrews 11:7). Again, this is not about earning our salvation, it's about establishing faith (James 2:17).

Dietrich Bonhoeffer called the attitude that refuses to obey, that does not work out our sanctification with fear and trembling  “cheap grace” (see Philippians 2:12).  Such grace is not grace at all! It's presumption, and there are warnings in scripture about persistent, willful presumption (i.e. Hebrews 10:26).  It is not about never failing, for even walking in the light is about being cleansed from sin when we stumble (1 John 1:7, 9). But the only appropriate response to the tender mercies of God, is to take up our own cross daily, and following Him (Romans 12:1; Luke 9:23).

Lord Jesus, God forbid that I should cheapen Your incredibly costly sacrifice by refusing to obey, or to walk in the Spirit.  Help us Lord, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38).  Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for us, and that Your strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). For these and many other things, we give You thanks and praise, in Your precious Name Amen