Grace
1/6 Reading Portions: Genesis 6; Matthew 6; Ezra 6; Acts 6
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
1/6 Reading Portions: Genesis 6; Matthew 6; Ezra 6; Acts 6
Genesis 6:8
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
FOUND
Jesus said that He…
“…came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
Christ’s incarnation, His coming, was never instigated by man’s goodness. We know Christ’s coming and subsequent sacrifice…
…was foreknown before the foundation of the world… 1 Peter 1:20
In fact, Christ’s coming was never instigated by fallen man’s wickedness either. Why? Because anything, apart from true, abiding fellowship with God is unproductive and worthless (John 15:4-5).
When Noah found God’s favor, he wasn’t looking for it. Since Adam’s fall, none of his descendants were ever looking for God’s favor. Paul quotes Psalm 14 and Psalm 53 when he stated,
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10-12
In the garden, Adam and his wife made loincloths of fig leaves to cover their shame (Gen 3:7) and then hid in the trees when they heard the sound of God walking in the garden (Gen 3:8). Likewise, in Noah’s day,
…the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5
Did Noah have some preexisting righteousness unavailable to the rest of humanity upon the planet? Of course not. Then God’s grace wouldn’t be grace. When Noah found grace, he wasn’t looking for it. God made His grace found-able. When we were saved, it was because God made Jesus Christ and His gospel truth found-able. This is what makes God’s grace so amazing! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
God’s grace is found, not because
Of goodness that’s in man:
The truth of Christ’s sacrifice was
Ordain’d as God’s wise plan—
Eternal, grace exists above,
For man’s thoughts are not high;
Salvation’s truth presents God’s love:
Christ Jesus crucified.
