WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:14.280 All right, the text from which the sermon is based tonight is Hebrews 11 verse 7, but in the light of that verse we'll also read from Genesis chapter 6 and we'll read verses 5 to 22. 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:21.780 So we'll read Genesis 6 first, that's in the Old Testament, and then in the New Testament from Hebrews 11, just one verse there, verse 7. 00:00:22.740 --> 00:00:29.900 And there's, if you'd like to have a hard copy of the Bible at any time, there's a bunch on the back table, there's some upstairs, feel free to grab one. 00:00:29.899 --> 00:00:33.500 We don't mind at all if you get up any time and grab a Bible, that's great. 00:00:33.619 --> 00:00:37.579 If you're here tonight and you don't own a Bible, we'd love for you to take one as well. 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:44.739 We very much would like to have less Bibles tonight than we started with if you would like a Bible and you don't have one, so take one of those with you. 00:00:46.099 --> 00:00:51.679 Let's read from God's Word together, Genesis 6 verses 5 to 22, and then Hebrews 11 verse 7. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:01:01.740 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 00:01:02.420 --> 00:01:06.460 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him to his heart. 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:08.140 So the Lord said, 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:22.819 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:25.579 These are the generations of Noah. 00:01:25.819 --> 00:01:28.439 Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:30.420 Noah walked with God. 00:01:30.420 --> 00:01:34.159 And Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:38.659 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. 00:01:39.340 --> 00:01:45.260 And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:46.680 And God said to Noah, 00:01:46.939 --> 00:01:52.200 I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. 00:01:53.140 --> 00:01:55.219 Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:58.460 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. 00:01:58.459 --> 00:02:02.219 Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. 00:02:02.759 --> 00:02:04.159 This is how you are to make it. 00:02:04.419 --> 00:02:06.299 The length of the ark, 300 cubits. 00:02:06.899 --> 00:02:10.139 Its breadth, 50 cubits, and its height, 30 cubits. 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:16.280 Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:19.259 Make it with lower, second, and third decks. 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:24.519 For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh, 00:02:24.680 --> 00:02:26.319 and which is the breath of life under heaven. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:31.620 Everything that is on the earth shall die, but I will establish my covenant with you, 00:02:31.959 --> 00:02:36.519 and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:41.959 And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark 00:02:41.959 --> 00:02:43.479 to keep them alive with you. 00:02:43.959 --> 00:02:45.419 They shall be male and female. 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:49.439 Of the birds, according to their kinds, and of the animals, according to their kinds. 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:52.680 Of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:57.740 two of every sort shall come into you to keep them alive. 00:02:59.060 --> 00:03:02.479 Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. 00:03:02.979 --> 00:03:05.079 It shall serve as food for you and for them. 00:03:05.699 --> 00:03:06.579 And Noah did this. 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:08.419 He did all that God commanded him. 00:03:08.419 --> 00:03:11.479 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 7. 00:03:12.059 --> 00:03:20.539 By faith, Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, 00:03:21.459 --> 00:03:25.159 in reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:03:26.179 --> 00:03:32.979 By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 00:03:33.539 --> 00:03:34.799 This is God's holy word. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:42.300 By faith, Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, 00:03:42.420 --> 00:03:46.140 in reverent fear, constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:03:46.880 --> 00:03:53.439 By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. 00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:57.460 Well, tonight in our journey through Hebrews 11, 00:03:58.260 --> 00:04:01.580 we move from Genesis 5, the story of Enoch, 00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:05.280 to Genesis 6 and the story of Noah. 00:04:06.320 --> 00:04:10.140 Two men, really, who are said to have walked with God, 00:04:10.260 --> 00:04:15.700 both examples of individuals who lived their lives by faith. 00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:22.819 And the account of Noah's life of faith is to be found in Genesis chapter 6 through 9, 00:04:22.819 --> 00:04:30.980 the backdrop to it being that famous flood that dominates Genesis 6, 7 and 8. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:39.860 And in the Genesis story, the story of the flood is not presented to us as a kind of myth or a legend. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:41.800 It is presented as history. 00:04:41.800 --> 00:04:50.460 And we know that similar stories of a universal global flood are found in a whole host of different ancient cultures 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:52.639 and a lot of different forms. 00:04:53.360 --> 00:04:59.960 I believe there are certainly maybe over 250 different accounts from all over the world. 00:04:59.959 --> 00:05:07.139 And in the ancient Near East, there are references in the epics of Gilgamesh and Atrahasis. 00:05:08.479 --> 00:05:14.859 And I suppose one of the difficulties that some of us have when we approach the figure of Noah 00:05:14.859 --> 00:05:23.539 is we tend to associate his story as being a story really for children rather than adults. 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:32.680 After all, no self-respecting children's Bible would dare to admit the story of Noah and the ark. 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:40.020 And as a consequence, many see it as a kind of childish tale conjuring up images of cute little elephants 00:05:40.020 --> 00:05:43.480 and kangaroos or whatever, bears all going into the ark. 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.740 But when one actually reads the text of Genesis, 00:05:47.740 --> 00:05:57.980 one cannot help but be struck by the fact that this is no warm, cozy story of kind of cute animals and happy times. 00:05:58.660 --> 00:06:02.439 It's a story about a world of irredeemable wickedness. 00:06:03.180 --> 00:06:06.000 A world spiraling out of moral control. 00:06:06.819 --> 00:06:12.160 A world that has placed itself under the wrath and judgment of a holy God. 00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:19.880 And indeed, these verses of Genesis tell of a great act of divine decreation 00:06:19.880 --> 00:06:26.740 as God returns the earth to a situation of primeval watery chaos. 00:06:26.740 --> 00:06:34.640 Genesis 6 through 8 is an unsettling account of where sin ultimately takes us as human beings 00:06:34.640 --> 00:06:38.560 and the judgment that inevitably ensues. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:47.280 Here we read of God judging human wickedness while at the same time preserving a remnant of faith. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:56.220 In our text tonight, Hebrews 11, 7, selects and highlights four things about Noah and his faith. 00:06:56.279 --> 00:07:01.819 There's a lot more in Genesis 6 through 9. 00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.279 We're not going to expound that. 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:09.559 We're simply going to look at that text through the lens of Hebrews 11, 7. 00:07:09.699 --> 00:07:12.079 And I want to mention four things this evening. 00:07:12.919 --> 00:07:14.119 The first is this. 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:20.619 Noah in faith received revelation from God. 00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:28.399 By faith, Noah being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen. 00:07:28.899 --> 00:07:32.179 So the story of Noah begins with God. 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:33.919 It begins with divine revelation. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:38.160 God speaks and reveals to Noah what will come to pass. 00:07:38.680 --> 00:07:41.379 And it's a revelation of divine judgment. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:46.319 This is not, you know, some Noah having some vague intuition. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:48.540 It's not his human speculation. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:52.100 It's divine revelation, clear and unambiguous. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:54.379 God speaks. 00:07:55.060 --> 00:07:55.600 Noah listens. 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:56.600 Faith begins with revelation. 00:07:56.600 --> 00:07:58.840 Faith begins with revelation. 00:07:58.840 --> 00:08:00.980 With a word from God. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:05.860 It is not a leap in the dark, as some would have us believe. 00:08:06.560 --> 00:08:10.939 But really a step into the light of God's revealed truth. 00:08:11.060 --> 00:08:14.900 And in fact, that is where the letter of Hebrews itself begins. 00:08:15.020 --> 00:08:18.540 The very first verses of the book. 00:08:18.540 --> 00:08:25.780 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. 00:08:26.100 --> 00:08:31.140 But in these last days, he has spoken to us by his son. 00:08:31.139 --> 00:08:36.840 Apart from God's word, Noah had no evidence of a coming flood. 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:40.419 He didn't have a meteorologist's report. 00:08:40.699 --> 00:08:42.539 He didn't have, he didn't see rising rivers. 00:08:42.799 --> 00:08:44.379 There wasn't, he didn't have a flood warning system. 00:08:45.199 --> 00:08:47.340 There were no storm clouds on the horizon. 00:08:47.340 --> 00:08:50.519 These events were as yet unseen. 00:08:51.480 --> 00:08:56.060 And yet for Noah, God's revelatory word was enough. 00:08:56.780 --> 00:09:02.360 And we read about the content of that revelation in Genesis 6 from verse 11. 00:09:02.780 --> 00:09:06.580 The earth was corrupt in God's sight, filled with violence. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.060 God saw the earth. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.399 Behold, it was corrupt. 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:13.420 For all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:19.179 And God said to Noah, I have determined to make an end of all flesh. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:22.199 For the earth is filled with violence through them. 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:26.000 Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 00:09:26.899 --> 00:09:29.240 Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. 00:09:29.860 --> 00:09:33.899 Make rooms in the ark and cover it inside and out with pitch. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:43.279 God looks on his creation and he sees a landscape dominated by violence and corruption. 00:09:43.419 --> 00:09:48.620 The world of Noah's day had become rotten to the core. 00:09:49.099 --> 00:09:55.899 Sin had worked its way into the lifeblood of humanity with devastating results. 00:09:56.179 --> 00:10:01.419 Catastrophic moral and spiritual decline has ensued. 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:07.279 And the divine response to this is stated bluntly and categorically. 00:10:07.559 --> 00:10:08.639 Genesis 6-7. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:14.720 The Lord said, I will wipe mankind whom I have created from the face of the earth. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:21.580 And then in verse 13 of Genesis 6, God said to Noah, I am going to put an end to all people. 00:10:22.819 --> 00:10:24.539 God will erase humanity. 00:10:24.799 --> 00:10:29.480 Universal wickedness results in universal judgment. 00:10:29.639 --> 00:10:32.899 After all, the wages of sin is death. 00:10:32.899 --> 00:10:37.559 And so this message, this revelation is one of bad news. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:41.240 It's a message of impending judgment. 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:48.039 And that, of course, makes many people today somewhat embarrassed. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:57.659 It's often as if judgment is a sort of some dark skeleton in God's cupboard that's best forgotten and not spoken about. 00:10:57.659 --> 00:11:08.279 But, of course, friends, the only God the Bible knows and speaks of is a God of justice and holiness and judgment. 00:11:09.579 --> 00:11:16.980 And, in fact, I would suggest to you that it's only that kind of God who makes any sense in a world like ours. 00:11:16.980 --> 00:11:30.720 Those who promote the idea that God is some sort of kindly old geriatric who wouldn't hurt a fly do nothing but disservice to Christ and to the gospel. 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:42.120 Because those sentimental kind of cuddly notions of God are utterly discredited in the face of the evil and the suffering and the injustice of this world. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:48.560 How can you believe in a God of love in the midst of all the suffering and injustice? 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.440 That's what people say, isn't it? 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:55.139 But the Bible doesn't ask us to believe in that kind of God. 00:11:55.240 --> 00:11:56.620 He's a fantasy thing. 00:11:58.659 --> 00:12:07.799 We don't admire people who smile benignly in the face of all kinds of misery and evil and injustice. 00:12:07.799 --> 00:12:14.759 We consider such people to be, in some way, morally handicapped. 00:12:15.959 --> 00:12:21.219 Because we know there are times when we should be angry. 00:12:21.819 --> 00:12:27.479 There are things that happen and go on in our world that it's right and good that we're angry about. 00:12:28.099 --> 00:12:29.959 We call it righteous anger. 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:41.780 There's much on our TV screens that's beamed into or on our phones and we read about these news reports and we see things that are terrible, horrendous. 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:44.180 And we feel angry. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:47.080 We get a sense of injustice about these things. 00:12:47.080 --> 00:13:01.700 And if we, who are imperfect, fallen creatures, have a sense of that, then what must that be like for a God who is morally perfect and holy and utterly righteous? 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:12.520 It's in the sense that the flood is used in the New Testament as a model of what will happen at the end of the world. 00:13:12.519 --> 00:13:17.480 To Peter, chapter 3, from verse 5. 00:13:18.439 --> 00:13:21.980 Christ will return as judge of the earth, Peter writes. 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:25.399 Long ago, by God's word, the heavens existed. 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:28.960 And the earth was formed out of water and by water. 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:34.840 By these waters also, the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:41.679 By the same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment. 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:43.240 And destruction. 00:13:45.939 --> 00:13:47.460 It's a biblical pattern. 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:49.799 The soul that sins shall die. 00:13:50.819 --> 00:13:56.399 And this is where the world of Noah's time found itself, under God's righteous judgment. 00:13:57.779 --> 00:14:02.539 And actually, that's where our world finds itself. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:07.120 Even today, we live in a world that is on the wrong side of God. 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:13.220 And one day, God's judgment will fall on all human sin and rebellion. 00:14:13.860 --> 00:14:17.580 Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:19.019 Hebrews 9.27. 00:14:20.419 --> 00:14:27.080 And according to Scripture, God's judgment is an inescapable truth and an undeniable reality. 00:14:27.080 --> 00:14:36.920 Many years ago, when I was a young minister in my first charge, and I had a lady come to me. 00:14:38.259 --> 00:14:41.220 Maybe after a few months preaching in the church. 00:14:42.379 --> 00:14:48.800 And she asked me, she said to me, David, you know, you talk about salvation and you talk about being saved. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.460 She was a lovely lady. 00:14:50.460 --> 00:14:59.600 And her question was this, well, what on earth do I, a very moral, respectable, church-going lady, 00:14:59.780 --> 00:15:02.500 she said, what on earth do I need to be saved from? 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:06.200 A lot of people think like that. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.840 This is what we need to be saved from. 00:15:10.900 --> 00:15:12.320 It's from God's judgment. 00:15:13.940 --> 00:15:17.580 That's our great need, if we could but see it. 00:15:17.580 --> 00:15:23.060 And so, friends, we too have received the revelation from God. 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:26.800 But how are we responding to that? 00:15:28.080 --> 00:15:30.340 We ignore it at our peril. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:36.360 Noah's faith rested on God's revealed word. 00:15:37.400 --> 00:15:41.840 Noah, in faith, received revelation from God. 00:15:43.020 --> 00:15:44.700 Brings me to the second thing here. 00:15:44.700 --> 00:15:50.620 Noah, in faith and holy fear, constructed an ark of salvation. 00:15:51.540 --> 00:15:57.000 In reverent fear, he constructed an ark for the saving of his household. 00:15:58.259 --> 00:16:02.240 So Noah received not just this revelation of coming judgment. 00:16:02.900 --> 00:16:06.180 He also receives a revelation of salvation. 00:16:07.320 --> 00:16:13.759 He is instructed to build an ark of salvation for himself and his family. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:17.059 God tells Noah, Genesis 6, 17, 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:21.500 Behold, I will bring a flood of waters on the earth to destroy all flesh, 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:23.720 in which is the breath of life under heaven. 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:25.759 Everything that is on the earth shall die. 00:16:25.860 --> 00:16:29.779 But I will establish my covenant with you, 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.559 and you shall come into the ark, 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:34.819 you, your sons, your wife, your sons' wives, with you. 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:43.720 So the writer of Hebrews tells us that Noah constructed this ark in reverent fear. 00:16:45.580 --> 00:16:51.280 He responds, Noah responds to God's word with both faith and godly fear. 00:16:51.820 --> 00:16:53.540 Those two are not mutually exclusive. 00:16:54.900 --> 00:16:58.540 This reverent fear is not a sort of craven terror. 00:16:58.539 --> 00:17:01.659 However, we might describe it as a kind of holy awe, 00:17:01.839 --> 00:17:05.039 a deep respect for the God who speaks. 00:17:06.700 --> 00:17:09.399 Noah knew that God was not to be trifled with. 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:13.000 And he knew that the one who created the heavens and earth 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:16.039 could unmake them with a word. 00:17:17.399 --> 00:17:20.579 And so there's nothing shallow, nothing glib about Noah's response. 00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:24.019 He's gripped with a sense of awe and wonder. 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:28.660 Here is a trembling trust, if I can put it that way, 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:31.180 that acknowledges God's holiness and power. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:35.119 Here is the posture of a man or a woman of God 00:17:35.119 --> 00:17:38.059 who knows that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:40.940 In reverent fear, he constructed an ark. 00:17:42.220 --> 00:17:46.039 It's actually, again, one of the features of the letter to the Hebrews, 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:49.139 how it combines these two things, 00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:54.340 this great confidence and assurance about being accepted by a holy God 00:17:54.340 --> 00:17:57.980 and being able to draw near to the throne of grace 00:17:57.980 --> 00:18:01.480 with a sense of awe and reverence 00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:05.060 in worshipping the God who is a consuming fire. 00:18:05.600 --> 00:18:07.300 There's intimacy and awe. 00:18:07.700 --> 00:18:11.140 There's resting faith and reverent fear. 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:14.500 And you'll notice that Noah's faith 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:17.740 wasn't a kind of private feeling tucked away, 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.140 hidden away in his heart. 00:18:20.160 --> 00:18:22.660 It actually issued in public work 00:18:22.660 --> 00:18:25.799 that took decades of sweat and toil. 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.599 Here he was constructing this enormous boat, 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:31.839 hundreds of miles from the sea, 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.500 no water in sight. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:37.279 He must have looked an absolute idiot to his contemporaries, 00:18:37.339 --> 00:18:39.980 an utter fool, wasting his time, his talents, 00:18:40.279 --> 00:18:42.740 his energies on a ludicrous project. 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:49.059 For friends, faith is not merely believing that God exists. 00:18:50.039 --> 00:18:53.220 It means and involves acting on what God says. 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:54.779 James reminds us. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.120 In James 2.26, 00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.819 faith without works is dead. 00:18:59.720 --> 00:19:01.519 Noah's faith was alive. 00:19:02.440 --> 00:19:04.740 Pounding nails into wood, shaping beams, 00:19:05.220 --> 00:19:06.539 sealing the ark with pitch. 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.400 You can picture him. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:08.960 Hammer in hand, 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:10.740 building this massive vessel 00:19:10.740 --> 00:19:13.299 vessel in the middle of dry land, 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:14.519 the neighbors around, 00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:15.000 jeering, 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:17.319 the cynics scoffing, 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.940 the children laughing. 00:19:19.839 --> 00:19:20.900 Noah, you old fool. 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:22.500 Where is this flood? 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.400 Where is this rain? 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:26.079 And yet all the time, 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.079 Noah keeps building, 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:29.059 his hammer keeps swinging 00:19:29.059 --> 00:19:31.559 because his faith was anchored 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:32.980 in God's word of promise. 00:19:32.980 --> 00:19:34.700 And of course, 00:19:34.759 --> 00:19:37.339 this is exactly what the recipients of this letter 00:19:37.339 --> 00:19:38.579 were being called to do. 00:19:38.660 --> 00:19:41.200 They were being called to endure the shame, 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:43.279 the mockery of the world around, 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:46.140 to keep on in the way of faith. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.039 They were struggling. 00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:49.940 They were suffering. 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.799 Finding things hard. 00:19:52.640 --> 00:19:53.799 And like Noah of old, 00:19:53.860 --> 00:19:55.120 they needed to stand firm 00:19:55.120 --> 00:19:57.579 and hold on to the promises of God's word. 00:19:57.579 --> 00:20:01.460 And that may well be true of us today, 00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:03.139 if you're a believer. 00:20:03.539 --> 00:20:04.980 It can be hard to march, 00:20:05.099 --> 00:20:06.980 march to the beat of a different drum. 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:08.839 It can be hard to live in a way 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:10.980 that seeks to honor God above all else. 00:20:11.519 --> 00:20:13.759 Living for God in this fallen world 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:15.659 sometimes looks ridiculous, 00:20:16.379 --> 00:20:17.359 looks ludicrous. 00:20:17.899 --> 00:20:19.279 And it can feel very lonely. 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:23.539 Perhaps in a family where no one else believes. 00:20:23.539 --> 00:20:26.220 Or in a place of work or study 00:20:26.220 --> 00:20:29.619 where different values and standards pertain. 00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:31.839 In company where Christianity 00:20:31.839 --> 00:20:35.399 is routinely ridiculed and dismissed. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:36.539 It can be difficult. 00:20:38.639 --> 00:20:42.500 And yet we're called to stand on the promises of God 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.159 because they alone are solid ground, 00:20:45.659 --> 00:20:47.240 as we were thinking this morning. 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:49.799 They are our firm place to stand. 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:53.440 Faith lives knowing there is nothing as solid as God's word. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:54.700 Faith builds. 00:20:54.859 --> 00:20:56.079 Faith perseveres. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.220 Faith endures. 00:20:57.299 --> 00:20:58.579 It doesn't shrink back. 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.460 There's an old story, I think, 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:06.180 from 19th century Canada. 00:21:06.339 --> 00:21:08.779 I know we have some Canadians amongst us tonight, 00:21:08.899 --> 00:21:11.039 so they'll no doubt correct me if I'm wrong. 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:13.579 But the story tells of a man 00:21:13.579 --> 00:21:16.859 who got lost in the woods during the winter 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:19.440 and surrounded by snow and ice 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.279 and extreme temperatures. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:23.779 It was a treacherous situation. 00:21:23.899 --> 00:21:25.899 He had to make his way home. 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:28.339 He had to get home or he would die. 00:21:29.139 --> 00:21:31.119 And as he stumbled through the snow, 00:21:31.240 --> 00:21:33.339 he came to the banks of what he recognized 00:21:33.339 --> 00:21:35.000 to be the St. Lawrence River. 00:21:35.819 --> 00:21:38.259 He knew that his home lay on the other side, 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.359 but also that there was no bridge 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:42.259 or crossing for many miles. 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.200 What was he to do? 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:45.960 Well, the river was frozen. 00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:48.740 And he realized that his only hope 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:51.380 was to try and make his way across the ice. 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:54.059 Seemed dangerous route to take, 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:55.519 but he had no option. 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:58.920 Would the ice be thick enough to carry his weight 00:21:58.920 --> 00:21:59.980 or would it crack 00:21:59.980 --> 00:22:03.420 and he'd be drowned in the freezing waters? 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:07.720 And so he resolved to make his way slowly, 00:22:08.180 --> 00:22:10.140 tentatively across the river. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:13.259 He decided to spread out his weight 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.340 as best he could 00:22:14.340 --> 00:22:17.279 and crawl in a sort of spread eagle fashion, 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:19.759 inching his way across, 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:20.900 fearful and afraid, 00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:22.800 all the time listening out 00:22:22.800 --> 00:22:25.920 for that terrible sound of cracking ice 00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:28.580 that would have spelt his certain death. 00:22:28.579 --> 00:22:31.359 And he moved so slowly and deliberately, 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.559 hardly daring to breathe, 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.599 lest he sink through the ice 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:38.759 and into the dark waters of the river. 00:22:40.740 --> 00:22:42.879 When he was about halfway across, 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:46.179 lying, spread-eagled on the ice, 00:22:47.220 --> 00:22:48.619 he heard a strange sound. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:53.039 He thought, I can hear the sound of bells ringing. 00:22:55.099 --> 00:22:56.740 And they got closer and closer. 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:57.879 And as he looked around, 00:22:58.579 --> 00:23:01.480 as he heard these bells getting louder and louder, 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:04.759 he saw what was to his eyes 00:23:04.759 --> 00:23:07.159 a most surprising sight. 00:23:08.199 --> 00:23:11.399 Two horses pulling a man on a sled, 00:23:11.939 --> 00:23:13.720 careering across the ice. 00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:17.279 And the horses and sled shot past him 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:19.039 towards the far bank of the river, 00:23:19.199 --> 00:23:20.759 disappeared into the distance. 00:23:22.619 --> 00:23:25.339 And it transpired that the ice on the river 00:23:25.339 --> 00:23:26.139 was thick enough, 00:23:26.140 --> 00:23:30.759 strong enough to bear the weight of horses and a sled. 00:23:32.140 --> 00:23:33.420 What a fool the man felt. 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.160 He said to himself, 00:23:35.320 --> 00:23:38.440 if only I'd known how thick the ice was, 00:23:38.520 --> 00:23:40.080 I needn't have been so afraid. 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:41.240 I could have walked, 00:23:41.660 --> 00:23:42.500 I could have run, 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:44.440 I could have jumped across the river 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:46.060 and been quite safe and secure. 00:23:46.059 --> 00:23:49.599 And friends, 00:23:49.639 --> 00:23:51.740 there are many Christians who live their lives 00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.819 rather like that man, 00:23:53.240 --> 00:23:55.200 inching his way across the ice 00:23:55.200 --> 00:23:56.960 towards his destination. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.139 They're fearful, 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:58.839 they're anxious, 00:23:59.059 --> 00:23:59.779 they're uncertain 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.619 because they don't appreciate 00:24:01.619 --> 00:24:02.759 their true position. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:05.079 They think the foundation on which they live 00:24:05.079 --> 00:24:06.839 is something frail and fragile 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:08.700 and thin and ready to break. 00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:09.759 And in truth, 00:24:09.819 --> 00:24:10.779 it's quite the reverse. 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:13.319 It's something immeasurably strong 00:24:13.960 --> 00:24:15.660 and powerful and robust. 00:24:16.640 --> 00:24:17.100 And friends, 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.360 the gospel of God 00:24:18.360 --> 00:24:19.400 and the word of God 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:21.120 and the promises of God 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:23.299 can bear all your weight. 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:26.600 It can bear the weight of your joys 00:24:26.600 --> 00:24:27.360 and your sorrows, 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:29.600 the weight of your fears and anxieties, 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:31.440 the weight of your sins 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:32.340 and your failures. 00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.039 Indeed, 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:36.539 the weight of your whole existence. 00:24:36.539 --> 00:24:40.579 So where are you building your life? 00:24:42.079 --> 00:24:43.940 Are you building on the solid rock 00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:45.299 of the gospel? 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:48.019 Are you constructing 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.879 an ark of obedience 00:24:49.879 --> 00:24:51.099 in a world that 00:24:51.099 --> 00:24:53.700 mocks and disdains? 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:58.420 Noah in faith received revelation from God. 00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.240 Noah in faith and holy fear 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:03.539 constructed an ark of salvation. 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:04.759 Thirdly, 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:06.480 Noah in faith bore testimony 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:07.480 to the world. 00:25:07.559 --> 00:25:08.240 You'll notice that 00:25:08.240 --> 00:25:09.279 in these words, 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:10.079 by this, 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.960 says the writer to the Hebrews, 00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.980 he condemned the world. 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:14.480 Now, 00:25:14.539 --> 00:25:16.920 what is the writer driving at 00:25:16.920 --> 00:25:19.059 when he includes this statement? 00:25:20.079 --> 00:25:22.620 How did Noah condemn the world? 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:25.440 Was he a kind of horrible, 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.640 judgmental man 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.460 who went around 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.599 condemning everyone 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:30.059 and pointing out their sins? 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:31.819 No, 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.940 I don't think that's 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:34.039 what's being said here. 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:36.099 And that's certainly not 00:25:36.099 --> 00:25:37.059 what we as Christians 00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.940 are called to do. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:39.779 The point, 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.460 I think, 00:25:40.599 --> 00:25:41.579 that is being made here 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.099 is that Noah 00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:43.799 left the world 00:25:43.799 --> 00:25:46.039 without excuse. 00:25:47.159 --> 00:25:48.279 He bore testimony 00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:49.500 to God's judgment 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:50.039 and salvation 00:25:50.579 --> 00:25:52.359 in both word 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.019 and deed. 00:25:54.899 --> 00:25:55.700 In one sense, 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.440 Noah's obedience 00:25:56.440 --> 00:25:57.159 was a kind of 00:25:57.159 --> 00:25:58.519 silent sermon, 00:25:59.259 --> 00:26:00.240 a living rebuke 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:02.059 to that generation 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:03.400 that had rejected God. 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:05.120 Every plank he laid, 00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:06.380 every nail he hammered, 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.539 declared to the world 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:08.220 around him 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:09.740 that God's word is true, 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.740 judgment is coming. 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:12.420 The very construction 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:13.140 of the ark 00:26:13.140 --> 00:26:13.620 proclaimed 00:26:13.620 --> 00:26:14.440 that there was 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.440 a way of escape. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.019 Peter, 00:26:16.380 --> 00:26:16.920 for example, 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.000 in his first epistle 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.859 speaks of how 00:26:18.859 --> 00:26:20.640 God's patience 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.140 waited in the days of Noah 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.019 when the ark 00:26:23.019 --> 00:26:24.079 was being prepared. 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.920 1 Peter 3.20. 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.640 There was life preached, 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:29.880 so too with us. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:31.279 When we live by faith, 00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:32.460 when we trust God's word 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:34.579 over the world's wisdom, 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:36.500 we bear witness 00:26:36.500 --> 00:26:37.440 to the truth. 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:40.140 We live for him, 00:26:40.220 --> 00:26:41.180 not for ourselves. 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:42.059 When we love him 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:42.960 and seek to love 00:26:42.960 --> 00:26:44.220 our neighbor as ourselves, 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:46.180 when we turn the other cheek, 00:26:46.279 --> 00:26:47.839 when we go the extra mile, 00:26:48.160 --> 00:26:49.559 it's then that our lives 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:51.559 commend the good news, 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:53.440 the gospel to others. 00:26:55.579 --> 00:26:57.180 But if there's the testimony 00:26:57.180 --> 00:26:58.140 of Noah's life 00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.599 and obedience to God's word, 00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:00.759 so there is also 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:02.399 the testimony of his words. 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.399 It stands to reason, 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:03.919 I think, 00:27:04.059 --> 00:27:05.279 that Noah's conduct 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:05.980 and behavior 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:07.359 at least must have 00:27:07.359 --> 00:27:08.859 attracted some questions. 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.839 What are you doing, Noah? 00:27:11.500 --> 00:27:13.119 Why are you building this ark? 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:14.399 What on earth 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:15.359 are you playing at? 00:27:16.699 --> 00:27:17.179 Peter, 00:27:17.439 --> 00:27:18.500 in his second epistle, 00:27:18.679 --> 00:27:19.459 2 Peter 2.5, 00:27:19.859 --> 00:27:20.619 describes Noah 00:27:20.619 --> 00:27:21.699 as a herald, 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:22.839 some translations, 00:27:22.980 --> 00:27:24.099 a preacher of righteousness. 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:26.779 He made known to others 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:28.079 how they could be rightly 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:29.000 related to God 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.740 by faith. 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:31.599 He was a preacher 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.339 of good news, 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.139 warning others 00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:34.699 of the judgment to come, 00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:35.519 bearing witness 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.379 to the salvation 00:27:36.379 --> 00:27:37.480 that God had provided. 00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:40.159 His words and deeds 00:27:40.159 --> 00:27:41.059 urged others 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.799 to prepare 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.799 for a new world. 00:27:44.539 --> 00:27:45.759 And in many ways, 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.419 that is our calling 00:27:47.419 --> 00:27:48.359 as Christians too. 00:27:48.879 --> 00:27:50.119 Our lives should prompt 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.439 questions from others. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:53.400 Why are you living like that? 00:27:54.620 --> 00:27:55.940 Why do you do that? 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:58.940 I wonder if our lives 00:27:58.940 --> 00:28:01.900 are preaching. 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:05.200 We're to be heralds 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.000 of righteousness 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:07.960 in a world 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.860 that hasn't seen 00:28:08.860 --> 00:28:09.400 or heard 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.980 God's weather forecast. 00:28:11.820 --> 00:28:12.660 We're to live 00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.420 on the basis 00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.519 of God's revelation 00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.220 in Scripture. 00:28:15.640 --> 00:28:16.220 We're to live 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.340 pointing to others 00:28:17.340 --> 00:28:18.000 to Jesus, 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:18.700 the Savior. 00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:20.980 I wonder, 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.940 are you doing that? 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.480 Or will people 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.059 be left 00:28:25.059 --> 00:28:25.960 with an excuse? 00:28:27.059 --> 00:28:28.220 I didn't know. 00:28:29.160 --> 00:28:30.380 I've never heard that. 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:32.380 No one told me. 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.539 Friends, 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.539 God has called you 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:37.100 to speak of Jesus Christ 00:28:37.100 --> 00:28:38.720 even amid a world 00:28:38.720 --> 00:28:39.360 that demands 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:39.700 our silence. 00:28:41.319 --> 00:28:42.160 Because the door 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:42.680 of the ark 00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.480 is open still. 00:28:44.279 --> 00:28:45.180 And final judgment 00:28:45.180 --> 00:28:46.460 has not yet arrived. 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:47.740 And Christ is still 00:28:47.740 --> 00:28:48.720 welcoming sinners. 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.440 Part of our calling 00:28:51.440 --> 00:28:52.339 as individuals, 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.579 indeed as a congregation, 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.019 our lives 00:28:55.019 --> 00:28:56.380 bear testimony 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.440 to God's grace, 00:28:57.940 --> 00:28:58.740 pointing people 00:28:58.740 --> 00:28:59.339 to Jesus. 00:29:00.500 --> 00:29:01.180 The missiologist 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:02.000 Leslie Newbig 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.339 wrote, 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:04.480 how is it possible 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:05.960 that people 00:29:05.960 --> 00:29:06.559 should come 00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.279 to believe 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:08.200 that the power 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:10.000 which has the last 00:29:10.000 --> 00:29:11.500 word in human affairs 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:13.339 is represented 00:29:13.339 --> 00:29:14.220 by a man 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:16.019 hanging on a cross? 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:18.379 The only answer, 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.720 the only hermeneutic 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.400 of the gospel 00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:23.339 is a congregation 00:29:23.339 --> 00:29:24.339 of men and women 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:26.119 who believe it 00:29:26.119 --> 00:29:27.639 and live 00:29:27.639 --> 00:29:28.639 by it. 00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:30.440 Noah, 00:29:30.639 --> 00:29:31.220 in faith, 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:32.500 received revelation 00:29:32.500 --> 00:29:33.379 from God. 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:33.759 Noah, 00:29:33.879 --> 00:29:34.379 in faith, 00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:35.279 and holy fear 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.779 constructed an ark 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:37.460 of salvation. 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:38.339 Noah, 00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:39.000 in faith, 00:29:39.079 --> 00:29:39.940 bore testimony 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.980 to the world 00:29:40.980 --> 00:29:41.599 around. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.359 And finally here, 00:29:43.359 --> 00:29:44.359 Noah, 00:29:44.439 --> 00:29:45.099 in faith, 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.339 became an heir 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:47.459 of righteousness 00:29:47.459 --> 00:29:48.719 and became 00:29:48.719 --> 00:29:49.579 an heir 00:29:49.579 --> 00:29:51.059 of the righteousness 00:29:51.059 --> 00:29:52.399 that comes 00:29:52.399 --> 00:29:53.439 by faith. 00:29:54.859 --> 00:29:55.339 Genesis, 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:56.719 chapter 6, 00:29:56.799 --> 00:29:57.219 verse 9, 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:58.079 tells us this. 00:29:58.819 --> 00:30:00.439 Noah was a righteous man, 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:01.619 blameless among 00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:02.799 the people of his time, 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:04.000 and he walked 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:04.959 with God. 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:07.819 And it would be easy 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.460 to conclude 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:10.500 that as God 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.559 looked upon the world, 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.900 saw that everyone 00:30:12.900 --> 00:30:13.980 was corrupt and evil, 00:30:14.200 --> 00:30:14.680 they were all a bunch 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.319 of wasters, 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:16.980 except this guy Noah. 00:30:17.420 --> 00:30:18.360 Noah was a good guy. 00:30:19.100 --> 00:30:19.960 He was the best 00:30:19.960 --> 00:30:20.740 of a bad bunch 00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:21.900 and so God chose him 00:30:21.900 --> 00:30:22.700 and favoured him. 00:30:23.860 --> 00:30:24.480 And indeed, 00:30:24.579 --> 00:30:25.799 that's how many people 00:30:25.799 --> 00:30:26.640 read that text. 00:30:27.299 --> 00:30:28.720 But it is to seriously 00:30:28.720 --> 00:30:29.539 misread it 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.740 and seriously 00:30:30.740 --> 00:30:31.860 misunderstand it. 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:34.439 because in this reading 00:30:34.439 --> 00:30:35.099 of the text, 00:30:35.240 --> 00:30:36.059 Noah's deliverance 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:37.539 becomes a kind of reward 00:30:37.539 --> 00:30:39.039 for a righteous 00:30:39.039 --> 00:30:39.779 and good life. 00:30:40.939 --> 00:30:41.679 And by this way 00:30:41.679 --> 00:30:42.199 of thinking, 00:30:42.679 --> 00:30:44.339 salvation is by good works, 00:30:44.659 --> 00:30:45.279 something that we 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.339 contribute towards. 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:49.299 But the key verse here 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:52.039 is verse 8 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:52.919 of chapter 6. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:55.139 Noah found favour 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:56.699 in the eyes 00:30:56.699 --> 00:30:57.919 of the Lord. 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.359 And to find favour 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.039 or grace 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:01.679 is a formal expression. 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:03.359 It's used many times 00:31:03.359 --> 00:31:04.199 in the Old Testament, 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:05.679 I think around 40 times. 00:31:06.740 --> 00:31:07.839 And it refers either 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.740 to the request 00:31:08.740 --> 00:31:09.599 of an inferior 00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.539 to a superior 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:11.879 or when someone 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:12.500 in authority 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.459 helps someone 00:31:13.459 --> 00:31:14.399 without status 00:31:14.399 --> 00:31:15.039 or position. 00:31:15.639 --> 00:31:16.779 It relates then 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.919 to someone being shown 00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.859 favour, 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:19.619 grace. 00:31:21.339 --> 00:31:22.439 Lord showed 00:31:22.439 --> 00:31:23.359 grace 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:24.179 and favour 00:31:24.179 --> 00:31:24.919 to Noah. 00:31:26.079 --> 00:31:26.799 And the clear 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.779 pattern here 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.019 is that righteousness 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.259 and good works 00:31:30.259 --> 00:31:32.059 follow grace. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.559 They don't precede it. 00:31:34.119 --> 00:31:34.940 The Old Testament 00:31:34.940 --> 00:31:35.900 and New Testament 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:37.079 are not different 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.980 on this point. 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:39.200 They both sing 00:31:39.200 --> 00:31:40.639 from the same hymn sheet. 00:31:41.619 --> 00:31:42.259 It's simply 00:31:42.259 --> 00:31:43.139 not the case. 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.619 Some people, 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.319 you know, 00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:44.980 want to think 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:45.759 in the Old Testament 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.579 people were saved 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.619 by their good works. 00:31:47.900 --> 00:31:49.240 In the New Testament 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:50.019 people are saved 00:31:50.019 --> 00:31:50.639 by faith. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:52.000 Many people 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:52.720 think like that. 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.759 Somehow our good works, 00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.639 righteous lives 00:31:55.640 --> 00:31:56.400 will commend us 00:31:56.400 --> 00:31:56.880 to God. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.660 You'll notice 00:31:59.660 --> 00:32:00.340 in these verses 00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:01.300 there's a little phrase 00:32:01.300 --> 00:32:01.940 actually in the 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:03.360 Genesis account 00:32:03.360 --> 00:32:05.720 that comes between 00:32:05.720 --> 00:32:06.920 Noah finding 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:08.020 grace and favour, 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.140 Genesis 6-8, 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.280 and the statement 00:32:10.280 --> 00:32:11.180 that he was a righteous 00:32:11.180 --> 00:32:11.960 man who walked 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.460 with God, 00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:13.740 Genesis 6-9. 00:32:13.940 --> 00:32:14.980 And that phrase is 00:32:14.980 --> 00:32:16.320 this is the account 00:32:16.320 --> 00:32:16.860 of Noah. 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:18.700 That is again 00:32:18.700 --> 00:32:19.660 another formula 00:32:19.660 --> 00:32:21.400 used right throughout 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.259 the book of Genesis. 00:32:22.759 --> 00:32:23.440 I think it's 11 00:32:23.440 --> 00:32:24.440 or 12 times. 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.600 It's a major 00:32:25.600 --> 00:32:26.440 internal division 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:26.980 of the book. 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:29.100 Maybe a bit like 00:32:29.100 --> 00:32:29.860 a chapter heading. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:31.460 I think in the AV 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.340 it's translated 00:32:32.340 --> 00:32:34.000 this is the generation 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.519 of. 00:32:35.100 --> 00:32:36.400 That word conveys 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.220 the sense of being 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.920 generated, 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:39.440 reflects the reality 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.360 that this has come 00:32:40.360 --> 00:32:41.059 out of that, 00:32:41.700 --> 00:32:42.820 refers to an ensuing 00:32:42.820 --> 00:32:44.799 event or events. 00:32:45.620 --> 00:32:46.340 And so when we read 00:32:46.340 --> 00:32:46.960 this phrase 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:47.960 between the statement 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:49.220 that Noah found grace 00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.360 and the statement 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:51.259 that he was a righteous 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.120 man who walked 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.700 with God, 00:32:52.700 --> 00:32:53.980 what is being highlighted 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:54.559 for us, 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.500 is that Noah's 00:32:55.500 --> 00:32:56.180 righteousness 00:32:56.180 --> 00:32:57.900 was not the reason 00:32:57.900 --> 00:32:59.319 for him finding grace 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:00.380 but a result 00:33:00.380 --> 00:33:01.779 of him finding grace. 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:03.160 He was chosen 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:04.220 by grace alone. 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.059 What happened 00:33:05.059 --> 00:33:05.559 to him 00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.620 was because of 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:07.440 God's grace 00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:08.400 and unmerited 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:10.000 favor towards him. 00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:10.680 That is the 00:33:10.680 --> 00:33:11.539 biblical pattern. 00:33:11.960 --> 00:33:13.160 What the Lord does 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.160 precedes what 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:15.000 the Lord demands. 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:17.440 God does something 00:33:17.440 --> 00:33:18.200 for us 00:33:18.200 --> 00:33:19.099 before he asks 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.500 something of us. 00:33:21.539 --> 00:33:22.500 Really important 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.559 to understand that. 00:33:24.720 --> 00:33:25.400 I often, 00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:25.779 you know, 00:33:25.819 --> 00:33:26.400 hear people 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:26.980 or meet people 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:27.339 who think 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:28.339 and they say this, 00:33:28.400 --> 00:33:29.259 I'm not good enough 00:33:29.259 --> 00:33:29.960 to be a Christian. 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.819 I'm not moral enough. 00:33:31.900 --> 00:33:32.880 I'm not righteous enough. 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.019 I'm not religious enough. 00:33:34.140 --> 00:33:34.779 And, you know, 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.700 in one sense, 00:33:35.799 --> 00:33:36.380 they're right. 00:33:37.859 --> 00:33:38.700 But the mistake 00:33:38.700 --> 00:33:39.259 is to think 00:33:39.259 --> 00:33:39.980 that we can ever 00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:40.680 be good enough. 00:33:41.500 --> 00:33:42.059 We can ever 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:43.140 be righteous enough. 00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:43.880 We can ever 00:33:43.880 --> 00:33:44.940 be moral enough. 00:33:46.539 --> 00:33:47.680 There's only one way 00:33:47.680 --> 00:33:48.819 into the Christian life 00:33:48.819 --> 00:33:50.960 and that is by grace 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:52.339 and through faith. 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:54.220 Through what God 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.279 does for us, 00:33:56.099 --> 00:33:57.399 not what we do 00:33:57.399 --> 00:33:58.779 or think we do 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.419 for him. 00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.539 That righteous 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:02.759 and blameless life 00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:03.519 of Noah's 00:34:03.519 --> 00:34:05.019 flowed out of 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.000 God's grace 00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:06.819 towards him. 00:34:07.399 --> 00:34:08.099 That life of 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:09.139 fellowship with God, 00:34:09.259 --> 00:34:10.159 walking with God, 00:34:10.239 --> 00:34:11.400 was the result of 00:34:11.400 --> 00:34:12.599 God breaking 00:34:12.599 --> 00:34:13.840 into Noah's life. 00:34:14.940 --> 00:34:15.739 That really is 00:34:15.739 --> 00:34:16.279 at the heart 00:34:16.279 --> 00:34:17.460 of the gospel message. 00:34:17.460 --> 00:34:19.440 Noah was not 00:34:19.440 --> 00:34:20.300 righteous because 00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:21.260 he built an ark. 00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:23.240 He built an ark 00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:24.500 because he was 00:34:24.500 --> 00:34:25.340 counted righteous 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:26.679 by faith. 00:34:27.679 --> 00:34:28.420 Like Abraham 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.059 and indeed like 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.679 all the saints 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:30.519 in this chapter, 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:32.280 Noah's righteousness 00:34:32.280 --> 00:34:33.400 was not his own. 00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.760 It was a gift 00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:35.340 of God 00:34:35.340 --> 00:34:37.699 received through faith. 00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:39.380 And friends, 00:34:39.440 --> 00:34:40.380 that is the righteousness 00:34:40.380 --> 00:34:41.579 that Jesus Christ 00:34:41.579 --> 00:34:42.480 secured for us 00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:43.139 at the cross 00:34:43.139 --> 00:34:43.800 of Calvary 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:45.240 where he took 00:34:45.240 --> 00:34:45.840 our sin 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:47.800 and gave us 00:34:47.800 --> 00:34:48.860 his perfect obedience. 00:34:50.800 --> 00:34:51.920 Noah looked forward 00:34:51.920 --> 00:34:52.800 to the Savior. 00:34:54.140 --> 00:34:55.480 We look back. 00:34:56.740 --> 00:34:57.500 But the principle 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.100 is the same. 00:34:58.980 --> 00:34:59.860 We are justified 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:00.700 and made right 00:35:00.700 --> 00:35:01.220 with God, 00:35:02.100 --> 00:35:03.440 not by our works, 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.460 but by trusting 00:35:05.460 --> 00:35:06.940 in his promise. 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:10.000 many of you 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:11.440 will know 00:35:11.440 --> 00:35:12.099 of the film 00:35:12.099 --> 00:35:13.380 Schindler's List, 00:35:14.720 --> 00:35:15.760 the Spielberg film, 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:17.679 Oscar-winning film, 00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:19.079 harrowing story 00:35:19.079 --> 00:35:20.619 of how 00:35:20.619 --> 00:35:22.159 some Jews 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:22.720 were saved 00:35:22.720 --> 00:35:23.340 from the Holocaust 00:35:23.340 --> 00:35:24.519 by the actions 00:35:24.519 --> 00:35:25.179 of one 00:35:25.179 --> 00:35:26.659 Oscar Schindler. 00:35:27.900 --> 00:35:28.320 But of course, 00:35:28.380 --> 00:35:29.240 Schindler's List 00:35:29.240 --> 00:35:31.000 wasn't the original, 00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:32.440 wasn't the title 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.840 of Thomas Keneally's book. 00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:35.940 They changed it 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.559 for the film. 00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:38.440 Originally, 00:35:38.940 --> 00:35:39.620 Keneally's book 00:35:39.620 --> 00:35:40.539 was called 00:35:40.539 --> 00:35:43.019 Schindler's Ark 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:45.620 because the Ark 00:35:45.620 --> 00:35:46.300 is a biblical 00:35:46.300 --> 00:35:47.900 symbol of salvation, 00:35:49.900 --> 00:35:50.680 deliverance, 00:35:51.140 --> 00:35:51.579 rescue. 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.460 And just as 00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:54.140 Noah's Ark 00:35:54.140 --> 00:35:54.800 was the place 00:35:54.800 --> 00:35:55.440 of safety 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:56.300 and refuge 00:35:56.300 --> 00:35:56.920 from the flood 00:35:56.920 --> 00:35:58.019 of God's judgment, 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.740 just as Oscar Schindler 00:36:00.740 --> 00:36:01.260 in a sense 00:36:01.260 --> 00:36:01.840 was an ark 00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:02.300 for those 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.140 he saved 00:36:03.140 --> 00:36:04.059 from the gas chambers. 00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.500 So Jesus Christ 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.400 is God's Ark 00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.480 for a fallen, 00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:10.840 sinful humanity. 00:36:11.200 --> 00:36:11.840 He's the Ark 00:36:11.840 --> 00:36:12.660 of our salvation. 00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:15.079 He's big enough 00:36:15.079 --> 00:36:15.920 for the world, 00:36:16.720 --> 00:36:17.519 strong enough 00:36:17.519 --> 00:36:19.160 to withstand 00:36:19.160 --> 00:36:19.840 the winds 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:20.579 of adversity 00:36:20.579 --> 00:36:21.440 and the rising 00:36:21.440 --> 00:36:22.380 waters of death 00:36:22.380 --> 00:36:22.860 and judgment. 00:36:24.380 --> 00:36:25.200 There is safety 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:26.720 in the Son of God. 00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:28.660 He's the shelter. 00:36:29.559 --> 00:36:30.340 He's the Savior. 00:36:30.940 --> 00:36:31.760 We all need. 00:36:32.840 --> 00:36:34.160 He is our Ark 00:36:34.160 --> 00:36:35.440 and safe passage 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:37.240 into the new world 00:36:37.240 --> 00:36:38.320 that God has planned. 00:36:40.100 --> 00:36:41.340 For from that Ark 00:36:41.340 --> 00:36:42.559 his people will emerge 00:36:42.559 --> 00:36:43.240 to inherit 00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.240 a new heavens 00:36:44.240 --> 00:36:44.800 and earth 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:46.860 because the end 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:47.600 of God's plan 00:36:47.600 --> 00:36:48.260 and purpose 00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:49.260 is not destruction 00:36:49.260 --> 00:36:51.180 but renewal. 00:36:52.920 --> 00:36:53.960 Our only hope 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.559 is in the grace 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:55.079 of God 00:36:55.079 --> 00:36:56.900 and in the Ark 00:36:56.900 --> 00:36:57.660 of deliverance 00:36:57.660 --> 00:36:58.579 that he has provided 00:36:58.579 --> 00:36:59.260 for us. 00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:00.720 Our only hope 00:37:00.719 --> 00:37:01.399 is in Jesus 00:37:01.399 --> 00:37:02.000 who alone 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:02.859 saves us 00:37:02.859 --> 00:37:04.139 from the coming wrath. 00:37:05.739 --> 00:37:06.500 For on the cross 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.899 Jesus experienced 00:37:07.899 --> 00:37:08.980 the flood 00:37:08.980 --> 00:37:09.779 of God's wrath 00:37:09.779 --> 00:37:10.379 and anger 00:37:10.379 --> 00:37:11.119 against sin. 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:12.839 The fury 00:37:12.839 --> 00:37:13.719 of God's wrath 00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.399 was unleashed 00:37:14.399 --> 00:37:15.079 upon him. 00:37:16.079 --> 00:37:17.079 He was submerged 00:37:17.079 --> 00:37:17.959 in all our sin 00:37:17.959 --> 00:37:18.519 and guilt, 00:37:19.699 --> 00:37:20.259 engulfed 00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:21.319 in the cascading 00:37:21.319 --> 00:37:21.839 waters 00:37:21.839 --> 00:37:23.599 of God's wrath. 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.599 God's wrath 00:37:24.599 --> 00:37:26.339 and the cross 00:37:26.339 --> 00:37:27.179 is where we see 00:37:27.179 --> 00:37:28.039 that his death 00:37:28.039 --> 00:37:29.599 was for us, 00:37:29.699 --> 00:37:30.900 for sinners like us. 00:37:31.880 --> 00:37:32.679 It's where we see 00:37:32.679 --> 00:37:33.440 that his love 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:34.440 is towards us, 00:37:34.619 --> 00:37:35.279 his mercy 00:37:35.279 --> 00:37:36.539 is towards us. 00:37:37.679 --> 00:37:38.699 It's at the cross 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.440 that we're delivered 00:37:39.440 --> 00:37:40.239 and saved 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:40.940 and rescued 00:37:40.940 --> 00:37:42.380 from all 00:37:42.380 --> 00:37:43.519 that we rightly deserve 00:37:43.519 --> 00:37:44.639 which is God's judgment. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:48.099 that's what this table 00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:49.980 spread with bread 00:37:49.980 --> 00:37:50.500 and wine 00:37:50.500 --> 00:37:51.839 proclaims to us. 00:37:53.179 --> 00:37:53.920 It proclaims 00:37:53.920 --> 00:37:54.739 Jesus Christ 00:37:54.739 --> 00:37:55.400 as our place 00:37:55.400 --> 00:37:55.980 of safety 00:37:55.980 --> 00:37:57.699 and our ark 00:37:57.699 --> 00:37:58.599 of deliverance. 00:38:00.099 --> 00:38:00.900 It's only 00:38:00.900 --> 00:38:01.460 in him 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:03.900 that any of us 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:04.579 can become 00:38:04.579 --> 00:38:06.079 an heir 00:38:06.079 --> 00:38:07.559 of the righteousness 00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:09.119 that is 00:38:09.119 --> 00:38:10.199 by faith. 00:38:10.659 --> 00:38:11.599 Let's pray together. 00:38:11.599 --> 00:38:11.679 Amen. 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:11.679 00:38:14.639 --> 00:38:20.859 Lord, we thank you 00:38:20.859 --> 00:38:22.719 for your provision 00:38:22.719 --> 00:38:25.000 of a great saviour 00:38:25.000 --> 00:38:26.079 in Jesus Christ. 00:38:26.699 --> 00:38:28.019 We recognise 00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:28.920 that we 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:30.139 by nature 00:38:30.139 --> 00:38:31.379 stand under 00:38:31.379 --> 00:38:32.359 your just judgement 00:38:32.359 --> 00:38:35.259 and yet by grace 00:38:35.259 --> 00:38:38.819 by your mercy 00:38:38.819 --> 00:38:40.420 you call us 00:38:40.420 --> 00:38:41.039 to yourself 00:38:41.039 --> 00:38:42.859 to trust 00:38:42.860 --> 00:38:45.579 in Jesus Christ 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:47.740 and to know 00:38:47.740 --> 00:38:48.440 forgiveness 00:38:48.440 --> 00:38:50.400 and to know 00:38:50.400 --> 00:38:50.980 righteousness 00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:52.960 and to know 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:54.079 a new life 00:38:54.079 --> 00:38:55.760 and indeed 00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:57.140 an eternal life. 00:38:58.200 --> 00:38:58.940 Lord, help us 00:38:58.940 --> 00:38:59.460 tonight 00:38:59.460 --> 00:39:00.440 whoever we are 00:39:00.440 --> 00:39:01.880 whatever our situation 00:39:01.880 --> 00:39:02.700 and circumstance 00:39:02.700 --> 00:39:05.059 to rest our faith 00:39:05.059 --> 00:39:06.019 not in ourselves 00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:07.120 or our good works 00:39:07.120 --> 00:39:08.360 or whatever it might be 00:39:08.360 --> 00:39:10.579 but in Jesus Christ 00:39:10.579 --> 00:39:12.099 and him crucified. 00:39:12.860 --> 00:39:14.579 We pray these things 00:39:14.579 --> 00:39:15.160 in his name. 00:39:15.800 --> 00:39:16.180 Amen.