WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.900 Well, our normal pattern of ministering God's Word is to preach through portions of the Bible that He has given us. 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:15.740 This semester, we're doing something fun. We're doing a series called Covenant Theology, and it's a bit more topical. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:20.280 We're seeing different parts of Scripture, how God has revealed Himself by way of covenant. 00:00:20.859 --> 00:00:27.980 So covenant is a word and a concept that God Himself chose as a way of revealing who He is to His people. 00:00:27.980 --> 00:00:34.780 We've seen that the creation, the covenant that God made, called the Covenant of Works with Adam, the federal head. 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:42.760 We've seen that before God created the heavens and the earth and even time, the Lord covenanted to save a people, the covenant of redemption. 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:51.400 We saw last week the covenant that God made through Noah to preserve Him and to show grace, which is pointing to Christ. 00:00:51.539 --> 00:00:53.060 It's pointing to the covenant of grace. 00:00:53.060 --> 00:00:59.480 So today's focus is the Noahic Covenant, the covenant with Noah and all of creation, part two. 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:03.640 In our Bible, we'll start reading with Genesis chapter 8. 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:12.340 We'll start at verse 1, and I'm going to be calling out the section, so I'll try to make it clear so that we can read it and follow along together. 00:01:12.340 --> 00:01:22.159 As I read and you see your copy of God's Word, remember, we believe this is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear and sufficient Word. 00:01:22.460 --> 00:01:24.920 It's the Word of God Himself for His people. 00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:26.960 So at the end, I'll say this is the Word of God. 00:01:27.340 --> 00:01:30.020 And if you receive it that way, you can respond, thanks be to God. 00:01:31.640 --> 00:01:34.260 Genesis 8, beginning at verse 1. 00:01:34.260 --> 00:02:01.880 Genesis 8, verse 15. 00:02:01.879 --> 00:02:04.799 Then God said to Noah, 00:02:05.420 --> 00:02:24.300 Verse 20. 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:34.300 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:39.160 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, 00:02:39.640 --> 00:02:47.340 I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. 00:02:48.200 --> 00:02:52.420 Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. 00:02:52.419 --> 00:03:00.819 While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease. 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:03.619 Chapter 9, verse 1. 00:03:05.019 --> 00:03:08.579 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, 00:03:08.959 --> 00:03:12.079 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:03:13.239 --> 00:03:14.599 Chapter 9, verse 6. 00:03:14.599 --> 00:03:20.359 Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed. 00:03:20.680 --> 00:03:22.579 For God made man in his own image. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:27.359 And you be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply in it. 00:03:27.919 --> 00:03:30.340 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 00:03:30.819 --> 00:03:37.900 Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring and with every living creature that is with you, 00:03:37.959 --> 00:03:41.439 the birds, the livestock and every beast of the earth that is with you. 00:03:41.439 --> 00:03:46.079 As many as came out of the ark, it is for every beast of the earth. 00:03:46.300 --> 00:03:52.159 I establish my covenant with you that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood 00:03:52.159 --> 00:03:55.539 and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. 00:03:56.060 --> 00:03:56.900 And God said, 00:03:57.099 --> 00:04:05.079 This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for all future generations. 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:12.140 I have set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 00:04:12.820 --> 00:04:16.840 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 00:04:17.080 --> 00:04:24.120 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. 00:04:24.500 --> 00:04:29.300 And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 00:04:29.300 --> 00:04:40.860 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.840 God said to Noah, 00:04:43.319 --> 00:04:49.740 This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all the flesh of the earth. 00:04:50.460 --> 00:04:52.000 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:53.500 --> 00:04:54.500 Thanks be to God. 00:04:54.600 --> 00:04:55.420 Indeed, you may be seated. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:05:15.759 Let's pray. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:15.840 Amen. 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:25.220 Father, we need help to walk in this world. 00:05:25.420 --> 00:05:30.699 Our minds so quickly turn to despair. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:39.020 We know the wrath that we deserve for our sin, but we're reminded, Lord, of your covenant faithfulness. 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:45.500 And we pray, Father, that from this passage today, you'll make it more clear to your people 00:05:45.500 --> 00:05:51.660 how it is that you want us to walk on this earth and what it means to be part of the kingdom of heaven 00:05:51.660 --> 00:05:54.660 and in this world, though we are not of the world. 00:05:55.420 --> 00:06:02.140 Help us to understand, Lord, the context of our redemption and the context of the church today, Lord. 00:06:02.139 --> 00:06:09.819 We pray that you'll unite us as a body in the mission that you've given the church through Jesus Christ. 00:06:09.819 --> 00:06:14.939 We pray that your Holy Spirit will guide us, bring us closer and closer to you. 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.480 Use your word to sharpen us, Lord. 00:06:18.099 --> 00:06:24.540 Use your word to fan into a flame, especially those who are weak today, Lord. 00:06:24.540 --> 00:06:28.200 Those whose whose faith is feels to be flickering. 00:06:29.200 --> 00:06:32.620 We know you will not quench the smoking flax. 00:06:33.020 --> 00:06:34.140 You will stoke it, Lord. 00:06:34.200 --> 00:06:35.140 You will preserve it. 00:06:35.620 --> 00:06:40.020 We pray that you'll do that today by the ministry of your word and the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:06:40.180 --> 00:06:41.340 For your glory we ask. 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:42.060 Amen. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:42.180 Amen. 00:06:44.439 --> 00:06:51.019 In studying this passage and trying to understand in my own mind, what is the mission of the church? 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:54.420 What does it mean to be in this world and not of the world? 00:06:55.220 --> 00:07:02.079 And what is it that God has set in place since the time of the waters receding after the flood? 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:05.120 And then the kingdom that Christ inaugurated. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:08.899 There were several stories that came through my mind. 00:07:10.280 --> 00:07:16.100 The one I decided to share with you today begins with a man named Jan or John. 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:18.639 And he lived in the Netherlands in a city called Leiden. 00:07:19.939 --> 00:07:21.720 His work in Leiden was a tailor. 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:22.600 He made clothes. 00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:29.259 And he began hearing these teachings of a more radical group. 00:07:29.259 --> 00:07:35.959 And their feeling, their very strong feeling is that they could set up a new Jerusalem. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:38.899 A city in Germany that they would call Zion. 00:07:39.699 --> 00:07:44.079 And it would become a theocracy that would usher in the kingdom of heaven. 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:52.240 So this group of zealous, fervent people moved to the German city of Münster. 00:07:53.899 --> 00:07:57.759 This was in the 1500s. 00:07:57.759 --> 00:08:03.219 At the time while Martin Luther was still alive in the Reformation in another part of Germany. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:10.159 Once this group came into power, the remaining sin in their flesh became very clear. 00:08:10.699 --> 00:08:14.159 Their lack of understanding of the Bible also became very clear. 00:08:15.300 --> 00:08:22.599 Jan, who then was nicknamed John of Leiden, he became like the king of this little new Jerusalem in the city of Münster. 00:08:22.980 --> 00:08:25.099 He took 16 wives for himself. 00:08:25.100 --> 00:08:29.500 The government ended up coming in and teaching a lesson. 00:08:30.700 --> 00:08:32.080 They beheaded these leaders. 00:08:32.580 --> 00:08:36.340 They put their bodies in cages that can still be found in a church. 00:08:36.500 --> 00:08:40.960 Not the bodies, but the cages are found in this church in Münster today, I'm told. 00:08:41.060 --> 00:08:41.779 I've never been there. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:48.559 That is an example of what Martin Luther called theologians of glory. 00:08:49.639 --> 00:08:54.860 People who read the Bible and they want to hold on to all the parts that bring themselves glory. 00:08:56.399 --> 00:09:00.019 They want to essentially put themselves in the place of Christ. 00:09:00.019 --> 00:09:04.899 Martin Luther saw the very clear contrast with the New Testament. 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:08.679 What he called theologians of the cross. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:09.879 That's what we want to be. 00:09:12.519 --> 00:09:14.759 Theologians of glory, they prefer works. 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:19.220 Theologians of the cross see the path following Christ includes suffering. 00:09:19.220 --> 00:09:22.480 Theologians of glory want glow. 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:27.960 But theologians of the cross take up their cross daily and follow Christ. 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:31.220 Theologians of glory want strength. 00:09:32.580 --> 00:09:37.040 Theologians of the cross embrace the weakness of our vessels. 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:41.420 The weakness of our position depending on Christ daily. 00:09:41.419 --> 00:09:47.399 There is a very dangerous message in our country and around the world right now. 00:09:48.439 --> 00:09:52.839 I'm not even going to give the label, but you can probably guess or find it quickly on Google. 00:09:54.479 --> 00:09:59.379 And there's a group that claims if only our group or our movement could take over. 00:10:00.479 --> 00:10:03.139 You can take your pick how you want to fill in the next blink. 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:04.439 Take over the school board. 00:10:04.579 --> 00:10:05.699 Take over the state government. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:08.379 Take over politics on a national level. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:16.820 One person said, quote, we would solve school shootings and we would, quote, solve immorality in America. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:21.939 So what is our view? 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:29.419 What is our view as the church in light of this covenant that God makes through Noah and all creation after the flood? 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:31.939 I don't know what your view is. 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:35.360 I'll do my best to lay out for you what I see in these passages. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.360 Jesus Christ said that this earth will perish. 00:10:41.060 --> 00:10:42.279 This earth will perish. 00:10:42.860 --> 00:10:46.039 But if you see in our sermon text today, Genesis 8, verse 22. 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:50.259 We're told that this earth also remains. 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:54.940 So the sermon title today is how this earth remains. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:56.700 How in both senses. 00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:58.100 How can it remain? 00:10:58.200 --> 00:10:59.620 How can we not self-destroy? 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:03.440 And then the other in the other sense, the earth does remain. 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:03.780 How? 00:11:05.160 --> 00:11:05.940 What are the conditions? 00:11:06.060 --> 00:11:07.260 What has God set in place? 00:11:09.540 --> 00:11:15.820 Last week, as I mentioned, we saw that God covenants to save his seed from the coming judgment. 00:11:16.320 --> 00:11:19.560 And this foreshadows the first coming of Jesus Christ. 00:11:21.760 --> 00:11:27.380 We see in response to God preserving Noah and this seed that would crush the serpent's head one day. 00:11:27.379 --> 00:11:30.059 We see in Genesis chapter 8, verse 1. 00:11:30.639 --> 00:11:35.519 That God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. 00:11:35.939 --> 00:11:40.080 And God made a wind blow over the earth and the waters subsided. 00:11:40.740 --> 00:11:43.460 The rain from the heavens was restrained. 00:11:44.840 --> 00:11:46.600 God was true to his promise. 00:11:46.980 --> 00:11:48.679 He's revealing the covenant of grace. 00:11:48.779 --> 00:11:54.080 He will preserve the seed until Jesus Christ comes to fulfill all of scripture. 00:11:54.080 --> 00:11:57.060 We see in chapter 8, verse 20. 00:11:57.300 --> 00:12:08.420 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 00:12:10.139 --> 00:12:14.879 It's curious because this comes from Moses, through whom God did give the ceremonial law. 00:12:15.220 --> 00:12:18.620 So he's using a description that the people of Israel would have understood. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:25.419 But Noah was offering a sacrifice to God that was pleasing to God, even a reference to clean animals. 00:12:26.460 --> 00:12:32.220 So we have to imagine and try to understand how was it that Noah learned to do that? 00:12:33.120 --> 00:12:35.179 God showed incredible grace to Noah. 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:42.460 And his first response when the water subsides is to build an altar and offer up a sacrifice. 00:12:42.460 --> 00:12:51.300 If you look in your Bible at Genesis chapter 5, the genealogy, you won't have time to do this now during the sermon, but you can see others who have charted it. 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:56.000 You can simply make a bar graph for each of the ages of the people who lived. 00:12:56.900 --> 00:13:00.680 And it struck me one observation trying to answer this question. 00:13:00.800 --> 00:13:04.340 Where did Noah learn how to offer up a sacrifice on an altar? 00:13:05.940 --> 00:13:08.460 We're told that Noah's father, his name was Lamech. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:11.920 You see that in Genesis 5, verse 30. 00:13:13.440 --> 00:13:21.759 And if you look at the bar graphs of each of their lives, Lamech, Noah's father, would have most likely been alive when even Adam was still alive. 00:13:22.420 --> 00:13:24.620 And certainly when Seth was alive. 00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:28.280 So where did Lamech learn to offer a sacrifice? 00:13:29.220 --> 00:13:31.340 Well, most likely from Seth. 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:34.639 And then there's old man Adam sitting there. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:44.360 Yes, and he gets to hear from that account the great story that we just reviewed of how God made a covenant of grace and clothed them, shedding the blood. 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:51.899 Now, the interesting thing to me is that there was no overlap that I could tell between Noah and either Seth or Adam. 00:13:51.899 --> 00:14:02.019 Noah's faith and what Noah learned and how Noah responded seemed to be dependent on Lamech, his dad, as handing it over and teaching his own son. 00:14:04.980 --> 00:14:11.759 Now, in part two, the focus is less on the covenant of grace being foreshadowed and pointing to the work of Christ. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:14.240 Part two of the Noah covenant is this. 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:24.200 We see here that God covenants to preserve the natural order as a backdrop for redemptive history to unfold. 00:14:25.419 --> 00:14:29.679 Yeah, God, God let Noah learn from his dad what pleases God. 00:14:30.580 --> 00:14:32.700 And Noah passed that on to his three sons. 00:14:32.840 --> 00:14:38.080 The one who seems to have believed and received that faith and through whom the promise would continue with Shem. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:40.860 And Abraham comes from the line of Shem. 00:14:40.860 --> 00:14:45.600 And so we see this continuity throughout all of Scripture. 00:14:45.860 --> 00:14:49.500 It's God unveiling and showing exactly how he will work. 00:14:50.759 --> 00:14:58.060 But the real question for the Noah covenant today, part two, is how does God stabilize the stage, as someone put it, 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:02.800 so that the playwright, God himself, can become the main actor and the hero? 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:08.639 So really, the focus is less on redemptive history and the covenant of grace being unveiled for Christ. 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:09.700 It's more on the stage. 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:15.620 How is it stabilized or the backdrop from which the grace of God and the person of Christ will shine? 00:15:16.700 --> 00:15:19.340 So here's a few observations as we walk through this. 00:15:19.900 --> 00:15:22.960 Genesis 8, chapter 20 or chapter 8, verse 21. 00:15:22.960 --> 00:15:26.960 So Noah offered that sacrifice. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:29.160 But now it's from God's perspective. 00:15:29.160 --> 00:15:36.940 In verse 21, when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said, pay attention, in his heart, 00:15:37.320 --> 00:15:45.139 I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:50.919 I believe God is revealing himself to us who have his word now. 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:56.259 I'm sure this isn't all of them, but here's four revelations from this passage. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:00.220 Number one, man is ill-meriting. 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:03.199 Remember, Noah deserves death and judgment just like everyone else. 00:16:03.679 --> 00:16:05.340 But the Lord is merciful. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:11.500 Man's heart is evil, but God shall preserve life despite man's depravity. 00:16:12.340 --> 00:16:14.379 Mercy is withholding due punishment. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.660 And God says he will not destroy again. 00:16:18.659 --> 00:16:23.459 And after the flood, man continues to be fallen. 00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:26.519 Man is no better after the flood than he was before. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:32.279 Yet God grants man life under the sun, under creation. 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:34.879 After the flood, man gets to live. 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:40.899 And God will keep his promise no matter how good or bad man's works are. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:43.779 This covenant was purposed in God's heart. 00:16:43.919 --> 00:16:46.459 It does not depend on man in any way. 00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:50.600 God will preserve this world as long as it remains. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:53.900 So our Lord is merciful. 00:16:54.620 --> 00:16:57.720 I shall never again destroy the world with a flood. 00:16:58.180 --> 00:17:01.920 I shall never again strike down every living creature as I have done. 00:17:02.660 --> 00:17:06.819 God preserves the world that you and I live in every single day. 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:11.920 When you wake up and the sun is shining, the grass is turning green another season. 00:17:12.340 --> 00:17:14.960 These are reasons to praise God and to remind ourselves, 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.880 This is my father's world. 00:17:17.660 --> 00:17:22.259 He's the creator and the sustainer of everyone and everything. 00:17:24.259 --> 00:17:30.740 It also gives us a desire for the perfect mercy of God to be fully unveiled, doesn't it? 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.759 It points forward. 00:17:32.759 --> 00:17:38.180 When will this merciful God fill the whole world with his glory? 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.380 We long for that day. 00:17:40.580 --> 00:17:42.039 So that's the first revelation. 00:17:42.320 --> 00:17:45.920 Man is ill-meriting, but the Lord is merciful. 00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:49.160 Second revelation is that man is death-deserving, 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:52.700 but God is not only merciful, he's gracious. 00:17:53.860 --> 00:17:57.160 God vows he will preserve the cycle of the seasons. 00:17:57.340 --> 00:18:00.019 He will govern earth's environment and climate 00:18:00.019 --> 00:18:03.740 to ensure animal and vegetable life continue. 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:06.680 That's how this earth remains. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:12.200 So the book of Ecclesiastes is really a commentary on this, this truth. 00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.259 Life under the sun is only good. 00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:19.599 And food of the different seasons and the meats that you can grill, 00:18:19.880 --> 00:18:21.980 those are only good because God made it so. 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:26.099 You deserve death, but God has filled this earth with things for you to enjoy 00:18:26.099 --> 00:18:27.779 in your life under the sun, 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:30.160 knowing that it's all going to perish one day 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:34.080 and your life is fleeting and it all ought to point you to God. 00:18:34.800 --> 00:18:38.240 Never to worship the creature rather than the creator. 00:18:39.060 --> 00:18:40.140 We read in verse 22, 00:18:40.320 --> 00:18:42.500 seed time and harvest, cold and heat, 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:46.240 summer and winter, day and night shall not cease 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:49.000 as long as the earth remains. 00:18:50.060 --> 00:18:51.340 What's the reason for that? 00:18:52.180 --> 00:18:54.480 You can say with confidence it's because God, 00:18:54.580 --> 00:18:58.259 the creator is in covenant with his whole earth. 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:00.700 Doesn't that give you comfort? 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:02.879 When you see the next headline, 00:19:04.140 --> 00:19:06.660 man, there's there's all kinds of headlines, aren't there? 00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.799 It's stuff you could not make up. 00:19:09.500 --> 00:19:11.039 When some of you were in school, 00:19:11.140 --> 00:19:12.859 these are things that the sci-fi was about 00:19:12.859 --> 00:19:13.559 and it's happened. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.319 It's all happening. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:17.400 How long will this earth remain and how does it remain? 00:19:17.740 --> 00:19:19.960 How have we even continued to remain this long? 00:19:20.279 --> 00:19:23.180 Only if a good God is sustaining all of it. 00:19:24.680 --> 00:19:25.839 God is generous 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:27.759 and God is patient 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:32.879 and God generously, patiently preserves all of life. 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:35.639 He withholds his judgment. 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:38.619 Doesn't it make you long for his glory 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:41.559 to fill the earth fully, consummately one day? 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:45.240 When will it be that this gracious Lord 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:47.879 will truly rule over all the earth, 00:19:47.959 --> 00:19:49.419 not just in a preserving way, 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:53.059 but the true kingdom of heaven filling this entire earth? 00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:54.619 We long for that day. 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.879 So man is death deserving, 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.220 but the Lord is gracious. 00:20:00.379 --> 00:20:04.740 The Lord also reveals this by way of covenant. 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.559 So the same two points, 00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:08.759 but in the form of a covenant, 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.240 the Lord reveals his covenant mercy 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:13.039 and his covenant grace 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:15.259 by committing himself, 00:20:15.379 --> 00:20:17.980 by vowing with a legally binding oath. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:19.579 This is how he'll do it. 00:20:19.579 --> 00:20:23.139 It was interesting for me to learn. 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.599 If you look at verse 21, 00:20:25.720 --> 00:20:27.659 the Lord said in his heart, 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:30.019 most interpreters think that 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:32.240 this was God revealing later to Moses 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:33.519 what was true all along, 00:20:33.579 --> 00:20:34.879 even if Noah didn't know it. 00:20:35.919 --> 00:20:37.879 So it's likely that 00:20:37.879 --> 00:20:39.559 what God was covenanting 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:41.319 was part of that divine counsel, 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:43.359 maybe not even heard by Noah 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:45.259 at this point only. 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:49.240 It would have become audible for Noah later, 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:51.579 but God's decree does not depend on Noah 00:20:51.579 --> 00:20:52.559 even knowing that. 00:20:53.400 --> 00:20:55.140 God's decree was expressed 00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:57.019 in chapter 8 of Genesis 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:59.140 by swearing by himself. 00:20:59.980 --> 00:21:01.740 And then if you turn to Genesis 9, 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:02.519 verse 9, 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:05.980 it's showing us what God did tell Noah. 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:08.900 Now God is speaking to Noah 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:10.359 in Genesis 9, 9. 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:13.240 Behold, I establish my covenant with you 00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:14.460 and every offspring. 00:21:15.880 --> 00:21:17.079 The point here is that 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:19.460 God covenants before man even knows it. 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.759 That's another source of comfort 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.620 that we can have. 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.900 Some of you, 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.319 this has been a wonderful truth to learn. 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.680 Why is it that you believed in God? 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.079 When you heard the gospel, 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:31.720 why did you know 00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.099 that could even be true for you? 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.500 That you could be cleansed 00:21:34.500 --> 00:21:35.380 by the blood of Jesus? 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.880 Well, the answer is 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:39.279 because God covenanted to do that. 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:41.980 And you know you're saved. 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:43.119 You know he gave you a new heart. 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.359 But now, only now, 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:45.259 by studying his word 00:21:45.259 --> 00:21:45.960 and what he's revealed, 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:46.819 do you see, 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:48.460 this is what was happening all along. 00:21:49.180 --> 00:21:49.619 And why? 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.420 All glory be to God 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.599 and more comfort for you. 00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:54.940 More trust in his promises. 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:59.420 The fourth revelation I see here 00:21:59.420 --> 00:22:00.460 is that after the flood, 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.379 the Lord covenanted 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:03.119 not only with mankind, 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:05.420 but with all future generations 00:22:05.420 --> 00:22:06.680 generations of mankind 00:22:06.680 --> 00:22:08.200 and every living creature 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:10.160 with the whole earth itself. 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.720 Let's look at Genesis chapter 9, 00:22:12.779 --> 00:22:13.720 verses 9 and 10. 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:16.360 Behold, I establish my covenant 00:22:16.360 --> 00:22:18.820 with you and your offspring after you 00:22:18.820 --> 00:22:21.039 with every living creature with you. 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:22.820 Verse 12, 00:22:22.900 --> 00:22:24.539 the covenant that I make 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.660 is between me and you 00:22:25.660 --> 00:22:28.180 for all future generations. 00:22:28.180 --> 00:22:31.180 So Noah 00:22:31.180 --> 00:22:33.840 is receiving this 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:36.060 on behalf of all mankind 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:36.840 that will follow. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.039 There are no human beings 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.799 on planet earth 00:22:38.799 --> 00:22:40.420 that did not come from Noah. 00:22:41.180 --> 00:22:42.740 His three sons came from him 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:44.880 and everyone on filling the earth today 00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:46.480 came from this one man. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:48.340 So God's covenant stands 00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:49.720 to every single person 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.860 from every people, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:52.039 nation, tribe, and tongue. 00:22:52.500 --> 00:22:54.360 God will preserve them. 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:57.360 I love how Ecclesiastes 1, 4 says, 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:58.839 a generation goes 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:00.719 and a generation comes, 00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:03.699 but the earth remains forever. 00:23:04.179 --> 00:23:05.619 Picking up on this refrain. 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:10.659 So those are the revelations 00:23:10.659 --> 00:23:11.799 we see in this passage. 00:23:11.959 --> 00:23:12.740 But next, 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.559 I'd like to highlight 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.599 the implications. 00:23:15.299 --> 00:23:17.359 I see five significant implications 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:18.519 of the covenant 00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.799 that God made through Noah 00:23:19.799 --> 00:23:20.819 with all the earth. 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:23.799 First is that the Noahic covenant 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:26.459 is non-redemptive 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:28.220 in the sense that it's not promising 00:23:28.220 --> 00:23:29.500 to save all of mankind. 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:31.940 But instead, 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:33.000 this covenant promises 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:34.240 that God will sustain, 00:23:34.519 --> 00:23:34.900 uphold, 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.039 govern all the earth 00:23:36.039 --> 00:23:37.440 until the ground, 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:39.680 until the ground 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:41.079 bears forth the fruit 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:41.940 that man can eat 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:43.480 and the animals reproduce 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.700 and man can eat them. 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:47.240 Man can enjoy life on the earth. 00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.740 He'll have the carbs he needs 00:23:48.740 --> 00:23:50.299 by tilling the ground 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.940 and he'll have the protein he needs 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:53.279 by shepherding the flocks. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:55.639 Man has to go out and work 00:23:55.639 --> 00:23:56.740 and cultivate 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:58.139 in order to survive 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.740 on this earth 00:23:58.740 --> 00:23:59.519 just like Adam 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.220 east of Eden. 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:02.519 But it's non-redemptive. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.220 So it's for survival 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:05.720 and preservation only. 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:08.059 One commentator 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:09.200 that was very helpful here, 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.920 I'll mention him a few times. 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.599 His name is David Van Drunen, 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.779 systematic theology professor 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.440 at Westminster. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:16.720 He wrote, 00:24:16.720 --> 00:24:33.259 So the Noahic covenant 00:24:33.259 --> 00:24:34.460 is non-redemptive. 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.799 Second is that 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:37.559 the Noahic covenant 00:24:37.559 --> 00:24:38.480 is common, 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.740 meaning that it's not 00:24:39.740 --> 00:24:41.319 limited to the elect 00:24:41.319 --> 00:24:42.779 and it's not limited 00:24:42.779 --> 00:24:44.619 to the special line 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.439 from Abram 00:24:45.439 --> 00:24:46.759 to Jesus Christ. 00:24:47.639 --> 00:24:49.419 It's for every single 00:24:49.419 --> 00:24:50.240 human being. 00:24:51.399 --> 00:24:52.379 It's common. 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.480 Another theologian, 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.059 Meredith Klein, 00:24:55.159 --> 00:24:55.819 commented that 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.799 common grace 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:58.740 is not itself redemptive. 00:24:58.839 --> 00:24:59.039 Rather, 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:00.539 it allows for the preservation 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:02.460 of a world stage 00:25:02.460 --> 00:25:03.559 upon which the drama 00:25:03.559 --> 00:25:04.899 of the covenant of redemption 00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:06.259 could play out. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.679 So it's common 00:25:07.679 --> 00:25:08.519 and it's good 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:09.399 for all. 00:25:09.400 --> 00:25:11.720 How can wicked people 00:25:11.720 --> 00:25:13.340 who despise God 00:25:13.340 --> 00:25:15.560 enjoy the fruit 00:25:15.560 --> 00:25:16.140 of his earth? 00:25:16.580 --> 00:25:17.380 How can they enjoy 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.860 times of great harvest 00:25:18.860 --> 00:25:19.660 and prosperity 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:21.960 and enjoy all the good gifts 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.720 that God has given? 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:24.680 Even if they don't give glory 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.019 to God, 00:25:25.080 --> 00:25:26.200 it's because they are part 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:27.880 of this common covenant 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.640 that God made 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:31.060 with all who fill the earth today. 00:25:32.820 --> 00:25:33.980 The third implication 00:25:33.980 --> 00:25:35.840 is that the sign 00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:37.420 of the Noahic covenant, 00:25:37.800 --> 00:25:38.680 it's symbolic. 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.480 Because a sign, 00:25:40.560 --> 00:25:41.180 it points 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:42.960 to further significance. 00:25:44.100 --> 00:25:45.300 The sign is the rainbow. 00:25:45.580 --> 00:25:46.700 Just as we can still see 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.460 the rainbow today, 00:25:47.540 --> 00:25:48.000 we're reminded 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.640 that the covenant 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:50.060 is still in effect. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:51.860 Let's look together 00:25:51.860 --> 00:25:53.420 at chapter 9, 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:54.240 verse 13. 00:25:57.500 --> 00:25:58.360 God says, 00:25:58.359 --> 00:25:59.859 I have set my bow 00:25:59.859 --> 00:26:01.339 in the cloud 00:26:01.339 --> 00:26:03.619 and it shall be 00:26:03.619 --> 00:26:04.399 a sign 00:26:04.399 --> 00:26:05.619 of the covenant 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.439 between me 00:26:06.439 --> 00:26:07.619 and the earth. 00:26:09.459 --> 00:26:10.579 And even to this day, 00:26:10.639 --> 00:26:11.799 the rainbow shines out 00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:12.519 from the clouds 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:13.419 for every man 00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:14.019 and beast 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.019 to see. 00:26:16.679 --> 00:26:17.899 Everyone who sees 00:26:17.899 --> 00:26:18.559 the rainbow 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:20.019 bears witness 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.679 that God 00:26:20.679 --> 00:26:21.819 has made a covenant 00:26:21.819 --> 00:26:22.579 with the earth. 00:26:22.579 --> 00:26:25.159 God says, 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:26.279 I have set 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:27.720 my bow 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.339 in the clouds. 00:26:30.679 --> 00:26:31.759 And this word 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:32.220 is used 00:26:32.220 --> 00:26:32.899 in other parts 00:26:32.899 --> 00:26:33.639 to describe 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:34.819 warfare language. 00:26:37.159 --> 00:26:38.019 One scholar 00:26:38.019 --> 00:26:38.579 pointed out 00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.379 how in ancient 00:26:39.379 --> 00:26:40.460 iconography, 00:26:41.179 --> 00:26:42.220 bows are vertical 00:26:42.220 --> 00:26:42.980 in battle. 00:26:43.439 --> 00:26:44.359 It means you're ready 00:26:44.359 --> 00:26:45.279 to shoot them. 00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:47.220 But then after a battle, 00:26:47.319 --> 00:26:48.319 the victorious Lord, 00:26:48.399 --> 00:26:49.240 as they're riding off 00:26:49.240 --> 00:26:49.899 on their horse, 00:26:49.900 --> 00:26:51.040 would be pictured 00:26:51.040 --> 00:26:51.840 with their bow 00:26:51.840 --> 00:26:52.900 horizontal, 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.540 indicating peace 00:26:55.540 --> 00:26:57.460 following the war. 00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.980 You see how the bow, 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.720 it's a sign 00:27:00.720 --> 00:27:01.360 that God 00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:02.920 has made war 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.940 with wicked world. 00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.280 God is victorious 00:27:05.280 --> 00:27:06.900 and his bow 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:08.420 is now in the resting position. 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:10.080 He's giving man 00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:11.720 undeserved peace 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:13.920 until the second coming 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:14.540 of Christ. 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:17.100 God has already 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:18.140 waged his war. 00:27:18.700 --> 00:27:19.540 He's already punished 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.099 the violent, 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:21.039 rebellious man. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:23.960 And the rainbow 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.720 is a sign. 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:25.420 Notice, 00:27:25.659 --> 00:27:27.559 it's for God. 00:27:28.460 --> 00:27:29.759 Look at verse 16. 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:32.440 It's a sign 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.319 for God 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:35.200 of his own 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:35.759 terms 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.920 of his covenant. 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:39.799 This is a unilateral 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.319 covenant. 00:27:40.579 --> 00:27:41.559 It's God himself 00:27:41.559 --> 00:27:42.779 who makes the covenant. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:43.559 God himself 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:44.539 will keep the covenant. 00:27:44.960 --> 00:27:45.579 And the sign 00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.420 is, 00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.220 so to speak, 00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.859 a reminder 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:48.879 for God. 00:27:48.959 --> 00:27:49.559 In verse 16, 00:27:49.619 --> 00:27:49.879 he says, 00:27:49.959 --> 00:27:50.379 when the bow 00:27:50.379 --> 00:27:51.039 is in the clouds, 00:27:51.139 --> 00:27:52.059 I will see it 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.519 and I will remember 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:55.079 the everlasting covenant 00:27:55.079 --> 00:27:55.919 between me 00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:57.359 and all life 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:58.139 on earth. 00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:00.799 This is our 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.719 God of peace. 00:28:03.399 --> 00:28:04.259 Doesn't it make you 00:28:04.259 --> 00:28:05.139 long for that day 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:06.339 when true peace, 00:28:06.459 --> 00:28:07.599 relational shalom 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.839 with God 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:09.759 will fill 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.740 this earth? 00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.579 When will that day 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.439 come when the glory 00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.199 of this peace 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:15.400 keeping God 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:16.799 will rule over 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.660 all perfectly? 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.180 The fourth 00:28:20.180 --> 00:28:21.160 implication of the 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.799 Noahic covenant 00:28:21.799 --> 00:28:22.720 is that it is 00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.720 binding today. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:25.360 The Noahic covenant 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.420 is still binding 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.720 just as it's good 00:28:27.720 --> 00:28:28.759 for every human being. 00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:29.880 It binds 00:28:29.880 --> 00:28:30.759 every man 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:31.600 and woman today. 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.100 Let's look together 00:28:35.100 --> 00:28:35.860 at verse 6. 00:28:36.519 --> 00:28:37.080 The Lord says, 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.080 whoever sheds 00:28:38.080 --> 00:28:38.880 the blood 00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.680 of man, 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.779 by man 00:28:40.779 --> 00:28:41.660 shall his blood 00:28:41.660 --> 00:28:42.279 be shed 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.340 for God 00:28:43.340 --> 00:28:44.220 made man 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.620 in his own image. 00:28:47.840 --> 00:28:49.400 Every human being 00:28:49.400 --> 00:28:50.720 is an image bearer 00:28:50.720 --> 00:28:51.279 of God. 00:28:51.540 --> 00:28:52.200 Every human being 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:52.779 is precious 00:28:52.779 --> 00:28:53.779 in the eyes 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.340 of the Lord. 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.400 And it's also 00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:57.420 saying that it's 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.240 man's job 00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.279 to shed the blood 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.440 of murderers. 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.940 How can man 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.800 judge that way? 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.420 How can man 00:29:03.420 --> 00:29:04.300 discern well? 00:29:04.560 --> 00:29:05.080 It's because 00:29:05.080 --> 00:29:05.900 every man 00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:06.920 has the image 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.720 of God still. 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:11.320 God preserves 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.259 in all his 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.200 image bearers 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:14.099 a natural 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:15.500 sense of 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:16.139 law. 00:29:16.899 --> 00:29:17.839 This is a good 00:29:17.839 --> 00:29:18.139 thing. 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:19.519 This is why 00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:20.059 we can have 00:29:20.059 --> 00:29:20.939 very wise 00:29:20.939 --> 00:29:21.659 judges 00:29:21.659 --> 00:29:23.019 and lawyers 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.319 working a 00:29:24.319 --> 00:29:25.259 judicial system 00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:26.619 as image 00:29:26.619 --> 00:29:27.519 bearers of God 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.559 though they're 00:29:28.559 --> 00:29:29.259 not saved, 00:29:29.419 --> 00:29:29.859 though they're 00:29:29.859 --> 00:29:30.240 not yet 00:29:30.240 --> 00:29:30.960 regenerated. 00:29:32.480 --> 00:29:33.419 But this is 00:29:33.419 --> 00:29:34.099 still binding 00:29:34.099 --> 00:29:34.599 today. 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:35.879 The sanctity 00:29:35.879 --> 00:29:36.439 of life. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:38.419 One of the 00:29:38.419 --> 00:29:39.159 statistics I 00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:39.619 looked up, 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.439 I had to 00:29:40.439 --> 00:29:40.899 double check 00:29:40.900 --> 00:29:41.420 this and 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:41.940 just I 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:42.440 sat there 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.320 stunned and 00:29:43.320 --> 00:29:43.720 silent. 00:29:44.560 --> 00:29:45.340 Reminded again, 00:29:45.420 --> 00:29:45.700 you've heard 00:29:45.700 --> 00:29:46.220 these numbers 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:46.820 as I have, 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:47.780 how quickly 00:29:47.780 --> 00:29:48.300 I forget. 00:29:53.480 --> 00:29:54.540 Every hour, 00:29:55.120 --> 00:29:57.440 100 abortions 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.000 happen in 00:29:59.000 --> 00:29:59.400 America. 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:03.019 One million 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.780 abortions 00:30:03.780 --> 00:30:05.140 every year 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:06.280 in this 00:30:06.280 --> 00:30:06.640 country. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:09.720 73 million 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:11.220 abortions 00:30:11.220 --> 00:30:12.000 every year 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:13.100 worldwide. 00:30:17.100 --> 00:30:17.940 God's 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.480 covenant with 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:19.160 Noah is 00:30:19.160 --> 00:30:20.259 still binding. 00:30:21.520 --> 00:30:22.540 We are 00:30:22.540 --> 00:30:23.400 image bearers 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:25.400 and God 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:25.800 has given 00:30:25.800 --> 00:30:27.140 us a 00:30:27.140 --> 00:30:27.800 sense of 00:30:27.800 --> 00:30:28.980 law and 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.540 justice. 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.539 God's 00:30:30.539 --> 00:30:31.000 love. 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:33.319 We need 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:33.539 to have 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.339 confidence in 00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:34.839 this world. 00:30:35.579 --> 00:30:35.759 We need 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:36.279 to not be 00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:36.960 surprised by 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:37.559 how wicked 00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:38.879 the world 00:30:38.879 --> 00:30:39.539 is. 00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:40.420 What we do 00:30:40.420 --> 00:30:40.759 need to be 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.379 surprised by 00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:41.940 is how God 00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:42.720 can preserve 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:43.700 anything good 00:30:43.700 --> 00:30:44.700 out of this 00:30:44.700 --> 00:30:45.579 fallen creation, 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.839 even after the 00:30:46.839 --> 00:30:47.119 flood. 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.519 And I am 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.420 amazed at both 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:52.079 of those things 00:30:52.079 --> 00:30:52.819 every week. 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:54.480 How wicked 00:30:54.480 --> 00:30:55.839 we are 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.480 because of 00:30:56.480 --> 00:30:57.980 sin as 00:30:57.980 --> 00:30:58.559 human beings 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.140 and also 00:30:59.140 --> 00:30:59.920 how good, 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.039 how much 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:01.779 good people 00:31:01.779 --> 00:31:02.319 are capable 00:31:02.319 --> 00:31:03.519 of without 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.099 even knowing 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:04.420 the Lord 00:31:04.420 --> 00:31:04.819 Jesus. 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.299 Paul pointed 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:06.839 that out in 00:31:06.839 --> 00:31:07.740 Romans 2.14. 00:31:07.860 --> 00:31:08.079 He said, 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.480 that's why 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.920 Gentiles do 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.960 by nature 00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.460 what the law 00:31:11.460 --> 00:31:12.160 requires. 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.759 It's the only 00:31:13.759 --> 00:31:14.480 reason human 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.200 beings do not 00:31:15.200 --> 00:31:16.339 act more 00:31:16.339 --> 00:31:16.700 badly. 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:18.360 So we can 00:31:18.360 --> 00:31:18.660 ask, 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.259 how does 00:31:19.259 --> 00:31:19.700 this world 00:31:19.700 --> 00:31:20.120 remain? 00:31:21.559 --> 00:31:22.599 This is how 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:23.700 God preserves 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.339 the world so 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:24.700 it does 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:25.039 remain. 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:27.779 we read 00:31:27.779 --> 00:31:29.019 in Genesis 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.099 chapter 9 00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.720 verse 1, 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:32.000 God blessed 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:32.839 Noah and 00:31:32.839 --> 00:31:33.480 his sons 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:33.960 and said 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.339 to them, 00:31:34.420 --> 00:31:34.920 be fruitful 00:31:34.920 --> 00:31:36.019 and multiply 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.039 and fill 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:37.539 the earth. 00:31:39.039 --> 00:31:39.799 This is 00:31:39.799 --> 00:31:40.680 another binding 00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:42.099 command for 00:31:42.099 --> 00:31:42.720 all mankind 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.599 which is 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.940 God's design 00:31:44.940 --> 00:31:45.339 for the 00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:45.700 family. 00:31:46.859 --> 00:31:47.819 God commands 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.440 very clearly 00:31:48.440 --> 00:31:49.039 in scripture, 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:50.519 man and 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.180 wife are to 00:31:51.180 --> 00:31:51.700 multiply 00:31:51.700 --> 00:31:52.899 children 00:31:52.899 --> 00:31:54.500 within the 00:31:54.500 --> 00:31:54.859 family. 00:31:55.740 --> 00:31:56.240 That's 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.559 God's 00:31:56.559 --> 00:31:56.819 good 00:31:56.819 --> 00:31:57.359 design. 00:31:58.700 --> 00:31:59.180 It's not 00:31:59.180 --> 00:31:59.599 a sin 00:31:59.599 --> 00:31:59.960 if a 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.180 family 00:32:00.180 --> 00:32:00.599 can't 00:32:00.599 --> 00:32:00.799 have 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:01.180 children 00:32:01.180 --> 00:32:01.379 or 00:32:01.379 --> 00:32:01.940 abstains 00:32:01.940 --> 00:32:02.639 from 00:32:02.639 --> 00:32:03.180 childbearing 00:32:03.180 --> 00:32:03.720 for medical 00:32:03.720 --> 00:32:04.119 or other 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:04.579 reasons, 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.579 but that's 00:32:05.579 --> 00:32:05.859 God's 00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.319 design. 00:32:06.779 --> 00:32:07.619 One man, 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:08.240 one woman 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.940 in a 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:09.299 family 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:10.259 bearing 00:32:10.259 --> 00:32:10.759 children. 00:32:12.259 --> 00:32:12.559 G.K. 00:32:12.639 --> 00:32:13.039 Chesterton 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:13.680 pointed out 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.339 the heart 00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.079 of human 00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:15.720 society 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.339 is, 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:17.019 quote, 00:32:17.119 --> 00:32:17.859 a triangle 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:18.879 of truisms 00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:20.119 consisting 00:32:20.119 --> 00:32:20.759 of father, 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:21.619 mother, 00:32:21.839 --> 00:32:22.599 and child. 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:23.680 Tearing them 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.259 apart has 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:24.920 devastating 00:32:24.920 --> 00:32:26.299 results for 00:32:26.299 --> 00:32:27.299 both individuals 00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.819 and society. 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:29.900 And one 00:32:29.900 --> 00:32:30.700 result is that 00:32:30.700 --> 00:32:31.480 ever more 00:32:31.480 --> 00:32:32.279 selfish and 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:33.079 loveless forms 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:33.640 of sex 00:32:33.640 --> 00:32:34.539 become normalized, 00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:35.559 someone pointed 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:35.819 out, 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.119 as forms of 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:38.319 self-expression 00:32:38.319 --> 00:32:39.619 for salvation. 00:32:39.619 --> 00:32:42.639 that didn't 00:32:42.639 --> 00:32:43.079 strike me 00:32:43.079 --> 00:32:43.639 until recently. 00:32:43.639 --> 00:32:44.159 You start to 00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:44.500 hear some 00:32:44.500 --> 00:32:44.759 of the 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.439 songs on 00:32:45.439 --> 00:32:45.939 the radio, 00:32:46.639 --> 00:32:47.139 songs that 00:32:47.139 --> 00:32:47.339 are, 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:47.799 you know, 00:32:48.119 --> 00:32:48.659 it's different 00:32:48.659 --> 00:32:48.959 than the 00:32:48.959 --> 00:32:49.459 love songs 00:32:49.459 --> 00:32:49.719 of a 00:32:49.719 --> 00:32:50.279 different era. 00:32:50.699 --> 00:32:51.099 These are 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.599 songs that 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.079 are using 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:52.699 worship 00:32:52.699 --> 00:32:53.879 language to 00:32:53.879 --> 00:32:54.639 describe a 00:32:54.639 --> 00:32:55.039 sexual 00:32:55.039 --> 00:32:55.819 encounter 00:32:55.819 --> 00:32:56.159 between 00:32:56.159 --> 00:32:56.779 two people. 00:33:00.879 --> 00:33:01.439 Normalizing 00:33:01.439 --> 00:33:03.279 sexual 00:33:03.279 --> 00:33:03.979 activity and 00:33:03.979 --> 00:33:05.299 identity as 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:05.919 a form of 00:33:05.919 --> 00:33:07.000 self-expression 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:08.140 and even a 00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:08.539 way of 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:08.940 saving 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.720 yourself. 00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.640 There's a 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.660 Princeton law 00:33:13.660 --> 00:33:14.420 professor named 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.460 Robert George. 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.019 Everything I've 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:17.519 read from him 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:18.220 has been very 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:18.619 helpful, 00:33:18.900 --> 00:33:19.500 and to me it's a 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.180 reminder of this 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.019 natural law. 00:33:21.779 --> 00:33:22.200 He wrote, 00:33:22.339 --> 00:33:22.880 it's odd, 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:23.559 but there are 00:33:23.559 --> 00:33:24.440 people who seek 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.039 fulfillment, 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.460 even a kind of 00:33:26.460 --> 00:33:27.700 salvation in sex. 00:33:28.099 --> 00:33:28.940 They won't even 00:33:28.940 --> 00:33:30.759 expect more than 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:31.660 it can give. 00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:32.640 Sadly, 00:33:32.779 --> 00:33:34.299 by perverting it, 00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.819 they deny themselves 00:33:35.819 --> 00:33:36.720 the great good 00:33:36.720 --> 00:33:37.700 that it actually 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.439 can deliver, 00:33:38.559 --> 00:33:38.819 namely, 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.679 true marital 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:41.539 communion. 00:33:42.599 --> 00:33:43.339 That's the end 00:33:43.339 --> 00:33:43.859 of his quote. 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:46.460 This is God's 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.599 binding design 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:49.000 on all mankind 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.259 that fills the 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:51.139 earth still 00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:51.519 today. 00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:52.679 And when we 00:33:52.679 --> 00:33:54.059 see God's 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:55.359 covenant sign 00:33:55.359 --> 00:33:55.960 in the clouds, 00:33:56.599 --> 00:33:57.500 this is what we 00:33:57.500 --> 00:33:58.240 should be reminded 00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:58.579 of. 00:33:59.159 --> 00:33:59.939 We should thank 00:33:59.939 --> 00:34:00.700 him for preserving 00:34:00.700 --> 00:34:02.000 this wicked world 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:02.740 as he does. 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:02.799 guys. 00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.240 The fifth 00:34:07.240 --> 00:34:08.980 significance I 00:34:08.980 --> 00:34:09.739 see here is this, 00:34:09.820 --> 00:34:10.820 that we live in a 00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:12.239 layered reality. 00:34:13.840 --> 00:34:14.280 The Noahic 00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:15.559 covenant pulls 00:34:15.559 --> 00:34:16.519 together for us 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:17.440 the backdrop, 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:19.079 the three layers 00:34:19.079 --> 00:34:20.460 in which redemptive 00:34:20.460 --> 00:34:21.460 history will unfold 00:34:21.460 --> 00:34:22.179 now when we move 00:34:22.179 --> 00:34:22.900 next to the covenant 00:34:22.900 --> 00:34:23.579 God makes with 00:34:23.579 --> 00:34:24.019 Abraham. 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.159 But here are the 00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:26.320 three layers of 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.400 the reality of 00:34:27.400 --> 00:34:28.059 this world that we 00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:28.559 live in. 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:29.860 Creation, 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:31.260 fall, 00:34:31.260 --> 00:34:32.920 in Noahic 00:34:32.920 --> 00:34:33.700 preservation, 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.460 we can call it. 00:34:35.160 --> 00:34:36.040 So our reality 00:34:36.040 --> 00:34:36.920 from creation, 00:34:37.220 --> 00:34:38.400 it includes God's 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.460 natural law that 00:34:39.460 --> 00:34:40.780 reveals him and 00:34:40.780 --> 00:34:41.480 it reveals what 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.200 pleases him. 00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.280 John Gill wrote 00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:44.940 that the natural 00:34:44.940 --> 00:34:45.840 law was given as 00:34:45.840 --> 00:34:46.740 part of the Lord's 00:34:46.740 --> 00:34:48.080 providential control 00:34:48.080 --> 00:34:48.840 over what he 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.160 made. 00:34:50.080 --> 00:34:51.120 The content of the 00:34:51.120 --> 00:34:52.140 natural law is 00:34:52.140 --> 00:34:53.200 the moral law. 00:34:54.200 --> 00:34:54.700 What Jesus 00:34:54.700 --> 00:34:55.600 summarized as, 00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:56.580 love the Lord 00:34:56.580 --> 00:34:57.100 your God with 00:34:57.100 --> 00:34:57.580 all your heart, 00:34:57.680 --> 00:34:58.140 soul, mind, and 00:34:58.140 --> 00:34:58.780 strength, and love 00:34:58.780 --> 00:34:59.760 your neighbor as 00:34:59.760 --> 00:35:00.240 yourself. 00:35:00.239 --> 00:35:01.139 which the 00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:02.639 Mosaic covenant 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.819 opened up as the 00:35:03.819 --> 00:35:04.579 Ten Commandments. 00:35:06.779 --> 00:35:07.739 A theologian named 00:35:07.739 --> 00:35:08.739 Ian Clary wrote 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.339 that while the 00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:10.319 natural law could 00:35:10.319 --> 00:35:11.479 not establish God 00:35:11.479 --> 00:35:12.439 as the savior of 00:35:12.439 --> 00:35:13.859 mankind, it does 00:35:13.859 --> 00:35:14.859 tell us about God, 00:35:14.939 --> 00:35:15.519 the creator. 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:17.179 It is insufficient 00:35:17.179 --> 00:35:19.039 to save sinners, 00:35:19.179 --> 00:35:20.139 so it needs to be 00:35:20.139 --> 00:35:21.579 re-engraved on our 00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.619 souls in 00:35:22.619 --> 00:35:23.179 regeneration. 00:35:24.659 --> 00:35:25.099 And that's the 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:25.819 great promise of 00:35:25.819 --> 00:35:26.839 Jeremiah 31 and 00:35:26.839 --> 00:35:27.500 Hebrews 8 being 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:27.959 fulfilled. 00:35:27.960 --> 00:35:28.940 I will write my 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.860 law in your 00:35:29.860 --> 00:35:30.480 heart and in 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:30.960 your mind. 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.760 So the 00:35:32.760 --> 00:35:33.460 Noahic covenant 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.500 was not a simple 00:35:34.500 --> 00:35:37.460 reinstituting of 00:35:37.460 --> 00:35:38.199 God's creation 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:40.500 commands, but it 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:41.460 was a revision of 00:35:41.460 --> 00:35:41.960 what God had 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.940 commanded all 00:35:42.940 --> 00:35:44.280 along, but now 00:35:44.280 --> 00:35:45.440 in the common 00:35:45.440 --> 00:35:46.440 grace mode. 00:35:47.019 --> 00:35:48.539 Not to fulfill as 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:49.980 a federal head like 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.179 Adam only could do 00:35:51.179 --> 00:35:51.820 because he was 00:35:51.820 --> 00:35:52.920 sinless, but rather 00:35:52.920 --> 00:35:54.039 to preserve all 00:35:54.039 --> 00:35:55.639 mankind until the 00:35:55.639 --> 00:35:56.239 coming of the 00:35:56.239 --> 00:35:57.579 second Adam who 00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:59.219 could fulfill God's 00:35:59.219 --> 00:36:00.079 covenant of works. 00:36:02.359 --> 00:36:03.319 One theologian 00:36:03.319 --> 00:36:04.139 pointed out how in 00:36:04.139 --> 00:36:04.940 this covenant with 00:36:04.940 --> 00:36:06.039 Noah, there is no 00:36:06.039 --> 00:36:07.199 Sabbath in view. 00:36:07.579 --> 00:36:08.000 In the first 00:36:08.000 --> 00:36:09.359 creation, we see how 00:36:09.359 --> 00:36:10.279 the Lord rested on 00:36:10.279 --> 00:36:11.019 the Sabbath day. 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:12.400 And then later on in 00:36:12.400 --> 00:36:13.400 Exodus, when the law 00:36:13.400 --> 00:36:14.119 is being given, the 00:36:14.119 --> 00:36:15.359 fourth commandment, it 00:36:15.359 --> 00:36:16.179 makes reference to 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:16.420 that. 00:36:16.799 --> 00:36:17.739 You shall rest as 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.599 God's special people 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:19.859 because God rested at 00:36:19.859 --> 00:36:20.279 creation. 00:36:20.779 --> 00:36:21.559 But with the Noahic 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.259 covenant, there's no 00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:23.599 mention of Sabbath 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:24.059 rest. 00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:26.320 And so the Sabbath 00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:27.259 ordinance, Meredith 00:36:27.259 --> 00:36:28.360 Klein pointed out, it 00:36:28.360 --> 00:36:30.579 was a sign for Adam 00:36:30.579 --> 00:36:31.519 and then for God's 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.219 people in the old 00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.420 covenant that would 00:36:33.420 --> 00:36:34.779 mark God's promise of 00:36:34.779 --> 00:36:36.259 eschatological blessing. 00:36:37.079 --> 00:36:38.159 If you take a Sabbath 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.239 rest, it's pointing you 00:36:39.239 --> 00:36:40.699 toward a greater rest 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:42.039 that you'll have one day. 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:43.880 Before the fall, the 00:36:43.880 --> 00:36:45.159 cultural mandate had the 00:36:45.159 --> 00:36:46.500 Sabbath in view, but this 00:36:46.500 --> 00:36:47.440 is not the case any 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:49.019 longer for those after 00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:49.559 the flood. 00:36:51.500 --> 00:36:52.739 In other words, he's 00:36:52.739 --> 00:36:53.639 saying that those after 00:36:53.639 --> 00:36:54.679 the flood should not 00:36:54.679 --> 00:36:56.279 expect blessing from 00:36:56.279 --> 00:36:57.879 God by living on this 00:36:57.879 --> 00:37:00.379 earth post-fall through 00:37:00.379 --> 00:37:02.379 any cultural labors. 00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:03.839 We cannot save 00:37:03.839 --> 00:37:04.420 ourselves. 00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:13.199 So now I'm going to 00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.279 try to give you some 00:37:14.279 --> 00:37:15.400 things to contemplate. 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:17.920 As you answer the 00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:19.119 question for yourself, how 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.440 do I live in this world? 00:37:20.440 --> 00:37:23.639 in light of creation, 00:37:24.260 --> 00:37:25.539 fall, and God's 00:37:25.539 --> 00:37:26.099 preservation. 00:37:28.760 --> 00:37:31.200 First, this world is the 00:37:31.200 --> 00:37:32.079 city of man. 00:37:33.659 --> 00:37:35.159 We're told that this world 00:37:35.159 --> 00:37:36.700 is Satan's domain on 00:37:36.700 --> 00:37:37.079 earth. 00:37:37.500 --> 00:37:38.800 The church is the city of 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:39.159 God. 00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:41.579 The church is a picture of 00:37:41.579 --> 00:37:43.079 heaven coming to earth. 00:37:44.179 --> 00:37:45.420 Michael Beck pointed out 00:37:45.420 --> 00:37:46.500 that when Christ came, he 00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:48.579 did not establish the state 00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:50.440 or the family or a school 00:37:50.440 --> 00:37:51.559 or a business venture. 00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.759 These things already 00:37:52.759 --> 00:37:53.980 existed and were governed 00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:55.619 and preserved under the 00:37:55.619 --> 00:37:56.639 covenant God made with 00:37:56.639 --> 00:37:56.960 Noah. 00:37:57.579 --> 00:37:58.579 The Lord Jesus established 00:37:59.319 --> 00:38:01.819 one thing, the church. 00:38:02.819 --> 00:38:04.380 And Christ remains the 00:38:04.380 --> 00:38:06.980 universal Lord of all, but 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:08.960 only the church is sacred. 00:38:09.500 --> 00:38:10.539 Only the church is the 00:38:10.539 --> 00:38:12.440 special kingdom of God on 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:12.840 earth. 00:38:12.840 --> 00:38:16.940 First Timothy 2.2 says, 00:38:17.160 --> 00:38:18.460 We are now in the city of 00:38:18.460 --> 00:38:18.780 man. 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:21.340 We are to lead a peaceful 00:38:21.340 --> 00:38:23.440 and quiet life that is 00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:25.300 godly and dignified in every 00:38:25.300 --> 00:38:27.380 way, that this is good and 00:38:27.380 --> 00:38:29.420 pleasing in the sight of God 00:38:29.420 --> 00:38:32.300 our Savior, who desires all 00:38:32.300 --> 00:38:34.300 people to be saved and to 00:38:34.300 --> 00:38:35.500 come to the knowledge of the 00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:35.880 truth. 00:38:36.620 --> 00:38:37.640 So while you're in the world 00:38:37.640 --> 00:38:38.820 and the city of man, live a 00:38:38.820 --> 00:38:40.100 peaceful and quiet life, 00:38:40.180 --> 00:38:41.440 knowing this is pleasing in 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:42.920 God's sight and may your 00:38:42.920 --> 00:38:44.079 life be a testimony that 00:38:44.079 --> 00:38:45.900 God uses to draw people in 00:38:45.900 --> 00:38:47.860 to be saved and to belong 00:38:47.860 --> 00:38:49.619 to his special kingdom on 00:38:49.619 --> 00:38:50.740 earth, which is the church. 00:38:52.000 --> 00:38:53.659 So this world is the city of 00:38:53.659 --> 00:38:55.539 man and the church is the 00:38:55.539 --> 00:38:56.200 city of God. 00:38:57.019 --> 00:38:58.200 Number two, Christ did not 00:38:58.200 --> 00:38:59.380 charge the church with 00:38:59.380 --> 00:39:00.940 ushering in the new heavens 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:03.700 by taking over the city of 00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:04.920 man by force. 00:39:06.360 --> 00:39:07.619 Instead, the picture we're 00:39:07.619 --> 00:39:09.240 given is being like the 00:39:09.240 --> 00:39:10.720 patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, 00:39:10.719 --> 00:39:11.259 and Jacob. 00:39:12.039 --> 00:39:13.319 We are sojourners and 00:39:13.319 --> 00:39:14.739 exiles in the world. 00:39:15.039 --> 00:39:15.939 First Peter 2 11. 00:39:16.299 --> 00:39:17.579 Here we have no lasting 00:39:17.579 --> 00:39:18.039 city. 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:20.459 Instead, we seek the city 00:39:20.459 --> 00:39:21.539 that is to come. 00:39:21.639 --> 00:39:23.279 Hebrews 13 14. 00:39:24.459 --> 00:39:25.939 So as Christians in the city 00:39:25.939 --> 00:39:27.699 of man, yes, we vote. 00:39:27.859 --> 00:39:29.299 We can even run for offices, 00:39:29.299 --> 00:39:30.639 but we don't put our hopes 00:39:30.639 --> 00:39:32.500 that those things would save 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:33.419 this world. 00:39:34.459 --> 00:39:35.739 First Timothy 2 11. 00:39:36.399 --> 00:39:37.699 We are to pray for those who 00:39:37.699 --> 00:39:39.139 rule over us as God's 00:39:39.139 --> 00:39:40.819 ordained magistrates. 00:39:41.379 --> 00:39:42.759 I urge you that to make 00:39:42.759 --> 00:39:43.899 supplications, prayers, 00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:45.279 intercessions, and 00:39:45.279 --> 00:39:46.599 thanksgivings for the civil 00:39:46.599 --> 00:39:48.139 magistrates that God 00:39:48.139 --> 00:39:48.639 ordained. 00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:50.859 But when the elections don't 00:39:50.859 --> 00:39:52.119 go the way we want here in 00:39:52.119 --> 00:39:55.019 Colorado or nationally, that 00:39:55.019 --> 00:39:56.199 is not what we're putting our 00:39:56.199 --> 00:39:56.719 hopes in. 00:39:57.500 --> 00:39:58.819 We trust that God will 00:39:58.819 --> 00:40:00.139 preserve us through 00:40:00.139 --> 00:40:01.759 suffering, through our 00:40:01.759 --> 00:40:03.319 theology of the cross. 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:05.140 as long as this earth 00:40:05.140 --> 00:40:06.220 remains, he will preserve 00:40:06.220 --> 00:40:07.420 his people according to his 00:40:07.420 --> 00:40:07.660 will. 00:40:08.600 --> 00:40:09.860 And if we're persecuted in 00:40:09.860 --> 00:40:11.980 this world, we say this is to 00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:12.840 the glory of God. 00:40:13.340 --> 00:40:15.400 He's our provider and he will 00:40:15.400 --> 00:40:17.140 bring the new heavens and the 00:40:17.140 --> 00:40:18.660 earth in his time. 00:40:20.460 --> 00:40:21.559 Vendrunen wrote that Christians 00:40:21.559 --> 00:40:22.800 should pursue cultural 00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:23.440 activities. 00:40:24.019 --> 00:40:24.740 We should do that. 00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:27.539 Music, the arts, study 00:40:27.539 --> 00:40:28.940 medicine, study law, study 00:40:28.940 --> 00:40:30.080 these things in the city of 00:40:30.080 --> 00:40:30.300 man. 00:40:30.300 --> 00:40:31.780 But we do it with a spirit 00:40:31.780 --> 00:40:33.760 of love and service toward 00:40:33.760 --> 00:40:35.600 them, not triumph and 00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:37.039 conquest over the world. 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:40.000 Our work in the world does 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:41.620 not usher in the new 00:40:41.620 --> 00:40:42.060 Jerusalem. 00:40:43.420 --> 00:40:44.620 We don't want to make the 00:40:44.620 --> 00:40:46.700 mistake of John of Leiden. 00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:50.180 Revelation 21 verse 2 says 00:40:50.180 --> 00:40:51.840 something mind-blowing. 00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:54.600 It says that the new 00:40:54.600 --> 00:40:57.320 Jerusalem, it is the bride of 00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:57.740 Christ. 00:40:57.739 --> 00:41:00.459 Christ, the bride of Christ, 00:41:00.559 --> 00:41:01.699 the church, the people, they 00:41:01.699 --> 00:41:03.559 are the continuity between 00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:05.319 this world and the world to 00:41:05.319 --> 00:41:05.619 come. 00:41:06.099 --> 00:41:07.239 It is our bodies and our 00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:08.899 souls that God will transport 00:41:08.899 --> 00:41:10.479 into the new heavens and the 00:41:10.479 --> 00:41:10.899 new earth. 00:41:11.379 --> 00:41:12.479 That's what will be in common. 00:41:13.099 --> 00:41:13.899 It's the church. 00:41:16.739 --> 00:41:18.239 Vendrunen also wrote, no one 00:41:18.239 --> 00:41:19.879 born in Adam's curse could 00:41:19.879 --> 00:41:21.519 accomplish Adam's dominion 00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:22.000 mandate. 00:41:22.500 --> 00:41:24.299 The last Adam, Jesus Christ, he 00:41:24.299 --> 00:41:26.539 has completed that mandate once 00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:28.460 for all and no one else needs 00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:29.739 to accomplish it. 00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:32.599 So when Jesus teaches us to 00:41:32.599 --> 00:41:34.320 pray for the will of God to be 00:41:34.320 --> 00:41:35.960 done and the kingdom of heaven 00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:38.400 to come on earth, we do that 00:41:38.400 --> 00:41:39.960 trusting that Christ is the one 00:41:39.960 --> 00:41:41.360 who ushers in the kingdom of 00:41:41.360 --> 00:41:42.699 heaven spiritually. 00:41:43.900 --> 00:41:45.400 It is not the mission of the 00:41:45.400 --> 00:41:46.219 world to trans. 00:41:46.460 --> 00:41:47.500 It's not the mission of the 00:41:47.500 --> 00:41:49.199 church to transform the world, 00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:51.219 but rather in Romans 12, we are 00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:53.380 told do not be conformed to the 00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.739 patterns of this world, but you 00:41:54.739 --> 00:41:57.279 church be transformed by the 00:41:57.279 --> 00:41:58.819 renewing of your mind. 00:42:00.939 --> 00:42:02.319 Beloved congregation of our 00:42:02.319 --> 00:42:03.939 Lord Jesus Christ, we are not 00:42:03.939 --> 00:42:05.099 theologians of glory. 00:42:05.959 --> 00:42:07.759 We want to be theologians of the 00:42:07.759 --> 00:42:08.159 cross. 00:42:08.959 --> 00:42:10.759 We want to obey Jesus and his 00:42:10.759 --> 00:42:12.419 command to take up our cross 00:42:12.419 --> 00:42:14.479 daily in this world. 00:42:14.619 --> 00:42:16.879 He's preserving it until the full 00:42:16.879 --> 00:42:18.099 number of those that Christ 00:42:18.099 --> 00:42:19.879 purchased are brought to him. 00:42:19.880 --> 00:42:23.519 We don't want to have a mission 00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:24.559 statement that says we will 00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:25.700 transform the world. 00:42:26.599 --> 00:42:28.200 Instead, we want to praise God 00:42:28.200 --> 00:42:29.700 every single day that he 00:42:29.700 --> 00:42:31.920 preserves this fallen world, this 00:42:31.920 --> 00:42:33.960 decaying planet, and he does 00:42:33.960 --> 00:42:34.920 that through his people. 00:42:35.700 --> 00:42:37.059 This earth is that decaying 00:42:37.059 --> 00:42:39.059 carcass, but we are the salt of 00:42:39.059 --> 00:42:39.480 the world. 00:42:39.700 --> 00:42:41.700 We've been pushed into the the 00:42:41.700 --> 00:42:44.039 massive humanity on earth to hold 00:42:44.039 --> 00:42:45.480 it together, to preserve it. 00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:49.380 We will not fill this planet with 00:42:49.380 --> 00:42:51.840 the kingdom of heaven by any form 00:42:51.840 --> 00:42:53.539 of cultural dominion. 00:42:54.780 --> 00:42:56.199 Instead, Christians, we want to 00:42:56.199 --> 00:42:58.159 throw our whole life on the 00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:01.400 promise that Christ shall return 00:43:01.400 --> 00:43:02.719 in glory one day. 00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:06.159 Romans 14, we read that we shall 00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:08.760 all stand before the judgment seat 00:43:08.760 --> 00:43:09.420 of Christ. 00:43:09.740 --> 00:43:11.119 This is Christ's second coming. 00:43:12.159 --> 00:43:13.920 And as I live, saith the Lord, he's 00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:14.960 quoting Isaiah 45. 00:43:15.460 --> 00:43:17.900 Every knee shall bow to me and 00:43:17.900 --> 00:43:20.900 every tongue shall confess to God. 00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:24.000 And so then every one of us shall 00:43:24.000 --> 00:43:27.340 give account himself to God. 00:43:28.320 --> 00:43:30.400 It's when Christ returns that every 00:43:30.400 --> 00:43:32.300 knee will bow and we will give 00:43:32.300 --> 00:43:33.139 account to him. 00:43:35.059 --> 00:43:37.860 So when Christ does return that 00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:41.539 second time, all of the earth will 00:43:41.539 --> 00:43:43.400 be full of the glory of God. 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:46.599 Habakkuk 2 14 says the earth shall 00:43:46.599 --> 00:43:48.840 be filled with the knowledge of the 00:43:48.840 --> 00:43:51.099 glory of the Lord as the waters 00:43:51.099 --> 00:43:52.800 cover the sea. 00:43:54.139 --> 00:43:55.759 That's when the Lord will fill this 00:43:55.759 --> 00:43:58.480 earth with his kingdom of heaven and 00:43:58.480 --> 00:44:00.659 we will be able to rest fully and 00:44:00.659 --> 00:44:02.699 finally with him forever. 00:44:03.480 --> 00:44:04.099 Let's pray. 00:44:04.099 --> 00:44:11.779 Oh Lord God, hallowed be your name. 00:44:13.779 --> 00:44:15.819 You are the creator and sustainer of 00:44:15.819 --> 00:44:16.980 everyone and everything. 00:44:18.279 --> 00:44:20.079 Lord, we do pray that your kingdom 00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:23.099 come and your will be done on earth as 00:44:23.099 --> 00:44:24.400 it is in heaven. 00:44:25.639 --> 00:44:27.599 Thank you for how you've inaugurated the 00:44:27.599 --> 00:44:29.559 kingdom of heaven through the work of 00:44:29.559 --> 00:44:31.339 Jesus Christ in your church today. 00:44:31.340 --> 00:44:34.039 that we get to be part of that Lord, a 00:44:34.039 --> 00:44:36.539 foretaste of the heavenly glory will 00:44:36.539 --> 00:44:36.940 enjoy. 00:44:37.579 --> 00:44:39.180 We long for the day when you will 00:44:39.180 --> 00:44:42.100 return, when you will come and your 00:44:42.100 --> 00:44:44.120 glory will cover this entire earth as 00:44:44.120 --> 00:44:45.320 the waters cover the sea. 00:44:45.900 --> 00:44:47.460 Please come quickly, Lord Jesus, 00:44:47.860 --> 00:44:48.740 according to your will. 00:44:49.220 --> 00:44:49.519 Amen. 00:44:49.519 --> 00:44:49.660 Amen. 00:44:49.660 --> 00:44:49.720 Amen. 00:45:01.340 --> 00:45:04.380 Amen. 00:45:04.380 --> 00:45:06.120 Amen. 00:45:06.120 --> 00:45:06.240 Amen. 00:45:06.260 --> 00:45:06.720 Amen. 00:45:06.720 --> 00:45:07.579 Amen. 00:45:07.579 --> 00:45:07.640 Amen. 00:45:07.640 --> 00:45:08.240 Amen. 00:45:08.720 --> 00:45:09.420 Amen. 00:45:11.579 --> 00:45:12.000 Amen. 00:45:12.000 --> 00:45:12.120 Amen. 00:45:12.120 --> 00:45:12.420 Amen. 00:45:12.620 --> 00:45:13.340 Amen. 00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:15.920 Amen. 00:45:22.380 --> 00:45:24.880 Amen. 00:45:24.880 --> 00:45:24.980 Amen. 00:45:25.180 --> 00:45:26.940 Amen. 00:45:26.940 --> 00:45:27.120 Amen. 00:45:27.180 --> 00:45:27.300 Amen. 00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:28.160 Amen. 00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:30.880 Amen. 00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.320 Amen. 00:45:31.320 --> 00:45:33.320 Amen. 00:46:01.320 --> 00:46:03.320 Amen. 00:46:31.320 --> 00:46:33.320 Amen. 00:46:33.320 --> 00:46:34.320 Amen. 00:46:34.320 --> 00:46:35.320 Amen. 00:46:45.320 --> 00:46:53.600 As we prepare for the Lord's Supper, I want to bring to your attention some important parallels between Noah and Adam. 00:46:54.800 --> 00:46:57.360 Came from the study and Bible commentary. 00:46:57.360 --> 00:47:05.840 In both narratives, Adam and Noah, God created and then recreated out of watery chaos. 00:47:07.300 --> 00:47:11.280 Both Adam and Noah are said to be the image of God. 00:47:12.360 --> 00:47:17.000 And those are the only occurrences in all of Genesis of that phrase, the image of God. 00:47:18.640 --> 00:47:20.800 Both Adam and Noah walked with God. 00:47:21.480 --> 00:47:23.360 Both exercised dominion over animals. 00:47:24.620 --> 00:47:26.120 Adam was told to name the animals. 00:47:26.119 --> 00:47:28.880 Noah was told to preserve them in the ark. 00:47:29.839 --> 00:47:34.400 God commands each to be fruitful, to multiply, and to rule. 00:47:36.359 --> 00:47:38.859 Both Adam and Noah were to work the ground. 00:47:38.860 --> 00:47:45.519 Both Adam and Noah sinned in connection with what they consumed. 00:47:47.140 --> 00:47:49.680 Adam sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. 00:47:51.200 --> 00:47:57.140 Noah, after the water subsided, grew a vineyard, grew the grapes, made wine, got drunk. 00:47:57.139 --> 00:48:05.500 And the sin of both Adam and Noah resulted in shame, in nakedness, and needing clothing. 00:48:05.500 --> 00:48:16.059 Our Lord Jesus Christ came. 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:19.260 The Bible calls him the second Adam. 00:48:19.780 --> 00:48:21.940 He came to inaugurate the new creation. 00:48:21.940 --> 00:48:28.619 And we're told that those who are in Christ are clothed with his righteousness. 00:48:28.619 --> 00:48:33.400 And now with the Lord's Supper, we eat and we drink. 00:48:34.339 --> 00:48:46.440 All that man has done to sin, to destroy that bond, the covenant of grace, it goes forward and it promises the blessings that Christ secured for you. 00:48:46.440 --> 00:48:49.440 So come to the Lord's table today. 00:48:50.059 --> 00:49:00.179 If you are a Christian, if you're united to him, praising him for his righteousness, praising him for redeeming what we eat, redeeming what we will drink. 00:49:00.179 --> 00:49:05.279 It's not a fruit of the vine that's bitter anymore. 00:49:05.379 --> 00:49:06.399 It's sweet taste. 00:49:06.759 --> 00:49:09.460 And it's a foretaste of the banquet feast of heaven. 00:49:10.419 --> 00:49:16.159 The new Jerusalem, the Zion of God, where he rules his people as their king. 00:49:16.679 --> 00:49:19.059 If Jesus is your king, then this is his table. 00:49:19.739 --> 00:49:24.399 And he invites you to come and to feast with him, to rest in his grace again today. 00:49:24.400 --> 00:49:36.920 If you're a baptized believer in good standing within a church, taking steps toward membership or visitors who know Jesus, then you come and you enjoy the Lord's Supper. 00:49:37.860 --> 00:49:38.760 It's for you. 00:49:38.980 --> 00:49:44.380 We'll take the elements by making a line down the middle, breaking off the bread and taking the cup back to your seat. 00:49:44.519 --> 00:49:51.220 And then once everyone's been served, we'll stand together as a spiritual family and we'll read from God's word to enjoy it together. 00:49:51.940 --> 00:49:52.660 You may be served. 00:49:54.400 --> 00:49:56.400 You may be served.