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We are coming to Genesis, chapter 6, and I know you've read verses 9 to 22, but I'm going to go a little bit beyond, or before that, in verse 8 to 22. And we're just going to look at this one man that you have read about in this passage.

Now, I love the sermon video trailer that our Comms Team has done up. I think it's very appropriate for this segment of Scripture we are looking at. It talks about the corruption of sin in man. It talks about the growth, the deepening, the darkening of this world in sin. It's very sad.

And we read last week that something bizarre happened, something that is out of our expectation - that women would have relationships with fallen angels. Now, if this is the first time you're joining us in worship, and the first time you hear that, don't get too shocked. Go back to the sermon last week and check it out, alright?

But then the Bible is speaking, in Genesis 6 of how sin is peaking. It's really bad! Because we see that: “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.” [Genesis 6:5] It's really bad! It's peaking wickedness in this world. And then we read of course today, in verses 12 and 13, there was corruption, there is violence. And it is a sad time.

But I also want you not to lose perspective. This is not just gloom and doom, because the brightness of God's promise still shines through. I’d like to remind you that we are really tracing the Protoevangelion - the first offer of the Good News.

When God said that in Genesis 3:15, He means it, He is going to fulfil it. So even though we are going through a very difficult patch in Genesis, we're looking at a very difficult period in human history, we must not forget that God will fulfil the Protoevangelion. God will fulfil the promise of the Savior who will crush the serpent's head.

So really the study of Genesis, and the Old Testament, is a tracing of this beam of light that starts right here in the Garden of Eden, right until it shines on the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. So that's what we're doing in Genesis. Looking at how God is faithfully, unwaveringly, always working to fulfil the promise of the Messiah.
[1] God Selects A Man

Now, how is God going to do that during this time in Genesis, chapter 6? Well, I'm going to start right into the message, in that I want you to identify that God first selects a man. He chooses someone.

Now, who is this guy? Well, let me introduce him this way. Do you know who is the greatest stock broker in the world, in the Bible? Who is the greatest stock broker in the Bible? The answer: the man you're going to read about - Noah.

You say, “Why is he a stockbroker? I thought he's a builder of the ark.” Well, he floated his stocks when the world was in liquidation. Okay, I know that's a bad joke, but okay, I got your attention; you know what it is. God selects a man, and He chose Noah. Why? Well, the Bible says, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” [Genesis 6:8]

So how is God going to ensure that the Protoevangelion - the first Gospel, first offer of the Gospel, is going to come true? Well, He selects a man - Noah.

Now, the word “but” here is significant. It conveys the message that even though this world is really, really sinful and bad, God has a plan. “But Noah found favor.” [Genesis 6:8] So this is the activation of God's plan in this period. He selects this man called Noah.

Now, the question is why did Noah find favor in the eyes of the Lord? Why? We've got to ask this, and we need to think about this. Because it's very natural for us to think, “Hah, I know why God chose Noah. Noah was a good man. Noah was a kind man. Noah was a man who loved God. Noah was a man who is moral and good. So God choose Noah because Noah is inherently better than this sinful world.”

Now, I think that's what most of us would read of, when we think about this. We think that God chose Noah because he's just better than others. But you know that's not quite what I think we should understand. There is no one - let me just get this straight, when you read Genesis, you should understand that there is no one who is spared from the virus of sin.

Now, we are very scared of COVID-19 today. Infectious rate very high, and apparently the new strain coming from UK is even more infectious. But let me tell you something that is 100% infectious, and is 100% successful – it’s the virus of sin.

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned against God, every human being is born in sin, apart from Jesus, of course. But every human being from Adam's line is infected with sin. Everyone suffers from guilt and shame and fear. Everyone is cut off from God. Everyone is in need of the Savior.

Noah is no exception. In fact, he's far from a perfect guy. We read of his tragic sin in Genesis, chapter 9 with his daughters. We'll come to that in the new year. So he's not selected because he's a perfect guy. He's not a perfect guy. So I’d like you to see, that when you look at Genesis 6:8, that “Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord”, it's not because Noah is great, but because God is great.

Alright, God chose Noah not because Noah is good, but because God is good. God is so gracious, that He would choose even, and He would even use sinful man to fulfil His promise to bless the world in sending a Savior for us. That's the emphasis.

Now, recently my son just completed his PSLE, got his PSLE results. And when you get the PSLE results, the next thing you think about is what school you go to. Maybe that's what you're thinking about for your kids as well. Now, in Singapore, people generally like to choose schools that are like the top ones if you can, right? If you get good grades, you get to good schools, and that's what people like to choose.

And so maybe for some of you, you say, “I want my son to go to RI.” “I want my daughter to go to RGS.” I'm not sure if they are still the best. During my time, they were. But I'm not sure now; maybe standards fallen, I do not know. But okay, let's assume you want your son to get to the best school, you want your daughter to get to the best school.

How do people - how does the Ministry of Education select students for the best schools? Very simple, they look at your grades. They look at your PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination - score, your aggregate score. And then they plot it with, against the number of students in the year.

And if you just plot that chart, like a score of 50 to 100, 150, 200, 250, and so on, you would typically see a spread of students in such a manner. We call this a bell curve. Very typical.

In other words, we understand that most students, the highest number, would be those who get the average PSLE scores. I'm not sure what's average? 150 to 250? I'm, I'm not sure. Maybe that's the average, alright? Most students would score within that range.

There will be some who really struggle. They get what - 80, 90? But there are fewer, it's on your left side. And then there are those who are super good students, they get wah - 280, 290, very few on the extreme right. So that's a typical distribution of the number of students who get, who take the examinations in PSLE.

Now if you want to go RI and RGS, where do you think you should be on this bell curve? Left side, where your score is low, or the right side, where your score is high? Of course, you choose the right side.

You say, “To enter RI, RGS only 600 slots.” I'm not sure how many, but let's say there are 600 slots. So the top 600 students would be chosen. Maybe they form the top 5% of the entire cohort in Singapore. And we call this the 95th percentile. So who gets into RI, RGS? Those with the top grades.

Now this kind of thinking is what most of us think about, when we think about spiritual things. Who does God choose to be His people? We also think that God chooses based on good deeds.

So you check, or you have a chart or a graph about good deeds, and the number of people, and typically we think also of a bell curve. Most people are quite average one lah - not too bad, not too good, somewhere in the middle. That would describe most of us.

We wouldn't think of ourselves as Saddam Hussein on the left side. And we wouldn't think of ourselves as maybe a holy man like some Charles Spurgeon or whatever, on the extreme right. So we think most of us will be right in the middle.

Then we think that when God chooses people to serve Him, He don't choose the “jialat” [colloquial expression used to describe something terrible] one. He chooses the better ones. So He chooses the holy people on your right side. And we think that, that might be where Noah is. “Ah! God chose Noah. Noah found favor in God's eye because he's the top student, top scorer in life.”

But what if I were to tell you, that that standard by which God chooses is something that none of us can attain to. In fact, if we were to draw the chart more accurately, it will not look like this because it will look more like this. In fact, I think this is also not accurate, because the chart, if we are to draw, would not look like this, it will look more like this. In fact, it will be more accurate if we think it's like this.

But I'll tell you, it's only accurate if we think it is like this. You know why? Because the Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” [Romans 3:10] The Bible says, “No one does good, not even one.” [Romans 3:12] “All our righteousness acts are like filthy rags.” [Isaiah 64:6]

So if you think that God chose Noah because Noah is better than others, you've got it wrong. Because the rest of the Bible tells us really why. There is none who is better than another. Do you know what? We're all of us - we are all sinners, who deserve nothing from the Holy God. We are equally damnable for all our sins.

So where is Noah in this chart? Let me tell you where he is, when God chose him. He's right here, with all of us, sinful men. That's where he is. “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord” [Genesis 6:8] is not a statement saying, “Noah is so great, God got to choose him.” It's a statement that says, “God is so great that he could use a sinner like Noah, that He could use a broken instrument like Noah.” It is not chosen - Noah is not chosen because of his grades, but because of grace. You've got to get that clear.

So we need to see this selection of Noah as God's unwavering and gracious commitment to fulfil the Protoevangelion. That even though man is so bad in sin, He's not giving it up. He selects a man, pours grace into his life, that he might be the channel through which the Messiah would come.

And my friends, that's the way God chooses you. You realize that? God did not choose you because you are a better person. Please - the fact that you come to church, the fact that you worship God, the fact that you know God, is not an evidence that you were inherently better than your neighbor, or better than your friend. We are all sinners saved by grace.

I mean, that's the teaching of the Bible. “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” [Ephesians 2:8] If you think God chose you because you're somehow better than others, you do not understand grace. Grace is God's favor to undeserving people. Absolutely undeserving people.

The Bible also tells us, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” [Romans 9:15-16] God's mercy and compassion is not given to those who deserve. There is none who deserve it! It is given to those who God chooses - sovereignly, independently. And it's got to be that way, once again, because nobody absolutely deserves anything.

“So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” [Romans 9:16] Why is Noah chosen? Was he someone who chose God? Or was he someone who served God, and therefore God is obliged to serve - select him? No. God selected him because of His own mercy and compassion. “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy.” [Titus 3:5]

So I think this is the way God does things. This is His style. The style of God is grace. Because there can be no other way; there is no one who can deserve it. And because God saves in grace, it gives Him maximum glory. And that's the goal of God. That's the plan of salvation. That's the purpose, why God would save man in such a fashion, because this will result, in “the praise of his glorious grace”. [Ephesians 1:6]

One day when we all get to Heaven, we can all acknowledge, and we will all proclaim we are saved, not because we were better than anyone else. We are all part of the same bell curve - zero. But God poured out His grace upon our lives.

So the story of Noah reminds us of God's grace in selecting a man, to glorify Himself in the continuance of the promise of the Messiah. But I think there's more. Now, you must be wondering, “Pastor, when are you going to talk about the ark? I thought we read about the ark.” Well, we will talk about the ark, 5 weeks’ time, alright?

So I'm just going to slow it down a little. Today, we just look at the man, Noah. And actually, I want you to know not just about Noah. I want you to know that - I want you to know the God of Noah. Not so much about Noah himself, alright? But let's see.
[2] God Sanctifies The Man

Secondly, God did not just select Noah, but God sanctified Noah. God sanctifies the man. The word “sanctify” is to set apart. God sets Noah apart - for Himself, and by his life. So when God selects a man, He also changes the man. He changes him, so that he will live in a way that is different from the world that he was called from.

So we see here - God sanctifies the man - that “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” [Genesis 6:9] Now again, it is very easy for very moralistic people, like we are, to read this and say, “Oh! God selected Noah because he was righteous and blameless. And he walked with God.”

No, we should read it the other way round. Because God chose Noah, and because God poured grace into Noah, Noah was shown to be a righteous man who was blameless in his generation. So God did not choose Noah, again, because he was good, but God chose Noah because God is good. And God's grace energized Noah, enabled Noah to live in a way that is different from the world. God changed Noah.

So it is God's grace that allows Noah to be different. And the Bible tells us, “Noah walked with God.” [Genesis 6:9] In other words, I think Noah pleased God. Noah was a man who feared God, who honored God, who obeyed God. And that is his manner of life; that's the idea of walking. That was his way of life, he pleased God. Very different from the rest of the world, that is steeped in wickedness and violence and corruption.

By the way, he's the only one, I think, of two men in the Bible, who is specifically spoken to walk with God. The first is Enoch, and then we have Noah - he walked with God. Again, not because he was inherently better, but because God's grace is upon his life.

Now not only did he walk with God, I think he worked for God. In what sense? He built the ark. Now, the ark is not a small little tub. It's a massive structure that would hold thousands of animals. We will look at that again, in the next sermon in Genesis.

But it's a massive structure, and in those days, Noah was a one man show, you could say. Maybe he had the help of his sons, but I don't think anyone else would help him. Everybody must be thinking, “He's nuts! He's crazy! There's never been a flood in this world, and he's going on this crazy project, massive construction project to build this ark.”

I think he would have to give up a lot to build this ark. Needs a lot of time, and energy, and resources. But Noah obeyed God, he worked for God. He built this ark. And just a wonderful message, I think, for all of us to consider.

How's your life today? If God has chosen you for Himself, if God has graced you in your life, then let me ask you - How's your walk? Are you walking in a way that is different from the world, or are you living life exactly like your neighbor who does not know God?

Let me ask you about your work. Are you making work an idol in your life, or are you working for God? I don't think there's any qualms on Noah's part to give up whatever he was doing previously. I'm not sure what his occupation was. Was he a farmer, was he an artist, was he a musician? I have no clue. I can't remember from the Scripture. But I know that he probably gave whatever he was doing up to dedicate himself to the building of this ark.

Because the Bible tells us: “Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.” [Genesis 6:22] After God gave him all the instructions, there was this conclusion - he obeyed God in everything. He did all that God wanted him to do, with regards to the building of the ark.

Now, there's another glimpse of Noah's life offered to us by Peter. He tells us that Noah was “a herald of righteousness.” [2 Peter 2:5] A herald is someone who declares, who brings news. And so Noah was someone who tells people about the righteousness that is from God. He's a herald for people to repent of their sin, and to turn back to God.

Now, I think that would be quite natural, because he will be quite somebody in the ancient world, isn't it? This “siow kia” - we call this in Singapore - this crazy man, who gave up whatever he was doing just to build a massive structure, called the ark, when everything was dry.

“Noah, why did you do this?” “God told me there will be a flood.” “You must be crazy, Noah. There has been no flood. And certainly nothing like this will happen to flood the whole world. You're wasting your time.”

So everybody must be laughing and mocking Noah, but he didn't care. When people came, and asked him, and laughed at him, he will preach to them about the impending judgment God is going to send, calling them to repent. And that will be Noah's job; as he built, he would preach.

We are all in a COVID-19 kind of situation, we can't travel overseas. But if there's a Noah in Singapore, I'm sure it will be a long queue to see him. Don't you think? We will all want to take a selfie with Noah - “Look at me! I'm taking a photo with the crazy guy called Noah.” We would all take photos with him.

He would be like the super tourist attraction of that day. Everyone would want to look at him, ask him questions. And everyone who comes, probably will receive preaching from Noah. He was a preacher, a herald of righteousness. It makes sense, because he was someone who lived a righteous life.

I just thought I would throw this in. Some of you want to be preachers, and you study to be a preacher. You read your Bible to be a preacher. But let me tell you the most important preparation to be a preacher - holiness. Yes, it's important to know how to handle the Scriptures well. Yes, it's know - it's important to be, maybe, understanding doctrines and systematic theology.

That's good stuff! But, I think the most important thing for a preacher is his life, not just his lips. Because I read in the Bible, the qualifications of a shepherd, of an elder, what are they? Most of the qualifications is regards, with regards to his character, and with his life.

So if you're a young person today, you want to serve God in preaching, I say - focus on your walk with God. Noah walked with God, and I think it is natural then that he was a herald of righteousness for God.

Now, all that being said, let's understand that Noah walked with God, worked for God, witnessed for God, because of the grace of God. I just want to labor that point. Please don't make an idol out of Noah. Please don't think that, “Oh, he's a super-duper chap because he's just inherently better.” No, it's God's grace! It's God's grace that selected him. It's God's grace that sanctified him.

Now, God's grace is so evident in his life, that Noah is actually one of the top three - okay, I hate to say that - but top three scorers in PSLE, alright, in his life. He's one of the top three people in the Old Testament, do you know that? Think of other top three people you can think about, or you can remember? Moses, David.

But do you know that Ezekiel, he said: “Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job” [Ezekiel 14:14] – Wow, these guys, this one is Ivy League one, you know. This is a top tier, top tier people you know. I'm not going to explain what is Ezekiel is explaining here in Ezekiel 14, but you could see that obviously Noah, Daniel and Job were very righteous people. Their lives were pretty close to exemplary.

Not only once, but twice in verse 20, as well: “Even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in it, as I live, declares the Lord God, they would deliver neither son nor daughter.” [Ezekiel 14:20] And Noah is number one leh! He's the first leh!

So Noah was an amazing guy. Well, not because he was amazing, but because God is amazing to energize him in such a way that he lives so distinctly from the rest of the world.

Now, in case you think, “Ah pastor! You're saying that it is all God's grace, so we don't have to do anything. It's all God's grace, so one day I will just wait for God to zap me and I'll become holy.” It's like a zombie process. You don't do anything and God will just change you automatically.

Well, in case you think like that, I’d like to offer you a glimpse from what the author of Hebrews has to say. He says: “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” [Hebrews 11:7]

So the author of Hebrews also see that in Noah's life - not only the grace of God, but also the necessary response of faith in God. So Noah was a man who trusts God. Obvious, because he will be willing to build an ark when there's no flood whatsoever. He was a man who feared God. He's a man who trusts God. He's a man who obeys God.

See, that's the way God works in life. He doesn't just zap you. He doesn't just kind of take over your mind. His grace in your life is seen through the power of faith. It is as God's people trust Him, believe Him, obey Him, that His grace is evidenced through your lives. So if God has truly selected you, chosen you, called you to Himself, let me say this - You will be a person of faith. You would obey Him. That would be the way you will live your life. And as you obey Him, as you trust Him, He will change you, He will sanctify you.

So, how did God ensure that the Protoevangelion would take place in a difficult time like this? He works through a man. He selects a man, out of pure grace. He changes that man that he lives in such a unique, distinct way to be called righteous and blameless to walk with God. He became a preacher of righteousness.
[3] God Saves The Man

And then God would ultimately also save the man. And now, we know that the story of salvation is the story of Noah's ark. And it's a great story, because it tells us that Noah, together with his wife, three sons, and three daughters-in-law, eight all together, they were saved. Now of course, you say, “That's the obvious point, God saves the man, saves the family.”

This ark is also instrumental in ensuring the continuity of Eve's offspring. Because everyone else died, you know. And if Noah also died, Eve will have no offspring, who will ultimately be the Messiah. So God saved the household. God saved the possibility of this Offspring.

But more than that, this ark was meant to be a statement. This ark was meant to be a message.

Again, let me turn you to Hebrews 11. This is what faith is - Faith is “believ[ing] that [God] exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” [Hebrews 11:6] Immediately after that, in verse 7, we see that Noah being warned by God, constructed an ark. And this is one of the reasons why there is this ark, and there's this salvation. That “by this” [Hebrews 11:7] - by this ark, by this story, by this deliverance from destruction - God is using Noah to condemn the world. To condemn the world in what? To condemn the world for its unbelief, that they will not believe God.

You see, turning back to Genesis, chapter 3. Satan's plan was to ungod God. What do you mean? Satan's plan was to cause Adam and Eve to not see God for His glory, to see that God is not entirely trustworthy. And therefore, Adam and Eve sinned against God. Because they don't see God as God.

But here, God is raising a man called Noah, built an ark through Noah, saved Noah in the ark, so that Noah would be a message, would be a statement to the world - that there is someone who is willing to trust God for who He is, and he's saved from the destruction that befell the whole world.

See, that's what God is doing. God in His salvation plan selects a man, changes the man, and ultimately saves that man from the judgment that is to come, as a message to an unbelieving world who doesn't trust God. And that's how God is working out His glory in this world.

So, not only is Noah saved from the flood, Noah will also be saved from the judgment on the final day, because he will become an heir. An heir is someone who has yet to receive anything. Right? But he will. So God is saying that Noah, because of his faith, is not only saved from the flood, but he will be saved from the wrath. He will inherit “righteousness that comes by faith.” [Hebrews 11:7]

So today we read that God selects a man. God is still selecting men. God is still calling men and women out of this sinful world, to belong to Him. He does not select people because they are good. There is none good. There is none righteous - no, not one. He selects people to be saved because He is good. Let's understand that.

Number two, when God selects a man, He changes the man, He sanctifies the man. He energizes that man through faith, that as this man trusts God, God is going to change him. Change him in his walk, change him in his work, the reason why he works, and the way he witnesses. God is going to change him.

And then finally, God will save that man. And on that final day of judgment, every mouth will be shut. There will be no excuse and all glory will be given to God.

So I said, well I didn't say, but the sermon title, you must be wondering what in the world is this sermon title about? It's about Noah, the man of God. Most of us when we see a title like this, we focus on? Noah. But actually, that's not the focus. The focus is the second, the two last words there: “of God”.

Noah was merely the instrument. The real glorious one is not Noah, but God Himself. And I hope that maybe you can change that title and think for yourself - are you the man of God? Are you the woman of God, that God wants you to be? Do you recognize that this could be you?

Are you chosen by grace? And that question can be answered by - are you changed by grace? And one day will you be preserved by grace?

So this is the way God works in those days. When everything seemed hopeless and dark, there's this bright light that comes from Genesis 3:15 that shines, and cuts through that darkness, into Genesis 6 in Noah's life. And we're going to continue to trace that through the book of Genesis, alright?

So as we go through this book, let's remember - it's not about Noah, neither Abraham, neither Isaac, neither Jacob, neither Joseph, but it's God. That's our focus. That's what we're learning.

Alright, let's come to God in a word of prayer.

Father, today we give You glory. Let no man glory, apart from You and Your Son. As we look at Noah's life, we are thankful. Thankful because You chose a sinful man, like as we are, and worked Your purposes through him. Thank You for the way Noah is righteous and blameless. Once again, an evidence of Your power and grace in any man's life.

Lord, we pray that we will be wise to follow in the footsteps of Noah by faith. That we will be a people who would trust You, believe You, obey You. So that as we do so, You will change us and sanctify us. We thank You again, that though we live in a sinful world, we are not without help. We are thankful for the oceans of grace that is available from You. Thankful for the Holy Spirit living in us. Thankful for the Word of God before us. Thankful for the Church of God that is meant to encourage us. And I pray that we would live righteously in our generation today.

Father, there may be some who are struggling today, because they feel they're never good enough for God. Or maybe there are some, who are striving to be good enough for You. O Lord, I pray that You will open their eyes, to realize You do not save us based on our grades, but You save us based on grace. And so I pray for a humbling, for a true repentance, and faith in Jesus, Your Son alone.

Lord, we look forward to that day, where we will truly inherit all that You have designed for us. And whilst we are here, I ask that Your people would not be discouraged, they will not give up hope, but they will rejoice even in their sufferings, knowing that this momentary, light affliction is working out for us an exceeding weight of glory. So please be with Your Church.

Today, as we look at Noah's life, I pray we would see You, more than anything else. May we be comforted, may we be encouraged, may we be challenged to live lives worthy of Your calling. Thank You for this time, we ask and pray all this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

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