Genesis 6:5-8

Introduction:

1. Studying the life of great Bible characters offers us so many practical lessons.

2. Noah’s life teaches us how to live a godly life amongst godless people.

3. In this lesson, we consider five things a faith like Noah’s empowers us to do.

Discussion:

I. Empowered To Be Distinct

A. Noah lived in perhaps the darkest time in history (Genesis 6:6-7).

B. Reaching the end of God’s patience highlights how dark this time was (Psalms 145:8; Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9).

C. Nevertheless, Noah lived without reproach in such a wicked time.

II. Empowered To Draw God’s Grace Despite His Anger

A. Noah found grace in the eyes of an otherwise angry God (Genesis 6:8).

B. Noah’s faithfulness was the catalyst (Genesis 6:9; cf. Philippians 2:12-15).

C. God is merciful to those who love Him (Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Chronicles 6:12-14).

III. Empowered To Walk with God

A. Noah’s contemporaries walked in opposition to God (Genesis 6:5, 11-13).

B. Yet, Noah walked with God doing all He commanded (Genesis 6:9, 22).

C. God empowers the faithful to walk with Him (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13).

IV. Empowered To Offer Salvation to the Lost

A. By faith, Noah built an ark to the saving of his household (Hebrews 11:7).

B. He was a preacher of righteousness due to his faith (2 Peter 2:5).

C. His faithful proclamation saved his family while simultaneously condemning the world (Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20).

V. Empowered to Be Heirs of Righteousness

A. After faithfully discharging his duties, the Hebrews writer said Noah became “…heir of the righteousness which is according to faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

B. The world inherited destruction, but Noah inherited righteousness.

C. We too can be heirs as Noah was (Romans 8:16-17; Galatians 3:29; Ephesians 3:6).

D. This was all through the sacrifice of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Conclusion:

1. The world presents challenges to our faithfulness, but Noah proves we can live faithfully despite those challenges.

2. Will we have a faith like Noah and be heirs of righteousness, or will we be like his contemporaries and be condemned by his worthy example?