Noah, The Ark, and Grace

NOAH, THE ARK AND GRACE
(Fred Newman)

There is much erroneous teaching on the subject of God's grace.  Many preachers, teachers and church goers are sincerely mistaken about how grace and works are reconciled.  The record of Noah and the ark which is recorded in the book of Genesis gives us a glimpse into this subject.

Jehovah "saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that the intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). God was grieved in His heart and made the decision to destroy man from upon the face of the earth. 

God gives us a description of His servant's character, "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9).  However, the Holy Spirit guided the author of this book to record this statement, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord" (Genesis 6:8).

Noah was provided a means of being saved from this destruction.  Was this salvation based upon Noah's goodness or righteousness?  The obvious answer to this question is: "NO."  Noah was a good man, and one who walked with God, but he was a sinner just like you and me (this is borne out in Gen. 9:21).  He would not be spared because he had lived a life of perfection and thereby was entitled to being saved.  God offered Noah this plan by which he could be saved because Noah found grace in His eyes.

At this point, if we apply the principles of popular teaching on the subject of grace, then God would tell Noah, "Rejoice because you have been saved."  However, the Genesis account does not follow this line of logic.  Instead, God told Noah of His plan to destroy man from the face of the earth and instructed him to build an ark by which he would be saved.  It is also noteworthy that Jehovah did not provide Noah with the ark and tell him to enter when the rains began.  The Lord gave Noah specific instructions about what he must do if he was to be spared from this calamity. 

Let's stop at this point and ask a question.  Would Noah have been saved if had not obeyed God in building this ark?  The answer to this question is obvious.  Noah would have drowned with the rest of the unbelieving and disobedient world. 

Next, let us notice that God did not leave the construction of the ark to Noah's design.  Instead, God gave Noah a "blueprint" by which the ark was to be built.  Gopherwood was specified as the wood that should be used in building this vessel.  The ark was to be covered with pitch both inside and out.  God instructed that the ark be 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in width, and 30 cubits high.  The ark was to have three decks, a window and a door.  Would God have overlooked changes to His plan if Noah had taken it upon himself to change His design?  Again, the answer to this question is clearly, "NO." 

If one is honest, the relationship between faith, obedience to God's commands, and grace can be seen in this account.  Obviously, Noah would not have been saved if had not believed God when He warned him about the impending destruction and His instructions to build the ark.  Jehovah would not have saved Noah although he accepted the truth of the divine warning but failed to act upon His command to build the ark.   Now we must synthesize the subject of grace and works.  Did the fact that Noah built the ark in response to his faith in God's command negate God's grace and entitle Noah to salvation?  Again, the answer is a resounding, "NO!"  Regardless of what Noah did in response to God's command, he could never stand before the Lord and appeal to his own goodness and righteousness as a basis for being saved.  Although, Noah labored for over 100 years building this ark according to God's specifications, it was still by God's grace that he was saved.

The New Testament "blueprint" that is given by the Holy Spirit that provides the means by which one will receive the forgiveness of sins, includes action that is prompted by one's faith.  As Peter and the other eleven apostles were inspired to speak on the Day of Pentecost, the crowd responded, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37).  The answer, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).  God's plan for receiving forgiveness of sins does not preclude action on the part of the believer nor does it negate the fact that salvation is by grace.

Paul wrote in Romans 5:1 that we are justified by faith (does that exclude grace?).  He goes on in the next verse to explain that we have access to God grace by this faith.  James tells us that faith without works is dead being alone (James 2:17). He goes on to say that faith is made complete when it is coupled with works.  So when an individual has complete faith that is accompanied by obedience to God's commands then they have access to God's grace.  Grace simply means that God gives one something good of which they are undeserving.  If I could accumulate an infinite number of good deeds to my credit, I could never merit or deserve salvation.  However, just like Noah, without obedience to God's commands I will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.  Notice the words of our Lord, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord,Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven but he who DOES the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

The common objection that is raised when the necessity of baptism is taught in the plan of salvation is that grace then is excluded. If that is the case, then God excluded grace in Noah's case when He commanded him to build the ark.  We are saved by grace through faith which obeys the commands of God.

 

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