Example of Grace and Works
The first account we are going to discuss is that of Noah. The main factors we have been considering
grace, faith, works, and salvation are all clearly demonstrated.
The account is found in Genesis chapter six, starting at verse one. The human
population began to multiply upon the earth and the daughters of men were pleasing to look at. So the sons of God (heavenly
beings) took as many wives as they chose. From these unions were born mighty men of renown.
God saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every "…imagination
of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (v.5).
This caused the Lord grief and brought sorry to his heart that he had made man
on the earth. So God determined that he would destroy man, beast, creeping things, and fowls of the air.
Even though everyone else was corrupt and the earth was filled with violence,
there was one man who found grace in the eyes of the Lord:
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations,
and Noah walked with God.
And Noah beget three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japhet (v.8-10).
Grace was extended to all but not obtained by any of the wicked people
who were destroyed. But Noah found grace because he was a just man, perfect in his generation, and he walked with God. Noah
did not follow the ways of the wicked on the earth, I repeat, Noah walked with God and God saved him by Grace.God told Noah
that he was going to bring this destruction upon the earth:
And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy
all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shall come into the ark,
thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee (v. 17-18).
God told Noah exactly what kind of ark to build, what to build it of, how to build it, and
who and what was to go into the ark. Noah obeyed God, "Thus did Noah; according to all that God Commanded him, so did he" (v.22). What do
you suppose would have happened to Noah and all that was saved in the ark if he had not gone to work and built the ark, as
God commanded him? Obviously, they would have been destroyed along with the rest of the wicked world. If he had not built
the ark he would have disobeyed the command of God, he would have been out of saving covenant relationship with God.No
work, no salvation by grace.
Example of Faith and Works
Noah demonstrated his faith in God by his works. Saving faith is a faith that is always demonstrated
by works (obedience). We read in (Romans 10:17), "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God", When God
tells us something and we believe it that is faith. When God tells us to do something, and we do it (obey/work), that is saving
faith.
No one who refuses to do what God told him to do will be saved through faith.
Noah demonstrated his faith in God by his works. God said "Make the an ark", to save your house, Noah heard God, believed,
and obeyed God by going to work and building the ark. If Noah had not demonstrated his faith by obeying God he would not have
been justified, his faith would have been a dead faith, and he and his house would have been destroyed in the flood.
Because he obeyed (worked), through faith he and his house were saved. James,
the Apostle, using Abraham as an example, explained the relationship of works to salvation like this:
But wilt thou know O vain man, that faith without works is
dead…
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
…Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only…
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also
(James 2:20-26).
Salvation is the reward that God gives to those that act
out of faith, "…for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek him" (Hebrew 11:6). Noah did the work of faith when he obeyed God and built the ark. God rewarded him not because he
had faith alone but because he put his faith to work. "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith" (Hebrew 11:7).
Noah preached to the wicked people of his day for about 120 years warning them
that the flood was coming, as he worked on the ark. God gave the people plenty of time to get prepared, but they did not believe.
Those who did believe, but did not go into the ark were lost. There will also be mockers and scoffers talking the talk of
disbelief when the Lord returns with his mighty angels in flaming fire:
Know this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after
their own lust,
And saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep,
all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens
were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved
unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:3-7).
