Grace, Faith, and Obedient Works in Salvation

But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah” 

Genesis 6:8

The fact of the worldwide flood is instrumental to our understanding of God’s desire to save man. We learn this story from our parents, we discuss it in our Bible classes, and occasionally we hear a sermon mentioning it. Have you considered that this is but one example of how grace, faith, and obedient works are critical in salvation? 

Grace 

When we look at Genesis 6:8, we see that Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. The Hebrew word ḥên is translated here as favor but is accurately translated as grace as well. God made an observation that the wickedness of men had caused every thought they had to be evil continually. It was so bad that the Lord changed His mind (repented) that He had made man, and it grieved Him. This is a far cry from the description of the creation being described as good. The choice of sin by each individual disfigures the goodness in which we are all created. 

We fully employ ourselves in the labor of sin, and we are due the wages of that sin, which is death (cf. Romans 6:23). God’s grace is the only thing that can redeem us and make us good and holy in God’s eyes. Noah found that grace in the eyes of Jehovah. Noah and seven others would survive out of the entire world population because God saw Noah and extended His grace. However, the gift had to be received. 

Faith

“By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” 

Hebrews 11:7

God’s offer was contingent on Noah’s faith. If Noah did not believe God, he would not receive God’s grace. The overwhelming majority of the world would not believe that God’s grace was available to them. Noah believed. It was by faith that he believed in the promise that God had made. The faith of Noah required him to believe in things that before had not been seen, like a worldwide flood. In addition, it likely had never rained from the sky before. He had to believe God enough to build a giant boat. All these things which God described were unseen. Noah believed God; he believed in the unbelievable. Why? Because if you can get past Genesis 1:1 and be fine with that, you surely can have faith that God can and will do what He says He will do. 

We worry and fret because we lack faith. We cry out to God like His tempest-tossed disciples, “Teacher, carest thou not that we perish (cf. Mark 4:38)?” We must remember God’s grace can cover all our sins but is dependent on our faithful obedience to His terms. 

Obedient Works

“And Noah did according unto all that Jehovah commanded him.” 

Genesis 7:5 

God’s offer of grace and the faith which Noah had required action. If Noah was to violate any of what God had commanded, he would not have been saved. If he would have not built the boat, he would drown like the rest of humanity. If he would have selected any other number of animals than the ones prescribed according to the plan, Noah would be in sin. Noah worked and he carried out all that Jehovah had commanded him. Noah was also described as not just a builder but a “preacher of righteousness” (cf. 2 Peter 2:5). 

We must carry out works of righteousness each day that we have because the Lord commanded that we do so. For we are judged by our fruit (cf. Luke 6:43-45). If we love the Lord, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).

New Testament Christianity requires grace, faith, and works. Noah needed God’s grace, he had to believe God, and he had to act on what he was commanded to do. This is not a conflicting message from the fact that God offers and has shown grace. We can only receive this grace by faith that God is going to do what He said. We can only remain in grace through faithful works of obedience (cf. James 2:17). 

Grace and Peace, 

R.D. Beavers