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Where did God’s covenant grace begin?
Well, literally, it began before God created man. God always had a plan to redeem people.
We first read about the Gospel in Genesis 3. Adam, Eve, Abel, Seth and many more people were redeemed.
But who is the first person mentioned in the Bible to have found God’s covenant grace?
If you said Noah, then you are right!
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Genesis 6:8
But Noah’s story began to take shape with the life of his ancestor, Methuselah. He lived centuries before Noah was born.
So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
Genesis 5:27
Even non-believers know one thing about Methuselah. He lived longer than any other person ever born.
The world had fallen into deepening darkness and sin in his time.
But Methuselah was a part of God’s patient grace story.
Methuselah came from a line of men who were godly, including his own father, Enoch. Enoch has an equally interesting story, so read about him when you have a moment. (Genesis 5)
The days that Methuselah lived had a purpose. His life was a testament of God’s love and patience for all people. (John 3:17)
Each day, for nine hundred and sixty-nine years, the Lord withheld His hand of catastrophic judgement from the world.
But then Methuselah died.
And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
Genesis 6:3
After Methuselah died, God gave mankind an additional 120 years to repent. But they did not repent. (Genesis 6:5)
And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Then the Lord said, “I will wipe mankind, whom I created, off the face of the earth…”
Genesis 6:6 & 7
But Noah and his family believed in God. Only those eight souls received God’s grace and were saved. This was the first expression of God’s covenant grace.
Let’s take a look at all of the blessings that come from this miraculous story of grace.
The Ark – Safety in Jesus
The Ark is a picture of Christ Jesus.
Think about it. When you were born again you received new life in Christ.
Noah and his family’s entry into the Ark is a picture of their acceptance of God’s gracious invitation.
Then the Lord said to Noah, “Enter the ark, you and all your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this generation.“
Genesis 7:1
Jesus still invites lost people to be united with God through His sacrifice.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5
The Seal of Pitch
God had instructed Noah to seal the wood, inside and out, with pitch. (Genesis 6:14)
Pitch was used to keep the water (God’s judgement) from penetrating the ark.
Without this seal, Noah and his family would have perished in the flood. They would not have been protected from God’s righteous judgement.
In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
Ephesians 1:13
The atoning work of Jesus on the cross seals every believer, once for all time. Our salvation is secure. (John 10:28-30)
The Captain of the Ship
The Ark was constructed without a stern, prow or helm. No man could have steered the Ark. Only God brought Noah and his family to their safe landing place. (Genesis 8:1)
The Door and the Window
There was door to the Ark, which God, Himself closed. God alone secures mankind’s salvation,. (Genesis 7:15-16)
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.
John 10:9
The Hebrew word (challan) for window means brightness or light. The window symbolizes man’s need to look to Jesus to direct our steps for salvation. (John 1:9); (Hebrews 12:2)
For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6
I hope that you have found your peace and safety in Jesus.
Share the Good News in your world!
Isaiah 52:7
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
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