Monday April 12
The Man Noah (Gen. 6:9)
These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.
Amid all the texts about the evil of the antediluvian (pre-Flood) world, the man Noah stands out in contrast to those around him. Look at the above text, at the three particular points that the Bible mentions about him. To the best of your ability, write down what you think each of these points mean:
Most of the Bible verses being quoted in this quarter's lessons are from the KJV. What a blessing. But, the words in the following statements, appear to come from another modern version. Why choose another version? It does not use the word "perfect."
"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." NIV
1. He was “a righteous man”
He did not sin, he was perfect in moral character.
2. He was “blameless”
He was perfect being just and merciful without hurting others and God.
3. He “walked with God”
He communed with God not forgetting He was leading Him step by step, moment by moment. Noah heard the still small voice of God and knew he needed Him in order to keep from sinning.
There is no question, Noah was someone who had a saving relationship with the Lord. He was someone whom God could work with, someone who would listen to Him, obey Him, and trust in Him. That is why the Lord was able to use Noah to fulfill His purposes and why Peter, in the New Testament, called him “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Pet. 2:5).
Read Genesis 6:8.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
How does this text help us understand the relationship between Noah and the Lord?
Noah understood His need of grace. It was his knowledge of the character of God that caused him to follow God. He spent a lot of time communing with God, so he knew Him intimately. Do we spend time with God throughout the day?
The word grace occurs here for the first time in Scripture and clearly has the same meaning as in the New Testament references, where the merciful, unmerited favor of God, exercised toward undeserving sinners, is described. Thus, we need to understand that however “blameless,” and “righteous” Noah was, he was still a sinner who needed the unmerited favor of his God. In that sense, Noah is no different from any of us who seek earnestly to follow the Lord.
What does "he was still a sinner" mean? Does it mean that Noah was sinning? Many have been taught this. But, at the same time the lesson says that Noah was blameless and righteous. Let's assume that the lesson means that he really was blameless. Then what does the lesson mean he was a sinner? We live in fallen flesh. If not for the power of grace, we would continually sin, thus in this sense we are all sinners. But some sinners are saved by grace and are repentant sinners who have not only been forgiven, but have been cleansed from sin. Thus, one can be a sinner and not sin because the power of grace is to transform sinners into saints even while living in fallen flesh. Thus, the gospel of grace needs to be explained so that all may understand Satan has been busy perverting the truth.
Understanding that Noah needed God’s grace, as do the rest of us, look at your own life and ask yourself this question, Could it be said of me that I am, like Noah, “righteous,” “blameless,” and that I “walk with God”? Write down your reasons for whatever position you take and (if you feel comfortable) share it with the class on Sabbath.
The closer we get to God, the more clearly will we see our defects of character. Thus we do not see ourselves as perfect, holy, blameless, or righteous. But, when we surrender the whole heart to God, holding nothing back, we will manifest all of the fruits of the
Spirit, not one will be missing. We will keep the commandments of God. And if we take our eyes off of Jesus, we will sin. But, we still have an Advocate, Christ Jesus who will give us more time to repent and forsake our sins.
Satan has been so successful at perverting the truth, that seldom if ever do we hear from the pulpit the following truth from 1 John:
3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not.........
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
3:11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
Do you believe this truth that is not taken out of context, but is quite different from many new translations.