Gospel faith in the Old Testament: Noah

Gospel Faith in the Old Testament: Noah, faith leads to action that saves and condemns faithless inaction

1. Gospel faith comes from Father and is given to us 11:7a “being warned by God”

A. Father saves not by works but by grace Genesis 6:8

1. God did not save Noah because Noah was good. Father saved Noah because He is

gracious and kind and had purposes unspoken in the text from which he acted. We are

left to trust Father’s good purposes, as in the garden. Father did not explain all things to

our parents; Father just acted and gave instruction. Father does not explain why he chose

Noah; Father just acts in grace and we are left to trust he is good when its clear all man

is in sin.

B. Father graciously gives faith for salvation

C. Father graciously sustains faith in salvation

2. Gospel faith looks forward, by Father’s grace, to events yet unseen 11:7b “concerning events yet unseen”

A. Gospel faith always has a forward look to the work of Father in the future

1. This is why Jesus gave us glimpses of what is to come surrounding his coming

B. Gospel faith that looks forward, based on the dictates of Scripture, affects ministry

1. Eschatology affects ministry

3. Gospel faith responds in awe to Father’s gift 11:7c “reverent fear”

“Reverent fear” is one word. Fear is supplied in the translation because of the connotation of the definition of the word “eulabetheis” which means reverence and awe with some degree of fear in some instances; it also means “pious reverence”. This word is also a verb and also passive in voice which means the reverent fear/awe is an action that is coming due to faith acting on the subject, in this case Noah, producing a response of awe/fear because the Lord had transformed him and engaged him, given him faith and caused him to act

A. Gospel faith will worship in all appropriate ways

It seems that this reverent fear, this awe-struck amazement did not culminate on itself.

4. Gospel faith saves, creates awesome fear and leads to action 11:7d “constructed an ark for the saving of his household”

A. Faith is always, in the Bible, belief leading to action

1. John 2 and 6 is an example of belief that does not lead to action and thus shows man’s

lostness

B. Do not be idle!

5. Gospel faith condemns faithlessness and inaction 11:7e “By this he condemned the world”

“katekrinin” – to pronounce sentence against, to declare guilty

Ezekiel 2:1-5, 33:33

And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.

(Ezekiel 2:1-4; Ezekiel 2:5 ESV)

(Here, Ezekiel is prophesying that Jerusalem will be destroyed if they don’t repent)

When this comes—and come it will!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

(Ezekiel 33:33 ESV)

A. Acting in faith, based on the dictates of Scripture, will always draw out the haters

B. Acting in faith, based on the dictates of Scripture, will draw attention to sin and inaction

C. Acting in faith, based on the dictates of Scripture, will highlight the worthiness of Father, Son

and Spirit

6. Gospel faith makes us heirs of Father 11:7f “and become an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith”