The Image Of God #10: Radical Corruption, Radical Grace
GENESIS SERMON SERIES
I. Radical Corruption
[Lamech] called his name Noah, saying, “Out of the ground that the LORD has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.” (Genesis 5:29)
And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. (Genesis 6:6)
The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive [“good”]. And they took as their wives any they chose. (Genesis 6:2)
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
II. Radical Judgement
So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7)
“he [The LORD] does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of man.” (Lamentations 3:33)
“My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” (Genesis 6:3)
The LORD is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:13)
Now the earth was corrupt [“destroyed”] in God's sight, and the earth was filled with violence. And God saw the earth, and behold, it was corrupt [“destroyed”], for all flesh had corrupted [“destroyed”] their way on the earth. (Genesis 6:11-12)
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. (Luke 17:26-27)
III. Radical Grace
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8)
Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. (Genesis 6:9)
Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22)
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
…the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. (Genesis 8:21)
And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. (Genesis 8:21)