But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:8-9).
It has become very necessary to first identify and define the grace we are talking about. Here we are dealing with the grace of God. I define the grace of God as unmeritted favour that brings salvation, causing men to become friends with God. From this definition, there are three things that must be present wherever grace, the grace of God is available. There must be favour, salvation and friendship (walking) with God. Everyone that is standing in the grace of God must have these three things present in his life. The experience of Noah as revealed in our Scripture verses for today perfectly confirm the nature and working of the grace of God.
It was after Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord that he was described as a just man. From Noah, we learn that the grace of God teaches us to be just. The word 'just' as used here means to be lawful, right and righteous in conduct and character. Grace is not a ticket to lawlessness, wrongdoing and unrighteousness. Rather, grace, if it is the grace of God, teaches us to live a right and correct life. Grace helps us to walk uprightly before God. The grace of God reigns and lives through righteousness, but it weakens and dies through unrighteousness.
Secondly, we see that after Noah found grace, he entered into the realm of perfection. Grace teaches us to pursue perfection in our relationship with God. Remember Jesus Christ who brought us the grace wherein we now stand said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Jesus could demand this because He has brought us grace for that kind of life. To be perfect here means to be 'complete', 'innocent', 'having integrity', 'without blemish', 'without spot', 'undefiled', and 'upright'. The grace of God has been sent into our lives to achieve these things.
Finally, we come to see through Noah the primary and end purpose of grace. We have received grace to be able to walk with God. Friends, grace teaches us to walk with God, except the grace you are talking about is not the grace of God. To walk with God means to be focused on God. It means to live for God, please Him and agree with Him in all things. To walk with God is to be faithful and consistent with Him. That is what grace brings, that is what grace teaches.
Now you can understand Titus 2:11-12 better. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. The purpose is not just to bring us salvation but to teach us how to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. The purpose is to also teach us how to "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world". Lot's wife received grace to be saved. But because she would not allow grace to help her work out her own salvation, grace died in her because grace reigns and lives only through righteousness.
May you not receive the grace of God in vain
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