RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE
Published by Olwin Gosal in 2026 · 1 February 2026
RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE
Shalom! My brothers and sisters, last week we reflected on Noah's faith and obedience. When we hear about Noah, we might think that he was a very perfect person? Is it possible for me to live like Noah? And we begin to wonder how Noah could be so faithful and obedient to God? Was he a half-god? Was he not a human being with fleshly desires like us? That's what we want to reflect on today! What was the secret or the main foundation of Noah's faith and obedience?
My brothers and sisters, we will study Genesis 6:1-8 together. I will read each verse slowly and provide a brief explanation.
Verses 1-2, “When mankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took wives for themselves from among them, whomever they chose.” My brothers and sisters, the sons of God mentioned in this verse refer to the descendants of Seth, who were the descendants who called upon the name of the Lord, sought God, and lived in righteousness, while the daughters of men were the descendants of Cain who lived far from God, did not know God, and lived in wickedness. It says, “…then they took wives for themselves from among those women, whomever they chose.” This relationship, which was not in accordance with God's will, caused the earth to become increasingly corrupt, evil to spread, and greatly grieved the heart of God. This shows that the descendants of the righteous did not maintain a righteous way of life before God, but instead compromised and followed the way of life of those who did not know God, who lived in wickedness. The descendants of Seth should have been role models of how to live in righteousness for the descendants of Cain, but instead they intermarried with the descendants of Cain and produced an increasingly corrupt way of life.
My brothers and sisters, when God's children no longer stand on pure truth, it shows that the world is becoming increasingly corrupt and evil. Because only by standing on the truth can one be a light to a world full of darkness. If someone claims to be a child of God but no longer stands on the truth, what more can be expected? How can they have a positive impact on people living in darkness?
God's children should have a different way of life than worldly people. If their way of life is the same, what is the attraction that distinguishes us from them? What instrument do we have left to guide people to God?
Verse 3, Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” The Spirit of God cannot dwell within people when they live only to satisfy the desires of the flesh.
Verses 5-7, “The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7 So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” This section confirms to us that God is serious about sin! Therefore, in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death;..." God never compromises with sin.
Verse 8, ”But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” My brothers and sisters, we might ask why Noah received God's grace? Many would answer, based on Genesis 6:9, "This is the account of Noah: Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." If that is the answer, then it could lead to the conclusion that people can receive grace because of their actions. So, is God's grace determined by human actions?
Especially when we read that Noah was a righteous and blameless man. Does this description mean that he was completely without sin and worthy of receiving God's grace? My brothers and sisters, if God's grace is obtained by living righteously, blamelessly, and without sin, the question is, who among us is confident that they meet God's standards to receive God's grace?
Meanwhile, another Bible passage very clearly says, Psalm 51:5 “Surely I was sinful at birth,sinful from the time my mother conceived me” Romans 3:10 “as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.” This means that Noah was the same sinful human as us, he was not a perfect human, but what made him different from his contemporaries was that "Noah found grace in the eyes of God".
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, grace in Hebrew, "khane," means favor, mercy, undeserved kindness. This means that speaking of grace is about a prerogative or special right that belongs only to God Himself. God has the right to show mercy to whomever He wants, not based on their actions. So why was Noah able to live in faith, obedience, and righteousness? The answer is because Noah received God's grace! It wasn't his actions that moved God's mercy, but God's mercy helped him live righteously and in faith in God. Because if it were based on human actions, Noah would also not meet the standard, why? Look at Genesis 9:20-21 “Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent." After God saved him and his family, after God gave him such a beautiful promise, he sinned and cursed his son.
My brothers and sisters, it is truly difficult to understand, even difficult for our minds to accept, yes, it is difficult! That is God's grace, which surpasses our limited understanding. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be thankful to God that today we have faith in Him; that is grace. Be thankful that until today we can understand the truth and are enabled to do it; that is God's grace. Amen! May the Lord Jesus bless you!