"But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus..." (Acts 15:11).
Although the word "sin" is found in dictionaries, it's not always used seriously in conversations today. Wrong thoughts, words, desires, and behaviors frequently are not considered to be sins. Many describe sinful behavior merely as sickness, freedom of speech, or the right to choose one's lifestyle. Others laugh and say, "there is no such thing as sin."
It's tragic to laugh at sin and sin's deadly power. The sinful culture of Noah's time testifies to such foolishness... and to God's righteous judgment upon sinful and unrepentant people.
Why were Noah and his family spared? Was it because Noah had no sin? No. Moses tells us (Genesis chapter 6), "Noah found favor [grace] in the eyes of the Lord." God had mercy upon Noah and his family.
The Bible tells us that through grace, Jesus shed His blood, died, and rose from the grave. Through grace (God's favor toward us in Christ), God credits the believer with Jesus' righteousness. Through grace, God gives the gift of eternal life.
Noah trusted God's grace. Like Noah, God's people take sin seriously, repent with sorrowful hearts, and trust God's grace for forgiveness and salvation.
May God always grant us the gift of repentance and the gift of forgiveness and righteousness.
-Dale
