I would like to introduce the great Biblical doctrine of God’s grace this morning. To do so, we need to look and see the context in God's Word for the very first time God uses the word “grace” in the entire Bible. Do you know when God first explains His grace to us? It is at the very darkest days of the history of this world.

As we open to Genesis 6, we are opening to the most evil time of human history, from God’s perspective. God who sees all things, and who can never lie, said that in the times of Genesis 6: every intent and every thought of humanity was only evil constantly.

The chapter before us describes the time when it was the hardest time to seek, follow, or obey God. So, we are opening to the very darkest moment in Earth’s history until the final, demon-induced darkness of the great tribulation at the end of days. But, even in this dark chapter of the Bible, we always find that:

Grace Shines Brightest
In the Darkest Times

In the Flood promised in Genesis 6, God decided to scour the filth of humanity from the face of the Earth. This is not a pretty picture; nor a nice topic to consider. But, after all that hopeless multiplication of sin, in v.8, God introduces us to the word “grace”, perhaps the most beautiful word in the whole Bible.

Please stand and follow along as we read God’s Divine, inspired, flawless record of the darkest days of humanity, Genesis 6:1-8.

Genesis 6:1-8 (NKJV) Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of god saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Pray

In the first seven verses of Genesis 6, God says that humanity had descended to such depths of sin and evil that He had to destroy them. In only nine generations from Creation mankind had become too evil for God to even allow them to go on. But:

Noah Found Grace in
The Eyes of the Lord

In Genesis 6:8 we find God revealing what happens when He sees the depths of evil that our fallen, sinful lives get trapped by: He offers His grace. If you want to note something monumental in your Bibles, circle that word “grace” (KJV, NKJV) or “favor” (ESV, NAS, NIV). This is the Old Testament word for God’s unmerited favor, the word we love to hold dear in the New Testament. (In the ESV, NAS this same word is translated “grace” in Zech. 12:10.)

Think about what we just read. When all of humanity was hopelessly doomed to destruction: the grace of God is first seen. The world facing doom in Genesis 6 is so much like Paul’s words in Ephesians 2. Listen as I read of the same loving, saving, gracious God in Eph. 2:1-9 (NKJV):

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Paul also summarizes this type of grace we see here in Ephesians 2 and in Genesis 6, by these words: “where sin abounded grace abounded more” (Rom. 5:20). The grace shown by God at the world’s darkest hour is even seen in the method of saving Noah, the ark. As you turn onward to Genesis 6:14, notice how:

The Ark Portrays our
Eternal Salvation
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Choice #1: Spirit-Filled Believers
Are Given to Godly Praying Like Job
EPHESIANS 5:18/JOB 1:5

As we open to Ephesians 5, God is offering to every believer in Christ’s Church: the joys and delights of a Spirit-Filled Family. We are each a part of a family.

We are each given by God the power and prompting of the Holy Spirit, to transform every relationship in our lives. We are called and invited to be constantly transformed into more godly, submissive, winsome, and gracious: husbands, sons, and fathers; and wives, daughters, and mothers.

God wants to revolutionize every relationship in each of our lives. He does that through the simple truth of Ephesians 5:18. Spirit-Filled relationships in our families flow from Ephesians 5:18.

All our relationships are shaped by the godly choices we can now make as grace partaking sons and daughters of God. Spirit-filled believers understand that:

Grace Does Not Demand:
Grace Offers and Waits

Yes, grace means that God does not demand: He offers.

God has offered to each of us the power of His Spirit to shape every relationship in our personal lives, our marriages, and our families.

God asks each of us to be tools for His Glory in the lives of all we know and touch. How are you doing at staying filled with the Spirit? Please stand with me as we read our passage this morning. Ephesians 5:18-6:1.

Ephesians 5:18-6:1 (NKJV) And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Pray: “Spirit of the Living God”

Following the Spirit’s plan, as laid down in His Word is the key to unleashing the power of Spirit-Energized Parenting. Lesson one:

Point One: God Offers us Spirit-Empowered &
Transformed Relationships

From Ephesians 5:18 onward are the evidences of the Spirit filling our lives.

The Holy Spirit wants to transform every relationship in our lives.

• First, every believer is to be transformed by a Spirit-prompted submissive heart in Eph. 5:21;
• Then, in Eph. 5:22 wives are to be transformed by a Spirit-prompted submissive heart;
• Then, in Eph. 5:25 husbands are to be transformed by a Spirit-prompted submissive heart;
• Finally, in Eph. 6:1-4 the Spirit of God wants to transform: fathers and children.

Every relationship in life is magnificently altered, by surrendering to the Spirit-Filled Life. So, point one is, God offers us Spirit-Empowered and Transformed Relationships.

The next truth we should notice is:

Point Two: God Gives Us Portraits of
Spirit-Filled Families in His Word

The Biblical Family is not subjective. It isn’t up for discussion. God has given His pattern. He has clearly expressed His desires. We are left with the choice to respond and become instruments that carry out His plan.

Remember, God’s plan works even when your husband, wife, children, or parents are NOT in step with His will. Let me repeat that: God’s plan works even when your husband, wife, children, or parents are NOT in step with His will.

In our Bibles we see a wife that is never said to be in agreement with her godly husband. In fact the only words Mrs. Job is remembered as saying is why don’t you “curse God and die”. That doesn’t sound like a Spirit-filled wife or mother. Maybe that is why Job prayed so much. God’s plan works even when your husband, wife, children, or parents are NOT in step with His will.

We see that Samuel as a dad was a sensitive and godly servant of the Lord, yet his children were not in step following the Lord. The same is true about David, Noah, and many other families we see described in God’s Word. God’s plan works even when your husband, wife, children, or parents are NOT in step with His will.

Another great family in God's Word was spiritually led by a mom married to a lost, and pagan husband. Timothy’s mom Lois and grandmother Eunice were believers but Timothy’s dad was not. Look how God used that godly mom and grandmother to produce one of the First Century’s finest missionary pastor. God’s plan works even when your husband, wife, children, or parents are NOT in step with His will.

All we are asked to do is personally respond to God’s plan. He does not force us. God invites us. Once we “log on” to His power through the Spirit, He fills us, leads us, and empowers us to be all He designed us to be.

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