The Letter to the Hebrews
The Faith of Noah
Hebrews 11:7
Let’s turn to Hebrews chapter 11. If you need a Bible, go ahead and raise your hand and we will bring a Bible to you. Hebrews 11 is on page 1007 in the Bibles we are passing out.
This week the new Pope, Pope Francis, gave a sermon. You may have seen lots of headlines about it. But it raised a question about who could be saved.
In response to the pope’s sermon a poll was taken asking people will God save atheists who do good?
43% of those questioned said that Yes, God will save atheists who do good. And 47% of those questioned said that No, God will not save atheists who do good.
So what would you say? And what Scripture would you use to back up your opinion?
One reason I want to mention this is because I want to encourage all of us to be studying God’s Word so we can tell when something we hear is true and when it’s not true. It’s not enough to quote a pastor. What’s important is that you are learning God’s Word so you can go to God’s Word yourself.
So what does God’s Word say? Will God save an atheist if he or she does good? Now if you are an atheist, we love you. We are glad you are here. And we long for you to be saved. But will God save you if you do good?
Look at what we read last week in Hebrews 11:6 --
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
The truth is that none of us can be saved by doing good. Because none of us can do enough good to make up for our sin. The only way we can be saved is by faith.
Faith means believing that God is, and that God rewards those who seek Him through what Jesus did on the Cross. Without faith it’s impossible to please God – which means it’s impossible to be saved. But with faith we will please God – and are saved.
So, none of us – atheists, or anyone else – none of us can be saved by doing good. The only way we can be saved is by faith. That’s clear from Hebrews 11:6.
But as I pondered that, and then read v.7, I think the author knows that v.6 raises a troubling question. The question is -- how much faith do I need in order to please God? Do I have enough faith to be saved? Do I have enough faith to be assured of heaven?
And one reason the author tells us the story of Noah in the next verse is to answer that question. Look at what he says in v.7 –
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. [Stop there.]
The story of Noah is found in Genesis 6-8. Here’s what happened. Adam and Eve had turned their backs on God and sinned. As a result, sin filled the earth, because everyone turned their backs on God -- everyone, that is, except Noah and his family.
And so because God is perfectly holy and just and righteous – God chose to destroy everyone on the earth except Noah and his family.
So God told Noah that He was going to bring a flood upon the earth which would destroy everyone. And God told Noah to build an ark that would save him and his family. And Noah believed God. And because he believed God’s Word that a worldwide flood was coming, Noah built the ark.
So with that in mind, read v.7 again – but notice especially the very last words of this verse --
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
So Noah had faith in God’s Word – and by that faith he became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. This is huge. See, because of our sin, we are not righteous before God. But to avoid God’s righteous judgment, we need to be righteous before God.
And the moment Noah believed God’s Word he became an heir – he inherited -- the righteousness that comes by faith.
How is that possible? It’s only possible through Jesus. The moment Noah believed God, two things happened. All of his sin was put on Jesus 2,000 years in the future and punished in Jesus. And all of Jesus’ perfect righteousness was given to him – covering his remaining sinfulness.
So from that moment on, when God saw Noah, God saw him as covered with Jesus’ perfect righteousness.
And that’s what happens with us. The moment we have faith in Jesus Christ – all our sins are transferred to Jesus and punished in Him – and all of Jesus’ perfect righteousness is given to us as a gift.
And from that moment on, God sees us as covered with Jesus’ perfect righteousness.
So how much faith do I need to please God? The moment I trust Jesus Christ – it’s done. If your faith is genuine, which means you want to keep trusting Jesus for the rest of your life – then that first act of faith makes you an heir of Jesus’ perfect righteousness.
So what if someone in your home group calls you up and says – “I’m struggling. I’m not sure if I’ve had enough faith to be saved and fully righteous before God.” What should you say? The simplest answer is – turn to trust Jesus right now. If you trust Him right now you can be fully assured that you are saved and are an heir of Jesus’ perfect righteousness.
So that’s one crucial truth the author wants us to understand. But there’s a second crucial truth. To see that truth let’s ask – how did Noah do something as hard as building an ark?
Think of how hard this would have been. God had said He was going to bring a flood upon the earth and kill everyone. But that Noah should build an ark which would protect Noah and his family. So think of how hard it would have been for Noah to build an ark.
There had never been a flood. There probably wasn’t much water where Noah lived. But God told Noah to build an ark. And this was not a small ark you could hide behind your house. God gave him the exact dimensions of the ark – it was to be 450 feet long – one and a half football fields long. It was to be 75 feet wide – which is about half the width of a football field. And it was to be 45 feet tall – which is about three stories tall.
The ark would have been massive, and it would have been seen by everyone for miles around.
And his building of the ark would have been a symbolic statement to everyone that God is going to judge the world. That’s what the author means when he says that Noah condemned the world.
Look at how he emphasizes that in v.7 –
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By building this ark he condemned the whole world. His building of the ark was a symbolic statement that God was going to judge the world.
So Noah would have looked foolish to everyone. Imagine God asking you to do something that everyone thought was foolish – all your neighbors think it’s foolish, all your friends think it’s foolish, all your work associates think it’s foolish. Everyone is looking at you and talking about you and laughing about you. Can you feel how hard that would have been?
So here’s the question -- how did Noah do something so hard? The author tells us how he did it. Read v.7 again –
By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this [faith!] he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
He did this by faith. Too many of us read that and just gloss over it. But those two words are the key to the entire Christian life. That’s the point of this chapter. Everything we need to be and do comes to us by faith.
Here’s what this would have looked like for Noah. There he is, facing something very hard. Maybe he’s wondering if it’s worth it. Maybe he’s fearing how people will respond. Maybe he’s doubting whether there really will be a flood.
So how did he do it? By faith. Faith means trusting all that God promises to be to us in Jesus Christ.
So Noah would have turned to God with his doubts and fears – and he would have asked God to forgive him. Then he would have asked God help him. He would have asked God to strengthen his weak faith so he could obey.
And then, because faith comes from hearing God’s Word, he would have set his heart upon God’s Word. He would have pondered God’s promise that there would be a flood over the whole earth. And as he prayed over that promise and sought to trust that promise he would have experienced v.2 – God would have commended him. God would have poured His love into Noah’s heart. God would have strengthened his faith.
And Noah would have known and felt and tasted that God is true and I am righteous before Him and He loves me -- and the flood is coming. And that would have strengthened him so he would go ahead and build the ark in spite of what others thought.
And all this came to Noah by faith. Faith is not short-hand for “grit your teeth and do it.” Faith means turning to God as you are, asking Him for help, and setting your heart on God’s Word until you feel the Holy Spirit strengthening your faith and you feel God’s love commending you as pleasing to Him. Then – with that strength – you will be enabled to obey.
So what does this mean for us? The story of Noah’s ark and the flood isn’t just something that happened back then. This is a picture God is giving us to help us see what’s going on today.
· Back then, people were turning their backs on God. Today, people are turning their backs on God.
· Back then, God told Noah that the flood would punish all who turned their backs on God. Today God has told us that His judgment will punish all who are turning their backs on God.
· Back then, God told Noah to do something that looked foolish – build an ark. Today, God tells us to do something that looks foolish – tell people about Jesus.
· Back then, the flood came. Noah finished the ark, and it started raining. And everyone except Noah and his family were destroyed. Today, God’s judgment has not yet come. But it will. And everyone who has not bent their knee before Jesus Christ will be destroyed – forever.
Mercy Hill, God has called us to tell everyone about Jesus, and that looks foolish. For now. But one day everyone will see – it was not foolish. It was right. It was love. It was true.
But it’s hard. We are weak. We are afraid. We doubt. So what can we do? Do what Noah did. BY FAITH Noah constructed the ark. So turn to Jesus by faith – and He will strengthen you, fill you, embolden you.
So here’s my challenge. In your notes I’ve listed Scriptures that God has used to help me, strengthen me, embolden me.
So take 15 minutes this afternoon or evening and do what Noah did. Turn to Jesus and trust Him to help you. Trust Him to change your heart. Ask Him for help. And then pray over these Scriptures. As you do, your faith will grow, your courage will grow, your boldness will grow.
And then step out. Ask your neighbors over for dinner. Get to know them. Love them. Serve them. Share the Gospel with them. Invite a co-worker out for lunch. Hear his story. Share your story – especially your story of Jesus. Call up your old high school friend and ask if you can get together. Love her. Listen to her. Share the gospel with her.
The flood is coming. Can you hear the rain start? Can you see the clouds gather? The flood is coming. And the ark of Jesus Christ is open. But the only way people will enter is if we tell them.
So be like Noah. By faith do what looks foolish. It won’t look foolish when the rain starts.