Grace in the Eyes of the Lord

What Grace Is

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The world was full of evil, and judgment was coming. Then the Bible says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Genesis 6:8). What is grace?

Grace means a gift. Grace is God's kindness and favor that we do not deserve and cannot earn.

The first time. Genesis 6:8 is the first time the Bible speaks of someone finding grace. Grace shines brightest against a dark background.

In His eyes. To find grace “in the eyes of the Lord” means that God looked at Noah with kindness and chose to bless him.

Noah needed grace. Noah was a sinner like everyone else. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Grace came first. The Bible tells of God's grace to Noah (6:8) before it describes Noah's good life (6:9). Grace was the cause, and his good life was the result.

Not earned. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Mercy, too. God saved us “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy” (Titus 3:5). Mercy means God does not give us the punishment we deserve. Grace means He gives us good we do not deserve.

Not what we deserve. “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10).

Grace costs God. Grace is free to us, but it was costly to God. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

Jesus became poor. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Like a rescue. If you were sinking in the sea, you would not pay the lifeguard first. You would grab hold of the rescue. Grace is God's rescue that we simply receive.

Received by faith. We receive grace the way you receive a gift: by opening your hands and taking it. Faith is trusting Jesus to give what He promised.

What we learn. Grace is God's free, undeserved kindness. Noah found it, and we can find it in Jesus.

What to do. Thank God today for His grace. Tell Him that you know you cannot earn it, and that you trust Jesus.

Genesis 6:8 introduces one of the Bible's great words. The first time anyone finds grace, it is in a world under judgment.

Chen. The Hebrew chen (say: KHEN) means favor, grace or kindness shown by a greater person to a lesser one. It comes from chanan (say: khah-NAHN), to be gracious.

Finding favor. The phrase find favor in the eyes of is used of people too: “Joseph found favor in his sight” (Genesis 39:4). The one who finds favor does not create it; the one who gives it decides to show it.

The order of 6:8-9. Grace (6:8) comes before the description of Noah as just and blameless (6:9). Righteousness is the fruit of grace, not the root.

Charis. The New Testament word is charis (say: KAH-rees), a free gift given out of kindness. It is the word in Ephesians 2:8.

Ephesians 2:8-9. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Grace is the source, faith is the way we receive, and boasting is shut out.

Grace and mercy. Mercy withholds the punishment we deserve; grace gives the good we do not deserve. Titus 3:5 says God saved us “according to His mercy,” and Psalm 103:10 says He “has not dealt with us according to our sins.”

The cost. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Grace is free to us because Christ paid for it.

2 Corinthians 8:9. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” Jesus' coming and His cross are grace in action.

Grace and the Law. “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Grace was always God's way; in Christ it is shown in full.

Grace is not wages. Paul says that if salvation is by grace, it is no longer of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace (Romans 11:6). A gift that must be earned is not a gift.

Grace under judgment. Grace first appears in a chapter about judgment. God's grace does not ignore sin; it rescues sinners from the judgment sin deserves.

Faith is not a work. Faith does not earn grace. It is the empty hand that receives what God gives.

Application. Stop trying to earn God's love. Receive His grace in Christ, and let gratitude, not fear, drive your obedience.

Grace That Changes Us

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Grace saved Noah, and grace changed Noah. After the Bible says Noah found grace, it shows us a man who walked with God and obeyed Him.

A new life. “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9). Grace led to a life that pleased God.

Full obedience. “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did” (Genesis 6:22). Noah obeyed because God had been gracious to him.

Made for good works. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Workmanship means something carefully made.

Good works come after. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works. Grace comes first, and then good works grow.

Set free. “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18). Grace sets us free to do what is right.

Grace upon grace. “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16). Jesus keeps giving more and more grace.

More grace. “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble”” (James 4:6). Humble means not proud.

Grace for hard days. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Grace when you are weak. Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Sufficient means enough.

Grace grows. Peter told believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18). The longer we walk with Jesus, the more we learn how kind He is.

Grace for others. People who have received grace learn to show it. We can be kind to people who do not deserve it, because God has been kind to us.

Noah's family. God's grace to Noah reached his whole family. Grace often spreads from one person to the people around them.

What we learn. God's grace saves us and then changes us. It helps us walk with God and obey Him.

What to do. When you obey God this week, remember that you are not earning His love. You are thanking Him for it.

Grace is not only the start of the Christian life; it is the power for all of it. Noah's story shows grace that rescues and then grace that reshapes.

Grace and righteousness (6:8-9). Once Noah found grace, he lived as a just and blameless man who walked with God. Grace does not leave a person unchanged.

Grace and obedience (6:22). “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” The obedience was full and careful, and it grew from trust.

Ephesians 2:10. Right after saying salvation is by grace and not by works, Paul says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” The Greek poiema (say: POY-ay-mah) means a thing made, a work of art.

Prepared beforehand. God “prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). The good works are God's plan for the life He saves.

Grace upon grace (John 1:16). “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.” The Greek phrase charin anti charitos (say: KAH-reen AHN-tee KAH-ree-tohs) pictures one wave of grace following another.

New masters. Romans 6:17-18 says believers “obeyed from the heart” and, “having been set free from sin,” became “slaves of righteousness.” Grace changes who we serve.

Grace to the humble. “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Pride shuts the door that grace comes through.

Grace in need. Hebrews 4:16 calls God's throne “the throne of grace.” Believers come boldly, not because they are worthy, but because Jesus is their High Priest.

Sufficient grace. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Grace does not always remove the hard thing; it gives strength to carry it.

Grace teaches. Paul wrote that the grace of God that brings salvation also teaches us to say no to ungodliness and to live soberly and righteously (Titus 2:11-12).

Growing in grace. Peter ends his second letter by urging believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

Grace that spreads. Noah's household was saved with him (Genesis 6:18). Those who receive grace become channels of grace to others.

Application. Obey God out of thankfulness, not fear. When you fail, run to the throne of grace instead of away from it.

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Read each section and answer the questions correctly.