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Sunday, July 7, 2024

Genesis 6 -- No Turning Back

Sermon July 6

Genesis Flood

No Turning Back

 

 

As I continue my series of messages in Genesis, today’s text comes from Genesis 6:1-8, “Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” The Nephilim were 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. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 

"The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

It is hardly necessary to review the effects of sin that have by this point already infected humanity like an aggressive cancer. Chapter four tells us Cain murdered his brother.  A few verses later some guy named Lamech boasts to his wives: “Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice . . . For I have killed a man for wounding me; And a boy for striking me.” (Genesis 4:23)

But before I move us into the primary focus of this message, I feel it necessary to take a few moments to talk about verse four because there is much general confusion among Christians as to its interpretation. I give you now my opinion and the Biblical support of that opinion. So, here is verse 4:

 

The Nephilim were 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.”

Two popular theories surround this verse. The first theory proposes the “sons of God” were angels who had intercourse with humans (the daughters of men). Their progeny was called “Nephilim,’ who were known as “mighty men of renown.”

 

The second theory proposes the ‘sons of God’ were those from the line of Seth, who was the third child of Adam and Eve after they were sent from the Garden. You’ll find that reference in Genesis 4:26. Moses tells us “To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.” And, as often happens when the godly intermarry with the godless, their progeny often – although certainly not always – end up following the ways of the godless. That is one reason God warns the Christian against marrying outside of the faith. You will find those references in texts such as 2 Corinthians 6:14 and Deuteronomy 7:2-4. There are many, many other examples, but these will suffice for now.

 

From this point in human history, it seems people divided themselves into two groups – the one who followed Seth’s line of godliness, and the other who followed Cain’s godless line – as evidenced by people like Lamech who boasted of his murders. And so, this second theory postulates that the ‘daughters of men’ – who were of the line of Cain, intermarried with the godly line of Seth, and had children from them.

 

Let’s now look at both theories in light of Scripture. One of the arguments used by those who think angels had intercourse with human women is that in the Old Testament the term ‘sons of God’ is used five times, twice in Genesis and three times in Job.

 

In each occurrence in Job (but not necessarily in Genesis) the term ‘sons of God’ refers to angels.  However, in the five times the term ‘sons of God’ appears in the New Testament (once in Matthew, once in Luke, twice in Romans, and once in Galatians) the phrase ALWAYS refers to human beings who are born into God’s family through their faith in Christ.

         

Furthermore, and of significant importance, the Lord Jesus said that angels are unable to procreate. You find that text in Matthew 22:30 when He rebuked the Sadducees’ disbelief in the resurrection: “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage but are like angels in heaven. 

 

Further, still, Moses identifies the children of this union between the sons of God and the daughter of men as Nephilim. The word Nephilim means “giant, or ‘mighty one’, or ‘bully,’ or one who has fallen.” All of those definitions fit the description of sinners who take advantage of others and does NOT need to imply the progeny of supernatural beings.

 

It is also very germane to this discussion to underscore that ALL of the Nephilim in Genesis 6 were killed in Noah’s flood.  BUT we find Nephilim living in Canaan after the Exodus (Numbers 13:32-33). You will remember from your reading the Old Testament, the Canaanites – including Goliath—were guilty of horrid and murderous godlessness.

 

And so, I think it clear from Scripture that the Nephilim of Genesis 6 were NOT the progeny of angels and human woman. The title, ‘Nephilim’ is simply a noun describing a powerful and evil group of men.

 

Okay, back now to our primary text: As we have already seen from the first chapters of Genesis, and as we know from first-hand experience, sin always results in more sin. And without detailing humanity’s plunge into the utter darkness of evil, Moses simply tells us in chapter six: Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land.’

But I do not want us to miss the next verse: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. I find here at least two points that are crucial to our maturity in Christ.

 

First: God was at the end of His patience. We must never forget that, or overlook it, or turn a blind eye to the clear Biblical truth that when we persist time after time after time, rebuke after rebuke after rebuke – when we insist on going our own way, God WILL, as some point known only to Him – put an end to rebellion.

 

Whether it be on a global scale, as happened with Noah’s flood, or on a national scale, as the Old Testament prophets tell us happened to ancient Israel, or as happens to ANY church, whether Catholic or Protestant – as Jesus warned of in the second and third chapters of Revelation, or as what happens on a personal level – as happens every day to the godless and the wicked who meet their own disasters . . . We must never forget or turn a blind eye to this truth: God's patience has its limits.

 

Which is why God's call for our ongoing repentance runs like a crimson thread from Genesis through Revelation.

 

Repentance. Turning from sin. Practicing as best as we can a lifestyle of holiness. There is good reason why the Lord Jesus, after His baptism and 40 days in the wilderness immediately went about proclaiming: “The time

is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15).  A few chapters later, when the Lord sent out the Twelve, Mark tells us, “They went out and preached that men should repent.” (Mark 6:12)

 

Christian – you know this as well as I – the ‘gospel’ is NOT the gospel if REPENTANCE is not also proclaimed alongside the message of salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice for our sins. And along that thought – I know I speak quite often about repentance, and about guarding our hearts every day so that we do not offend God.

 

I know I preach that quite often – but I want you to know WHY I do so: It is because I so very much care about all of you. I hold you all in my frequent prayers, bringing each of you by name before God's throne. And you would be correct to think that when I warn you about sin and repentance, I ALSO warn myself – every day.

 

I am not ignorant of Satan’s schemes – and neither should YOU be. The devil is not done with any of us yet in trying to seduce us ever so subtly from a holy walk with Christ. So, please – guard your mind. Be careful what you watch, what you listen to, and who are your close friends. And make sure you keep short accounts with God. Do not delay in your confession to Him of your sins.

 

And now back to verse eight of Genesis 6 and the second point I want to make about that text: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

 

Of the entire globe, only Noah found favor in God's eyes. Think for a moment what that means. God was so fed up with the way humanity was acting, He was sorry He’d even created them. But then He saw the one man – the one man who was faithful to Him.

 

Listen to Hebrews 11:7, “By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Many Bible scholars say it took Noah between 50 and 100 years to build the ark. For the sake of this message, let’s split the difference and say it took him 75 years.

 

To put things into perspective, if a 75-year-old person today had been born when Noah started building the Ark, he or she would have heard all their life about some crazy guy who’s been preaching of God's impending judgment because of their obstinate sins.

 

But how many of them, even decades after Noah began preaching – how many, even as Noah hammered the last nail into the last board of the boat – how many stood around, mocking and saying, “Yeah? So where is the promise of His judgment? For 75 years you’ve been telling us about it. And, well . . . ?”

 

Perhaps that sounds a bit familiar to some of us in this sanctuary. For decades, as long as we have known the Lord Jesus, we’ve been telling others of God's love, of the sacrifice of His Son for their sins, and of His impending Judgment. But – have they said of us – perhaps even in our own family – “Oh, don’t listen to grandma or grandpa. That’s all just crazy talk. God if He even exists – God is a God of love. Don’t worry about what she’s saying about judgment.”

 

I’ve spoken with people – perhaps you have as well – who say they’re too intelligent to believe in Judgment. I’ll never forget talking with an elderly gentleman a couple of years ago who told me his church doesn’t believe all that talk in the Bible judgment. And the things in the Bible that speak of morality only apply to an ancient agrarian people.”

 

The guy closed his argument by telling me, “We have PhDs in our congregation who assure us we don’t have to worry about ancient morality or God's judgment.”

 

And so, Satan’s subtlety continues from Genesis and to this present moment. And His deception WILL continue even up to and during the time God sends His final judgment on this planet, as St John recorded for us in the Book of Revelation.

 

Think of it again: Noah preached repentance and judgment for nearly a century, and in the end only Noah, his wife, their sons, and their son’s wives entered the Ark. Everyone else, the entire human race, was lost to a place of eternal anguish.

Some of you might know the name of St Athanasius. He lived during the spiritually tumultuous 4th century AD when the Arian heresy was decimating the Christian church. The bishop Arius believed Jesus was a created Being and NOT Almighty God in flesh. Athanasius vehemently debated the point with Arius’ followers, many of whom occupied high positions in the church of the day. As a result of his stance against Arius, Athanasius was exiled from his home country.

 

On one occasion a bishop urged him to compromise with Arius. He told Athanasius that the entire world was against him. To which Athanasius replied: “Is the world against Athanasius? Then Athanasius is against the world.”

Noah alone found favor in God's eyes because of his OBEDIENT faith in what God had told him. He could have compromised with his family and friends and neighbors and lived a peaceful life without argument and ridicule.

 

But Noah did not compromise. He believed and obeyed God, despite the ongoing and decades-long ridicule and mocking of his neighbors, former friends – even likely some of his family. But as far as Noah was concerned – and this has DIRECT application to everyone in this sanctuary – as far as Noah was concerned, it was he against the world if the world was against God.

 

So, where are YOU in all this? Where am I in all this? Noah’s faith did not fail during those many decades of ridicule . . . JUST AS – and this is important, so please pay attention – just as many of YOU have not compromised YOUR faith, despite the ridicule that you have endured because of your obedient faith in Christ. And don’t doubt for a nanosecond that just as Noah found favor with God for his faith, so do you because of yours.

 

As the song lyrics proclaim, “I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. Though none go with me, still I will follow. Though none go with me, still I will follow. Though none go with me, still I will follow. No turning back. Not turning back.”

 

Christian, listen, please. St Peter warns all who have ears to hear: (2 Peter 3:10-14) “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.”

My brothers and sisters – be diligent to pray for each other – and for Nancy and me as well – that we all continue day by day to stand against the world when the world stands against Christ.

 

May our God empower us all to remain true to Him, even if we stare death in the face.

 

No turning back. No turning back.


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