THE COVENANT OF GRACE

INTRODUCTION - Last time in our study of God's covenant with Noah, we saw that this covenant was based on the divine election of God and not on the choice of men. This forms the basis for all of God's dealings with mankind, it is always by grace, and it is always according to His election. We also saw that God's distribution of His grace does not just affect the individual, but is poured forth on the family unit (Genesis 7:1; 9:8,9). Here is a great comfort to Christian parents as they endeavor to raise their children under the blessings of God's gracious covenant. Covenantal promises are spoken to family units and not just individuals. Finally, we saw that Noah's covenant included a repetition of the creation mandates of conquering, subduing and multiplying in the world. Creation becomes a tool in the hands of regenerate men to bring glory to God. All of life is to be returned to its former place in creation, and the Christian is called to this task through whatever position God has given him in this world. This evening we shall continue with our study of God's covenant with Noah by considering God's gracious promise to sustain and preserve life till the end of time.

1) GOD'S COVENANT WITH NOAH PROMISES TO SUSTAIN THE WORLD THROUGH ALL OF TIME - One of the errors of unregenerate thinking is -

A) MAN BELIEVES THAT HE IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN HIMSELF - One of the great fables which man loves to fantasize about and be entertained with is the possibility of the complete destruction of life as we know it. The film industry has provided us with an incredible amount of scenarios, describing how this final event could take place. Everything from nuclear holocaust, to a worldwide disease, global warming which will create another flood, to comets hitting the earth, animals of the world rising up and threatening man's existence, or aliens arriving from another world to zap us into extinction - the possibilities are endless! Yet whenever the film industry makes such an epic disaster movie, the theme at the end is - man will always survive! We always manage to go on living, after we have learned our lessons. This premise is completely man-centered and the theme proposes that no matter what the threat, man is big enough, strong enough, or smart enough to overcome. Man will survive. Notably absent is the intervention of the Sovereign Lord of the universe. In contrast to this, the story of Noah is a true epic disaster which does not flatter the pride of man. Here we see God coming to this world intending on wiping it out because of man's wickedness (we don’t like to think of ourselves as creatures deserving of obliteration due to our wickedness). The escape from God's flood is embarrassing to man. If he does not turn to God for help, he is going to be submerged in judgment. Man thinks he is smart enough and strong enough to overcome all obstacles, but here we see that the only way to survive is to depend fully upon God. Thus, God warns man about the coming devastation, He provides the plans for the ark, He chooses who will survive, He closes the door of the ark, brings the disaster, and then makes the world livable for man afterwards. It is God who sustains man. This is the message we should learn from the flood - it is God who sustains and man only survives because of God's providence. God is the Lord and Giver of life. A second error of unregenerate thinking is -

B) THE POSSIBILITY OF ALL OF LIFE BEING WIPED OUT ONE DAY - Though man thinks himself strong, he still have concerns about his universe. There may very well be a factor out there which will defeat him. Extinction is a possibility. Yet why should the Christian not worry about complete annihilation? Why do we not need to fear a killer disease or nuclear holocaust destroying all of life? The reason is, we believe in the promises of God made to Noah in the covenant. God promises to all of creation that never again will He allow mankind to be destroyed (Genesis 8:21,22). Never again will there be a worldwide devastation. The seasons will never cease and life will continue because God says it will. God makes this covenant with the entire world (Genesis 9:9,10) telling us that the natural order of life will always continue. Why does God make such a promise to creation? There is an important detail in Genesis 8 which answers this for us.

C) GOD SMELLS A SOOTHING AROMA FROM NOAH'S SACRIFICE - Genesis 8:20,21 - A fragrance rises from the sacrifice which Noah offers after the flood. When God smells the sacrifice, He begins to make promises to Noah and all of creation. What is it that God smells? What does God detect in the sacrifice of Noah? We must realize that it is not because of Noah's good work in making a sacrifice that God is moved to make promises on Noah's behalf. Instead, it is the smell of the sacrifice which moves God, not Noah's actions. As we read through the Old Testament we see God demanding Israel to offer similar sacrifices which will provide a "sweet aroma" to the Lord (Exodus 29:18). What is the sweet aroma which God smells? The New Testament tells us that it is the aroma of Christ's offering and sacrifice which God smells (Ephesians 5:1,2). Christ and His sacrifice are the sweet smelling savor of Old Testament sacrifices. Thus, when God smells Noah's sacrifice, God sees His Son and is reminded of what His Son would accomplish at Calvary. Based upon the sweet smelling savor of Christ, God makes promises to Noah and to all of creation. The seasons will be sustained because of Christ. The world and life will be preserved because of Christ. The world will never again experience complete destruction because of Christ. Why? Why does God not wipe us out of existence? The analogy of the fragrant aroma of the sacrifice can be taken further as we realize that Christians are also called "the fragrance of Christ to God" (II Corinthians 2:15). Since the Christian is "in" Christ, he is also described as the very fragrance of Christ to God. Therefore, the Lord is not only reminded of His Son in those Old Testament sacrifices, but He is also reminded of His people, the seed of the woman, all those for whom Christ died. God preserves the world not just for the sake of Christ, but for the sake of His elect, for all those who will enter the kingdom of God through the redemption of Christ. God will also sustain and preserve this world until all the work of Christ is completed and the last of the seed of the woman is brought into the kingdom. He will preserve life because of the church for whom Christ died. Here is an added characteristic to the Covenant of Grace. God will maintain history. We will not destroy ourselves. The world will not be brought to an end until God decrees it, and this will only happen when Christ's redemption of God's people is complete.

2) GOD'S COVENANT WITH NOAH IS SEALED WITH THE RAINBOW - Genesis 9:12-17 - Here in Hawaii we are continually blessed with the reminder of God's covenant of grace with Noah. Let us realize, however, that the rainbow is not a sign for us, but for God. He is the One who sets it in the heavens. He is the One who is reminded of His covenant by the rainbow. Here again we see the sovereignty of God in His relationship with man. God is the One who will remember and God is the One who will not bring devastation on the world. The sign of the covenant is described as "the rainbow in the cloud." Both judgment and grace are pictured in the sign. Judgment is expressed in the cloud for this was the means that God destroyed the human race in the flood. The cloud depicts the holy judgment of God, but the rainbow is the sign of His grace. It is a sign that God will preserve the world until all of the people of God are brought in, and then the end shall come. God looks at the rainbow and turns His wrath away. God looks at the Passover blood and passes over His people. God looks at the blood of Christ applied to us and wrath is averted from God's people. Do we realize the grace and mercy of God in sustaining and preserving this world? Were it not for His grace, we would all perish in the flood of His wrath! Let us thank God again for His covenantal blessings to His people, and let us remember, the next time we see a rainbow, that God has preserved this world for the sake of Christ's atonement and for the sake of the church.