The Great Escape
Genesis 6:5,6
Genesis 6:5-7 – "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them."
Genesis 6:11-13 – "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth."
The flood is an actual event.
The flood in Noah’s day is a worldwide flood – not local. Bible believers know this. Unbelievers will never be convinced.
Caused by wickedness of men. Judgment of God upon this present evil world is also caused by the wickedness of men.
II Peter 3:1-7 – "This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."
Every person must recognize the coming judgment of God in order to escape it.
The way of escape is grace, not works:
Noah – God said in Genesis 6:8 – "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."
God told Noah to build an ark to the saving of his household – Genesis 6:14 – "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."
Genesis 6:17, 18 – "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee."
Genesis 6:22 – "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he."
The way to escape from the coming judgment of God upon this world is still grace:
a. Ephesians 2:8-10 – "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
b. Jesus Christ has been sent to be a propitiation for our sins. I John 4:10 - "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
c. The word "propitiation" means that Christ is the atonement for our sins. It means that Jesus Christ came to the earth, and shed his righteous blood for our wickedness, paid our hell on the cross of Calvary, gave us his righteousness, and ever lives to make intercession for us. Jesus took our place.