Noah believed God
A Sermon on Noah from John 1:12-13 and Hebrews 11
Originally preached June 23, 1963
Scripture
12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Noah from John 1:12-13 and Hebrews 11 titled “Noah Believed God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones gives the example of Noah and teaches that the Christian life is supposed to be markedly different than the rest of the world. Noah’s life was marked by faith and radical obedience. The rest of the world was consumed by ungodliness but Noah believed God when God warned him of coming wrath. He obeyed the word of God to build an ark and Noah’s faith contrasted the whole world. The Christian life is meant to be in contrast with the world. If the Christian has faith, they will not look like the world because that faith will change what they do with their speech, body, and mind. The Christian who is out of place because of righteousness is right where they should be. Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes the righteousness of the believer by saying that they are not perfect or sinless, but thoroughly upright and sincere. Even when a Christian sins, they strive toward righteousness. Like Noah, the Christian does not merely hear the warnings of wrath, but heeds them and hides in Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- Noah was a just and perfect man among his contemporaries.
- Noah walked with God. God gave Noah assurance that he was pleased with him.
- Noah believed and obeyed God's warning about the coming flood.
- Noah was moved with fear - he had a realization of God's holiness, purity and judgment.
- Noah prepared the ark, God's way of salvation. He submitted to God's way.
- Noah preached righteousness to others through building the ark and warning them of judgment.
- We must believe and obey God's way of salvation in Christ to escape judgment.
- We must preach righteousness and warn others of judgment like Noah.
Sermon Q&A
What is the Significance of Noah's Faith According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones?
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explores the significance of Noah's faith in this sermon based on Hebrews 11:7 and John 1:12-13. Here are key questions and answers that highlight his message:
What does it mean to become a child of God according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, becoming a child of God is "the ultimate of salvation." It means not only being forgiven and reconciled to God, but "becoming children of God, partakers of the divine nature." He emphasizes that Christians are meant to have certainty about this relationship: "The Christian is meant to know. He's meant to have assurance. He's meant to have certainty."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones believe Christian assurance is so important?
Lloyd-Jones identifies two key reasons for Christian assurance: 1. "We can never truly function as Christian people unless we know that we are his children." 2. "We are saved in order to save. We are saved in order that through us God may save others."
He states emphatically: "A man who's uncertain about himself and his old position can't help anybody else."
What were the characteristics that made Noah stand out in his generation?
Lloyd-Jones highlights several characteristics that made Noah unique: 1. He was "a just man and perfect in his generations" - righteous and sincere 2. He "walked with God" - enjoying divine companionship 3. He maintained separation from the evil world around him 4. He believed God's warning about the coming judgment despite no visible evidence 5. He was "moved with fear" - having a proper reverence for God's holiness 6. He "prepared an ark" - submitting to God's way of salvation
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones relate Noah's world to our modern times?
Lloyd-Jones draws strong parallels between Noah's pre-flood world and our modern society: 1. "We are living in a foul age that is increasingly manifesting the characteristics of the period prior to the deluge." 2. He points to moral relativism: "People are even querying whether there is such a thing as morality." 3. He references compromises in the church: "We are living in an age when the Christian church herself through the mouth of certain adverse spokesmen is querying the very being of God." 4. He sees God's judgment already at work: "Can't you see the judgment of God already abroad in the earth?"
What does it mean that Noah was "moved with fear"?
Lloyd-Jones clarifies that this wasn't "craven fear" but a proper reverence: 1. "It was that he was given some realization, very vaguely and dimly, of the greatness and the glory and the holiness and the purity of God." 2. He compares it to Isaiah's response when seeing God's holiness 3. He connects it to Paul's admonition to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" 4. It reflects Noah's understanding of "the terrible nature of the judgment that was to come"
How did Noah condemn the world according to Lloyd-Jones?
Noah condemned the world in several ways: 1. Through his righteous living: "He was a just men and perfect among his contemporaries" 2. By believing God's warning despite ridicule: "He believed God in spite of all appearances to the contrary" 3. By building the ark: "He preached by building the ark" 4. Through verbal proclamation: "He was a preacher of righteousness"
What lesson does Dr. Lloyd-Jones want Christians to learn from Noah?
Lloyd-Jones concludes with an urgent application: 1. Christians should be "preachers of righteousness" in a corrupt age 2. We should warn people about God's coming judgment 3. We should point people to Christ as the only way of salvation 4. We should walk with God despite ridicule: "Let us be concerned about righteousness. Let us be sincere. Let us seek God and submit to his will and to his way and to his teaching." 5. We can have assurance amid judgment: "We need have no fear of the judgment that is to come. We can rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him."
The Book of John
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.