WEBVTT 00:00:00.959 --> 00:00:06.719 So if you're new here, we tend to go through uh book by book through the Bible and we're in a series on Genesis. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:08.320 I think this is our eighth message. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:10.400 Ninth message, no, eighth message. 00:00:11.199 --> 00:00:17.679 And um today with this is our third message on the flood narrative. 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.239 So if you have your library, you got them, you got it? 00:00:20.399 --> 00:00:22.000 Genesis chapter 9. 00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:26.000 I'm trying to get situated here, sorry. 00:00:34.880 --> 00:00:41.359 How many of you had a uh a day this week that you would like just to be able to do over? 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:58.560 Maybe, you know, we talked about uh I think last week I mentioned it Sunday mornings, we but the hour before church, we call it the unholy hour because life is crazy and uh the devil's working uh uh you know extra hard to to get us to fight with our spouses and something happens to the kids. 00:00:58.640 --> 00:00:59.200 I don't know. 00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:06.719 All right. 00:01:06.959 --> 00:01:11.519 Um, you know, fresh starts can be compelling, can't they? 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:13.120 They can be exciting. 00:01:13.519 --> 00:01:15.760 Something uh you may not know about me. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.879 I my wife and I, we've been married almost 30 years. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:24.079 And do you know that we have moved in 30 years of marriage 15 times? 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:29.680 We have lived in six different cities and three different states. 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:39.359 And we've lived in our current house now for eight years, if that tells you how much we move during the first several years of our marriage. 00:01:39.599 --> 00:01:41.519 And moving is bittersweet. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:45.840 Does that sound just daunting to anybody to move 15 times, right? 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:56.560 Uh I hate packing boxes and you know, getting the house ready to sell and you know, loading the truck and driving and unpacking and unboxing and all of that. 00:01:57.040 --> 00:02:00.400 There's some bitterness to it, but there's some sweetness too. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:12.080 Because in every house we lived in, every new house we moved into, and particularly when we moved to new states, every time it just felt like a fresh start. 00:02:12.719 --> 00:02:16.560 It felt like we could almost reinvent ourselves. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:18.639 It was exciting. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:23.039 We see the new year as a fresh start. 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:29.039 This is when we we we make resolutions and we declare this year things are going to be better. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:31.840 How'd that work out for you this year? 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:37.120 A new job brings new hope of success. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:44.240 The the start of a new relationship brings the hope that this time things will finally work out. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:52.719 And while fresh starts can in fact be exciting, how many know they have their limitations? 00:02:54.080 --> 00:03:02.560 Because fresh starts can change your setting and they can change your circumstances, but they can't change you. 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:05.759 You move to a new place. 00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:10.879 I found this out, but the same you still resides there. 00:03:11.520 --> 00:03:15.199 You enter a new relationship, but you're still in it. 00:03:15.439 --> 00:03:18.000 I I've had people come up to me, you know. 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:20.319 Uh, women say this, uh, you hear this a lot. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:21.039 You know what? 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:23.360 I just always find the bad ones. 00:03:23.439 --> 00:03:28.400 And it's like there is a common denominator in every relationship that you're in. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:29.759 I'm just saying. 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:41.919 You start a new job, you can join a new church, you can embark on a new year, but your old hangups, your habits, your struggles, your sins, don't they have a way of following you? 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:45.280 Come on, y'all got to help me this morning. 00:03:45.599 --> 00:03:47.599 Pretend like you're having fun in church. 00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:50.319 Thank you. 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:54.960 Here's the thing eventually, we all know this. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.840 Your fresh start becomes a familiar story. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:03.360 History tends to repeat itself, doesn't it? 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:13.280 And that's exactly what we see in the biblical flood narrative in Genesis 7 through 9. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.800 God created, right, this good world. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:23.279 He put Adam and Eve in the garden, literally in paradise, where God dwelt with them. 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:37.120 But Adam and Eve sinned and the world became corrupted, and sin grew from generation to generation, infecting the heart and the every aspect of human life. 00:04:38.720 --> 00:04:43.759 And the world grew darker and darker, became more and more wicked. 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:48.639 And God was patient, as we've seen for over 1,500 years. 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:56.160 He was patient, striving with man, giving them opportunity, but the wickedness only festered. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:05:09.600 And so, God, as we've seen over the last couple weeks, he judged the world through the flood, preserving only Noah, who found favor with God and his family and the creatures on the ark with him. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:13.680 And so then last week we looked at chapter eight. 00:05:14.480 --> 00:05:18.560 We ended there where Noah and his family walk off the ark. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:25.759 I mean, they've they've been in this ark for an eternity, it seems like, with smelly animals. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:29.519 You know, I love family, but could you imagine being cooped up with them on? 00:05:29.759 --> 00:05:32.800 I mean, that was a big boat, but there's a lot of bodies on there. 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:35.759 They're cooped up all of that time. 00:05:36.800 --> 00:05:43.519 And they've heard the the horrors of the screams as the flood wiped out the world. 00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:50.240 But now the waters have receded, the screaming has stopped. 00:05:50.480 --> 00:05:54.480 Could you imagine the first moment that ark door opens? 00:05:54.879 --> 00:05:59.759 And here's what happens Noah's family steps out of the ark. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:05.759 It's a new day, it's a new world, and it is a fresh start. 00:06:07.759 --> 00:06:17.439 Noah and his family must have thought this could be the start to the beginning of a better world. 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:26.399 You know, maybe you've thought that you you your president gets in, you know, your presidential candidate gets elected, and oh, it's gonna be a better day. 00:06:26.560 --> 00:06:28.959 It's like, don't be so sure. 00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:32.959 Because I think that's probably what Noah thought. 00:06:33.040 --> 00:06:36.160 This is it, it's gonna be better, it's gonna be different, Lord. 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:40.399 That's page eight of your Bible, page nine of your Bible. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:44.399 One chapter later, what happens? 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:46.000 That hope is shattered. 00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:51.199 Noah's family gets into some trouble. 00:06:51.600 --> 00:06:57.199 And what we find is that Noah's fresh start becomes a familiar story. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:11.439 It's a replaying of what happened in the garden during the fall, and the sin that happens in Noah's life, in his kids' lives, it's been passed on from generation to generation. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:24.959 And here's the thing: the problem with the world, here's what we'll find today, was not with Noah's surroundings, it was in his heart, and it was in the heart of every human being. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:37.920 And the problem of the world today, it's not merely in our surroundings, it's not ultimately the economy or or the president or or the governor. 00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:38.959 What is it? 00:07:39.120 --> 00:07:42.399 It's us, it's the human heart. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:48.480 So, this ancient story, here's the beauty of this. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:54.319 It reminds us that we don't just need new starts, we need new hearts. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:54.959 Amen. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:08:07.519 And so the the story anticipates, it's not ultimately about Noah, it's about Jesus, the Messiah, the one who would come to make all things new, to change our hearts. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:11.360 And he will one day, we'll get to this at the end, but I I'm so excited about this. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.399 It's my favorite topic that I gotta say it now. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:16.319 Beloved, a new world is coming. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.079 God is going to renew the earth. 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:22.079 We're not gonna be bodiless souls floating in the sky. 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:23.680 God will raise us. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:28.399 We're not gonna be up there for eternity, we're gonna be on the new earth. 00:08:28.639 --> 00:08:30.319 And oh, I can't wait for that day. 00:08:30.399 --> 00:08:32.639 I'll get you excited about that someday. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.960 I've been preaching this for 12 years. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:46.159 So we're gonna look at the story today in three movements namely, a fresh start, a familiar story, and a future salvation. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:50.559 Now, I'm sorry, I worked on this to really late last night. 00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:53.039 I'm more tired than you are, so smile at me. 00:08:53.200 --> 00:08:57.919 But the reason I tell you that is I don't have all the points up here, so you're gonna have to just keep up with me. 00:08:58.080 --> 00:08:58.799 Are you ready? 00:08:59.600 --> 00:09:00.559 All right, here we go. 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.840 A fresh start. 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:10.240 So this is gonna be a little bit of a review, but Genesis 7 through 9 unfolds as a story of decreation. 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:14.960 And this is what you get when you read the Bible together within context. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:17.919 All right, so so let's talk about it. 00:09:18.080 --> 00:09:20.480 It's a story of decreation and recreation. 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:23.519 So I just want to review with the decreation point. 00:09:24.320 --> 00:09:33.279 Genesis 1, 6 through 8, God separates the atmospheric waters from the waters in the ground. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:37.039 In Genesis 7, 11, what happens when the flood comes? 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:41.039 That the fountains from the earth spring up and the waters come down. 00:09:41.200 --> 00:09:43.039 It's a reversal of creation. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:49.120 In Genesis 1, 9 and 10, God gathers the waters on the earth to uh to make dry land. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.279 In Genesis 7, 19 and 20, the waters now cover the land. 00:09:53.440 --> 00:09:54.879 There's no distinction. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:04.320 In Genesis 1, 20 through 25, God fills the skies and the earth with birds and animals and every creeping thing. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:14.159 And the same language is used in Genesis 7, 21 through 23, when the birds and the animals and every creeping thing are washed away. 00:10:15.200 --> 00:10:20.159 Genesis 2, 7, it records that God gives man the breath of life. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:25.840 And in Genesis 7, 21 through 23, man's breath is taken away by the flood. 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:31.759 So chapter 7 is simply a story of decreation, a tragic story of decreation. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:37.120 But then chapters eight and nine are the stories of recreation. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:44.159 And there's three things that we see here in the context within the context of recreation. 00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:51.759 When Noah steps off the earth, there is a new the ark, there's a new world, there's a new Adam, and there's a new covenant. 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:52.799 Three things. 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:53.759 Ready? 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:57.440 So Genesis 8, we're gonna start with the new world. 00:10:57.600 --> 00:11:01.519 Genesis 8 echoes the original creation account. 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:02.960 This is so cool. 00:11:03.200 --> 00:11:04.960 If you're a Bible nerd, you'll love this. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:05.600 All right. 00:11:05.840 --> 00:11:08.559 Genesis 8:1, God sends a wind. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:11.200 Anybody know the Hebrew word for wind there? 00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:12.480 Yeah. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:13.200 Ruach. 00:11:13.759 --> 00:11:14.399 All right. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:23.279 He sends a uh a wind over the earth, and the and the waters begin subsiding, the dry land appears. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:24.960 What does that echo? 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:31.919 If you're just reading your English Bible, you may not get it, but remember in Genesis 1, chapter 2, where the Spirit of God hovered over the waters? 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:37.919 The word spirit there is the same Hebrew word, ruach, and it's it's breath. 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:40.720 It's the breath of God, it's the Spirit of God. 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:42.559 So this is an echo. 00:11:42.879 --> 00:11:45.840 God is recreating the world. 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:51.039 Genesis 8, 5 and 13, the water recedes and the dry land appears, echoing again. 00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:53.679 Genesis 1, 9, and 10, where the same thing happens. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:12:01.919 In Genesis 8, 17, the animals leave the ark and they're commanded to be fruitful and to multiply, to fill the earth. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:08.480 And again, in Genesis 1.22, we find that echo where God gives the animals the same command. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:12.320 So Genesis 8 tells the story of recreation. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:16.240 And Noah and his family step out into a new world. 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:21.360 But then Genesis 9 tells us that there's not just a new creation, a new world. 00:12:21.600 --> 00:12:28.080 There's a new representative, or if I can get theological for a moment, there's a new Adam. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.039 Okay? 00:12:30.639 --> 00:12:31.919 A new Adam. 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:35.360 There is a striking con uh similarity. 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:39.679 There are striking similarities, rather, between Adam and Noah. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:40.879 Okay? 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:44.080 So if you're hopefully some of you will geek out with me here. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:44.399 All right. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:45.279 Here we go. 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:49.039 Noah and Adam one have a similar commissioning. 00:12:49.519 --> 00:12:51.360 Actually, it's almost verbatim here. 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:53.759 Genesis 1.28, the first part. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:54.799 God blessed them. 00:12:54.960 --> 00:12:57.120 This would be Adam and Eve. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:59.440 And God said to them, What? 00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:02.799 Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.399 Genesis 9.1. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.000 Here's the command to the new Adam named Noah. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:15.600 And God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.799 They have a similar commissioning. 00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:21.519 Secondly, Noah and Adam have a similar authority. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.600 They're to rule over creatures. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.639 This is good. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.759 You guys are going to love this. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.720 All right, here it goes. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:28.000 Genesis 1.28. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:29.279 God blessed them, Adam and Eve. 00:13:29.360 --> 00:13:31.279 He said to them, Be fruitful and multiply all of that. 00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:43.200 And then he says, Multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.639 Now, watch this. 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:48.639 Noah gets a very similar but not exact command. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:50.240 Genesis 9, 2. 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:56.480 The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon the beast of the earth. 00:13:56.879 --> 00:13:58.320 Genesis 1 doesn't say that. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.320 Genesis 2 doesn't say that. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:10.559 And upon every bird of the heavens, upon every thing that creeps on the ground, and all the fish of the sea into your hand, they are delivered. 00:14:11.200 --> 00:14:15.919 God doesn't just come out and say, subdue, you know, the animals, have dominion over them. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:21.360 He says they're going to fear you, and they're going to be delivered into your hand. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.240 Why the wording change? 00:14:26.480 --> 00:14:29.840 Well, pre-flood, there was no sin in the world. 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:31.360 The world was perfect. 00:14:31.600 --> 00:14:32.879 The animals got along. 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:39.039 Listen, little foo foo, you know, your dog and your cat, they got along. 00:14:39.200 --> 00:14:40.399 Can you imagine? 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:42.559 It's a beautiful thing. 00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:43.519 Did you ever notice? 00:14:43.679 --> 00:14:46.799 Did you ever think about how Noah got all the animals on the ark? 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:51.039 It's because Noah had, there was a respect. 00:14:51.200 --> 00:14:52.399 It wasn't a fear. 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:55.679 The animals, I think, listened to Noah. 00:14:55.840 --> 00:14:57.360 He had dominion over them. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:00.320 But now it says that here's what God is doing. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:07.039 He's making provision for a post-flood world that is still tainted with sin. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.960 This is very important. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:12.240 So now here's what he's saying. 00:15:12.559 --> 00:15:16.399 He says there's going to be enmity between man and beast. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:22.639 I mean, listen, if it was pre-flood days, your cat would come to you when you called, not on its own terms. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:25.120 Think about it. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:32.159 So Adam and Noah, they have this similar authority, but but then they also have, number three, similar provision. 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:40.080 In Genesis 1.29, God says, Behold, I've given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of the earth, and every tree with seed and its fruit. 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:42.320 You shall have them for food. 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.039 Okay? 00:15:43.360 --> 00:15:45.279 Adam and Eve, they're vegans. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:47.039 Okay. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:48.960 I think that's why they sinned. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:50.080 They were hangry. 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:53.039 Genesis 9 now. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:54.080 Watch Noah. 00:15:54.559 --> 00:15:58.240 See, God knows every moving thing that lives on the earth shall be food for you. 00:15:58.399 --> 00:15:59.679 Come on, somebody. 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:02.320 How many like a big steak? 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:02.960 All right. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:04.080 Come on. 00:16:04.720 --> 00:16:06.879 You have the flood to thank for that. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:12.080 And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:16.799 But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. 00:16:17.600 --> 00:16:18.960 Now, what is that about? 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:21.360 There are many interpretations of that. 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:27.360 I think what's happening here, when uh, you know, in the wild, beast eats beast, right? 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:32.320 And so they're not just eating plants, they they eat one another. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.799 And how does a beast eat a beast? 00:16:35.600 --> 00:16:37.200 That they tear into it, right? 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.559 It's it's barbaric. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:40.240 And we are not animals. 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:44.480 There's still, even though that God has given us these animals for food, there's still a respect. 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:48.159 And we're not, there is a difference between man and beast. 00:16:48.240 --> 00:16:51.840 Now, I've seen some of y'all eat a steak and you go at it like a beast, all right? 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:55.919 Uh, but but but yeah, I think that's the difference there. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:00.399 Number four, Adam and Noah have the same value, and I love this. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:05.119 Remember, I preached a whole message from Genesis 1 and 2 on the Imago Day, the image of God? 00:17:05.279 --> 00:17:09.119 We're all created, we all have dignity because we are in the image of God. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:19.359 Well, the question is in the post-flood world, now that has been tainted with sin, is that image, is that value, is that distinction with mankind going to remain? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:23.519 So look at verses chapter 9, verses 5 through 7. 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:31.200 And God tells Noah, and for your lifeblood, I will require a reckoning from every beast, I will require it, and from man. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:36.559 See, God didn't have to make a provision for violence in the pre-flood world. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:37.119 There was none. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:41.680 But now he says, All right, you're gonna kill people, you're gonna die. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.680 It's capital punishment. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.319 Okay. 00:17:45.759 --> 00:17:49.039 Then he says, from and here's the basis of that. 00:17:49.279 --> 00:17:52.079 From this fellow man, I will require reckoning for the life of man. 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:55.359 Whoever sheds the blood of a man, by man shall his blood be shed. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:57.920 For God made man in his own image. 00:17:58.079 --> 00:18:00.559 Why do we hold people accountable for murder? 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:05.759 Because no matter what that person has done, they are made in the image of God. 00:18:06.319 --> 00:18:11.680 And you, he says again, be fruitful and multiply, increase greatly on the earth and multiply it. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:12.240 Okay? 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.000 We're still created. 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:18.880 You and I, sinners, are still created in the image of God. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:20.319 Are you grateful for that? 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:23.920 We still bear God's image, which means we bear his purpose. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:27.279 We have the same value as Adam and Eve did. 00:18:27.599 --> 00:18:30.000 So God establishes a new Adam. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.359 You do you see what's happening here? 00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:38.799 Noah, where Adam failed, Noah steps in and he becomes now humanity's new representative. 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:43.519 And what happens is finally God establishes a new covenant. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:48.079 We call this the Noaic covenant, Noah with an IC on the end, all right? 00:18:48.640 --> 00:18:50.400 What is a covenant? 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:58.640 Well, today we often think of terms of contracts, but a covenant is quite different from a contract. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:00.880 A contract, what's it do? 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:03.599 It governs generally an exchange. 00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:09.599 But a covenant establishes, watch this, and governs a relationship. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:11.440 Completely different. 00:19:12.079 --> 00:19:19.119 You know, when you get married and you stand before the preacher, you know, I don't read a contract. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:27.680 I lead in vows as the the parties between themselves and God make a covenant with one another. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:33.279 It's something that uh that it establishes a relationship. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:36.720 You know, you know, people say to me, well, why do we need the piece of paper? 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:38.880 Oh, listen to me. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.799 It's not the piece of paper. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:48.960 It's it's the cut, it, yes, it is the that's necessary, but it's this coming together in a covenant. 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:56.160 This it's the it's the marriage institution that brings two people together as one. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:03.440 Kevin Day Young, uh, he he's an expert in this idea of a covenant theology. 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:13.839 He points out that biblical covenants generally include number one, stipulations, promises, blessings, which are the results of obedience. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:19.680 There's curses, the consequence of disobedience, and a sign or oath confirming the covenant. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:27.839 Now, here I say that God establishes a new covenant, and you might say, well, where was the previous covenant? 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:40.079 There's disagreement within the uh scholarship um today about whether or not there was that God made a covenant with Noah, or excuse me, with Adam. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:45.599 And so uh you're you're a covenant theologian, uh good Presbyterian. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:49.200 Um covenant with Adam? 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:51.119 Yes, I think so too. 00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:59.759 So Hosea chapter 6, verse 7 seems to explicitly say that Noah broke the covenant. 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:05.440 Okay, we would call this, I think Adam, uh God did make a covenant with Adam. 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.400 Hunter? 00:21:06.880 --> 00:21:08.240 All right, we're good. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.759 I I got two witnesses. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.960 It is so. 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:14.799 We would call this a covenant of works. 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:17.680 And now some theologians will go, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:20.319 You know, are they working for salvation? 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:23.039 Or did Adam and Eve earn their salvation by works? 00:21:23.279 --> 00:21:25.759 Listen, Adam and Eve didn't sin. 00:21:25.839 --> 00:21:26.480 There was no sin. 00:21:26.640 --> 00:21:27.759 They didn't need salvation. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:32.000 This was not a covenant of salvation, it was a covenant of works. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:34.480 And what was the the covenant about? 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:50.000 Kevin DeYoung he talks about that this being a covenant that produces um the ability to remain in God's presence in the garden. 00:21:50.880 --> 00:21:55.519 It promised provision and peace and presence, right? 00:21:55.920 --> 00:21:59.839 And what did that covenant, what did that promise depend on? 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.519 On what were the stipulations? 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:03.519 Adam and Eve, you got to obey me. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:09.599 You cannot eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:13.359 Well, how'd they do? 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:15.440 They broke the covenant. 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.240 And what was the what was the consequence of that? 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.920 God told them breaking a covenant has consequences. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:26.319 Well, the consequence they would was that they would die. 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:27.839 And that was a spiritual death. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.839 They were exiled from the garden. 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:33.200 And also they would die physically. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:36.880 Because the promise was you can remain in the garden forever. 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.880 It's eternal life. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:39.519 Okay. 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.920 So they break the covenant. 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:47.440 So now there's a new covenant because Noah is the new Adam, and there's a fresh covenant. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.839 So let's look at this covenant, verses 8 through 11. 00:22:50.000 --> 00:23:07.119 God said to Noah and to his sons with him, Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark, it is for every beast of the earth. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:10.079 God makes a covenant with every animals and all. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:22.240 I establish my covenant with you that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:31.839 So God made a covenant with Noah that doesn't just extend to him or his family or even to us, but with all of creation. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:33.680 And what's he say? 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:38.319 I'll never destroy the earth by flood again. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:45.039 Until the end of the age, God is not going to wipe out creation like happened in the flood narrative. 00:23:45.359 --> 00:23:50.960 So again, to quote De Young, he would, De Young, he would call this a covenant of preservation. 00:23:51.119 --> 00:23:56.640 And it is a covenant of grace, but it's a covenant of common grace. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:24:03.200 You know, a lot of the covenants, you know, for instance, the covenant that we're in with Christ, it's for those who are in Christ. 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.319 It's for God's elect. 00:24:04.400 --> 00:24:06.000 It's not for the entire world. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:09.279 It's for those who come to Christ by faith. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:13.519 But this covenant is for everybody, saved or not. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:22.240 It's a covenant of common grace set to preserve God's good world. 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.680 And it's unconditional. 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:25.759 Adam's covenant, it was conditional. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.279 It's conditioned upon obedience. 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.319 This is not. 00:24:28.559 --> 00:24:34.240 So you can be, you know, I wouldn't recommend it, but you can go out and be rebellious and do every stupid thing you can think of. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:37.119 And that doesn't affect God's. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:47.440 Now it might cost you your life if you do something stupid enough, but but what I'm saying is it doesn't nullify the, it doesn't cancel out the covenant. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.079 Does that make sense? 00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:48.880 Are you with me? 00:24:49.039 --> 00:24:50.079 I know this is some teaching. 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.680 I gotta preach and teach. 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.640 All right. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:57.599 So here's the thing: this is a covenant of common grace. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:01.599 And Jesus refers to this in in Matthew indirectly. 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:05.359 Matthew 5, 45, the second part, you you probably know this verse. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:12.480 He makes the sun, God makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and he sends the rain on the just and the unjust. 00:25:12.559 --> 00:25:12.880 Why? 00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:15.920 Because he made the covenant with Noah in all humanity. 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:18.000 Think about this. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:20.319 This is this is kind of humorous to think about. 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:26.160 Every atheist that has food on the table and breath in his lungs, you know why? 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:28.720 It's because God's preserving him. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:33.519 It's because of the covenant that God made with that person and all of humanity. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:43.200 And Jesus uses this covenant of common grace as the model or the foundation of this command to love everyone. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:48.160 So Jesus says, don't just love your friends, right? 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.759 Love your enemies. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:51.200 And you say, why would I do that? 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:53.279 Because that's the character of God. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:55.759 Oh, I know he has a special love. 00:25:55.839 --> 00:25:59.519 Let me be clear about this: a special love for his people. 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:07.359 But but there's this common grace love, this sustaining love that preserves human life, saved or not. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:09.279 And God is good. 00:26:09.440 --> 00:26:12.960 He makes it to rain on the just and the unjust. 00:26:13.440 --> 00:26:17.599 He helps the just and the unjust both prosper in this world. 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.799 He keeps them alive. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.880 He keeps breath in all of our lungs. 00:26:21.440 --> 00:26:26.799 And so Jesus is saying, listen, you ought to treat people like that with common grace. 00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:29.599 So what's the covenantal sign? 00:26:29.759 --> 00:26:30.799 Here we go. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:32.799 You knew this was coming. 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:34.799 Genesis 9, 12 through 17. 00:26:34.880 --> 00:26:42.799 And God said, This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for all future generations. 00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:44.000 Watch what he says. 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:45.920 I've set my what in the sky? 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.839 My bow in the sky. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:50.000 We always say rainbow, and it is a rainbow. 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:53.359 But I want you to note the word in the ESV there, bow. 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:55.680 I set it in the in the cloud. 00:26:55.839 --> 00:26:58.240 It shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:06.400 When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that's between me and you, and every living creature of all flesh. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:10.640 And the water shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:19.519 When the bow, there's the word again, is in the clouds, I will see it and I will remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that's on the earth. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:27.440 And God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant that I've established between me and all flesh that's on the earth. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:32.960 So, like I said earlier, uh generally every covenant has some sign. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:39.599 Now, what's the sign of the covenant in uh a wedding in your marriage? 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.519 The ring. 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:41.920 All right. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:44.400 So so here's have you ever thought about why a ring? 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.920 Like, why does everybody use a ring? 00:27:46.000 --> 00:27:46.960 Why not a necklace? 00:27:47.119 --> 00:27:50.960 Like in Kentucky, you might think you'd exchange ARs or Glocks, you know. 00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:54.319 Um Jerry's like, oh man, was that an option? 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:59.759