We begin learning about God’s grace in the Book of Genesis, particularly in the account of the flood. The peoples of the world abounded in wickedness to the degree that every thought was only evil continually, but one man “found grace in the eyes of the Lord” (Gen. 6:5-8). Noah, a “preacher of righteousness,” was saved from the flood by the grace of God (2 Pet. 2:5).

Like Noah, we must access God’s grace by faith, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). In Romans 10:17 we learn that the Word of God is the source of faith, “so then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” We know that Noah became an “heir of righteousness by faith” (Heb. 11:7). Putting it all together, Noah was saved by God’s grace, through faith, but consider for a moment the kind of faith Noah possessed. In his day it had never rained, not one drop. Yet, when he was warned by God that rain was coming, that this rain would flood the earth and that he needed to build an ark, Noah was “moved with fear” and he obeyed. In Genesis we read, “Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he” (Gen. 6:22).

Secondly, notice that this amazing grace, which can only be accessed through faith, has been made available to all. Paul wrote, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). Regardless of your race, social status or economic standing, the Lord offers you the opportunity to taste that He is gracious (1 Pet. 2:3).

Thousands of years ago, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he heard and obeyed God’s voice. Jesus Christ is still the author of eternal salvation “unto all them that obey him” (Heb. 5:9). Just as God conditioned Noah’s salvation from the flood on the building of a carefully constructed ark, God commands us to hear His word (Matt.7:24), to unite it with faith (Heb. 11:6), to repent of our sins (Acts 17:30), to confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37), to be baptized into Christ for the remission of our sins so that He can add us to His church (Gal. 3:27; Acts 2:38; Acts 2:47) and to remain faithful to Him, even in the face of death (Rev. 2:10). Have you accessed the amazing grace of God?