Noah faith’s witness continues…3 Heb. 11:7 (149)
- “By the which he condemned the world.” By his own example, by his faith in God’s warning, his reverential awe of God’s holiness and justice, his implicit and unflagging obedience in preparing the ark, Noah “condemned” the unbelieving, unconcerned, godless people all around him.
- One man is said to “condemn,” another when, by his godly actions, he shows what the other should do, and which by doing not, his guilt is aggravated; see Matt 12:41, 42, Lk. 11:31-32.
- The Sabbath-keeper “condemns” the Sabbath-breaker.
- He who abandons a worldly church and goes forth unto Christ outside the camp, “condemns” the compromiser.
- Noah’s diligent and costly labours increased the guilt of the careless, who rested in false security. Though we cannot convert the wicked, yet we must be careful to set before them such an example of personal piety that they are left “without excuse.”
- “And became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” The “righteousness” here referred to is that perfect obedience of Christ which God imputes unto all who savingly believe on His Son: Jeremiah 23:6, Romans 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
- This righteousness is sometimes called, absolutely, the “righteousness of God” Rom. 1:17; 3:22; 4:11, 13; 9:30; 10:6, Gal. 5:5, 2Pet. 1:1, sometimes the “gift of righteousness … by one, Jesus Christ” Rom. 5:17, sometimes “the righteousness which is of God by faith” Phil. 3:9; in all of which our free and gratuitous justification by the righteousness of Christ reckoned to our account through faith, is intended.
- “In saying that Noah “became heir” of this righteousness, there may be a double significance.
- First, by faith’s obedience he evidenced himself to be a justified man Gen. 6:9, as Abraham did when he offered up Isaac Jas. 2:21.
- Second, he established his title to that righteousness which is here spoken of as an “inheritance”: this is in contrast from Esau who despised his. That righteousness which Christ purchased for His people is here denominated an “inheritance,” to emphasize the dignity and excellency of it, to magnify the freeness of its tenure, to declare the certainty and inviolability of it.
- The actual entrance upon our Inheritance is yet future. “That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” Tit. 3:7.
- The great question for each of us to settle is:
- Am I an “heir”? To help us do so, let me inquire, Have I the spirit of one? Is my main care to make sure that I have the birthright?
- Am I putting the claims of God and His righteousness Matt. 6:33 above everything else? Have I such thoughts of the blessedness of my portion in Christ that nothing can induce me to sell or part with it Heb. 12:16?
- Is my heart wrapped up in that inheritance so that I am groaning within myself, “waiting for the adoption” Rom. 8:23?
- Am I walking by faith, with the fear of God upon me, diligently attending to His commandments, thereby condemning the world? If so, thrice blessed am I: and soon shall I be saved “to sin no more.” Pink Arthur W.
Rom. 1:17; 3:22; 4:11, 13; 9:30; 10:6. Gal. 5:5. Phi. 3:9, 2Pet. 1:1.
