For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. – Titus 2:11-14

The grace of God which appeared to us is – Jesus Christ. That’s what the above passage clearly states to us in addition to other new testament portions of Scripture (John 1:16-17, Romans 1:3-4, 2 Corinthians 3:14, Ephesians 2:7). Grace or charis which is the Greek word, is the most fundamental of Christian truths and is wholly a new covenant doctrine (if it can even be called a doctrine). Grace came through the life of Jesus Christ – His birth, death and resurrection. It was not merely something that Jesus taught, but something that God has given through Jesus. It is not merely something to be grasped with our understanding, it is to be lived out. You would barely find the word grace being used through the four Gospels. Rather, what would be a surprise to many is that grace is not mentioned in the first-two Gospels of Matthew and Mark. And only in Luke we can find 8 instances of it being used – of which 6 are being used to mean thanks and credit. With the other 2 instances referring to the grace of God that was upon Jesus Himself (Luke 2:40, 4:22). In John all 3 usages of grace are found in the very first chapter of the book and talks about both Jesus Christ and grace inseparably (John 1:14, 16, 17). It’s the very personification of grace with Jesus. Like how we might associate the various adjectives to describe people, like funny or smart, with a certain someone we know in our minds. Grace is likewise made tangible through the person of Jesus Christ alone.

Now maybe the most common definition that you would associate with the word grace would be unmerited/undeserved/unworthy favor or maybe in some instances – love or kindness. And maybe we would get into something that just seems like pointless semantics. But maybe it is not so pointless, given that grace underlines the very essence of our saving faiths (Ephesians 2:8). This universally proclaimed definition of grace now, was used even dating back to the times of Noah. Now, we fully do not know how this definition was arrived at. But I believe that this is due to the extensive usage of grace in the KJV translations in the old testament in the place of favor. Also, the Greek Septuagint (LXX) translators used grace (charis) extensively in place of favor when translating the original Hebrew texts. For example, the very first usage of grace or favor (dependent on the translation you use) is found in Genesis 6:8: But Noah found favor [grace] in the eyes of the Lord. This phrase found grace is similar to what the unknown author of Hebrews uses in Hebrews 4:16: Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. But both these verses of Noah in the OT and the throne of grace in Hebrews in the NT, have one common denominator– grace is something to be found (or attained).

Mercy on the other hand – which is often conflated with grace – is given solely of God’s initiative and of His nature (Romans 9:15). All recipients of mercy are undeserving and all are able to receive mercy. Every breath, every sunrise and sunset, every joy, every meal on this earth – is all an act of God’s mercy to unworthy sinners on this earth.

…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. – Matthew 5:45

So how did the old testament Noah find this new covenant grace? Wasn’t this to be through faith in Jesus alone? (Romans 5:1-2) Adding context to Genesis 6:8 reveals a clearer picture. God says this of Noah’s generation: The Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:7). But of Noah He says: Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:9). Let’s break this down. How was Noah called righteous? Through faith in God (Hebrews 11:7). How was he blameless? He walked with no conscious sins in his heart (Psalm 19:13-14). And what did it mean he walked with God? That he knew God intimately. This phrase walked with God is only used in describing the lives of two people outside of Eden – Enoch and Noah (Genesis 5:22). In the NT terms, this would be similar to what Paul describes in Galatians 5:16: But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Noah found grace because having set himself apart from the sinful, wicked generation around him – he walked in faith before God in righteousness.

The generation of humans that perished in the great deluge would live under mercy till the day that door on the ark was shut closed by God (Genesis 7:16). Sinner and saved alike would know God’s mercy even today till God’s judgement without mercy would come on the Day. Mercy which means to know the kindness or goodwill of God. With the purpose of this kindness of God towards being to lead us to the grace that saves (2 Peter 3:9). As Romans 2:4 says:…not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? And why in Hebrews 4:16: we receive mercy first and then are sustained to ultimately find grace that brings transformation.

Noah would find this grace. In a generation that stooped so low morally. And perverted themselves so wickedly. That God Himself would be sorry that He created them (Genesis 6:6-7). One man – the great-grandson of Enoch – would keep on in righteousness. Like the last remaining leaf on the tree in autumn. A sign of the dark, cold and harsh winter to come. Noah having no example to look up to, would through exemplary faith find grace in God’s eyes to live righteously.

This grace is now made tangible for us – through another man – One greater than Noah. He would grace this dark world with His light. As He would speak – grace would be poured through His lips (Psalm 45:2). And as He lived a perfect, sinless life – He would become the very epitome of righteousness. His very life becomes intertwined with this amazing grace (Romans 5:17). The sweet sound of freedom to us who are on a death-row.

Grace is freedom. Grace saves. Grace is the power over every sin. Grace is the power to live a Christ-like life. Grace which will lead us home.