The Family Within the Covenant of Grace (Genesis 6:4–10) 5/11/2025
The Family Within the Covenant of Grace (Genesis 6:4–10) 5/11/2025
In the U.S., the second Sunday of May is celebrated as Mother’s Day. In Korea, May 5th is Children’s Day, and May 8th is Parent’s Day. Because of this, the month of May is often referred to as “Family Month.” In such a season, it is important for us to reflect on the meaning of the family that God has given and to pray that our families may be the kind that God blesses and uses.
What is a family? It is through family that people receive life and grow. Through family, we receive comfort and strength. It is within the family that we nurture dreams and prepare for the future. Family is the foundation through which we learn to live in dedication to our community (neighbors, workplace, church, society, nation, and the world). The problem is that family has now become the starting point of endless pain and misfortune in the world.
The origin of these troubled families begins with Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve, who formed the first family by God’s permission, failed, and that failure continues to this day. One of the worst failures following Adam and Eve was the family structure of the Nephilim era.
The word “Nephilim” means “giants” or “heroes.” In worldly terms, they were glamorous, famous, and successful people. The problem lies in the spiritual meaning of the word. Derived from the Hebrew word naphal, it means “those who have fallen from above.” The Bible refers to them as “Satan and the spirits of demons who follow him” (Revelation 12:9).
Satan, who tempted Adam and Eve to fall, made his masterpiece during the Nephilim era.
God was no longer present in their lives. Without God, they married as they pleased and lived by their desires. The result was utter corruption. Satan, the spirit of darkness and corruption, overtook the earth.
That was when God brought His first judgment of the flood (5). In our time, a second judgment is being warned (Matthew 24:38–39).
- What kind of preparation should we make, and how can we build families that are used by God? The answer lies in verse 8: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”
1) We are people who live in this age under God’s grace. Though we are weak and unworthy, we were chosen by grace (Ephesians 1:5–6). We were forgiven and made righteous through grace (Ephesians 1:7), saved by faith in this grace (Ephesians 2:8), and even called to be workers through this gift of grace (Ephesians 3:7). All our devotion is the result of God’s grace (1 Corinthians 15:10). This is why we can stake our lives on the gospel of grace (Acts 20:24).
2) Grace is a gift given without condition. So all glory and thanks must be returned to God.
The reason people who started with grace end up crumbliing later is this. They unknowingly fall into pride (James 4:6).
- The Ark was the work created through Noah and his family under grace. This ark was the covenant God made with Noah (Verse18), known as the “covenant of grace” (gospel). Even if I alone hold onto, enjoy, and live as a witness of this covenant of grace like Noah, such a family will be formed, and God will create such masterpieces through our families and descendants.
1) Become the one who holds firmly to the covenant of grace. There are two core truths within this covenant.
① God’s absolute love revealed through Christ (Romans 5:8). This is known as agape love (1 Corinthians 13:7). Why are families, churches, and the world so difficult? Why do conflict, strife, and war persist endlessly? It is because people have lost and forgotten this absolute love of God (testimony by the producer of the animated film King of Kings).
② God’s absolute salvation revealed through Christ (John 3:16). God does not desire for anyone to perish or to be condemned. That is why He sent His Son as the Christ. Through His death, Christ became our eternal redeemer (Hebrews 9:12) and eternal mediator (Hebrews 9:15).
This is why God instructed Noah to build the ark. It was so that anyone could enter and be saved.
Live to save yourself, your family, and anyone else through this covenant. There is a way to do so.
2) Become the one who enjoys the covenant of grace. The secret to enjoying it is prayer.
① When we pray, the Holy Spirit works. We need that strength to truly enjoy the covenant of grace. To “enjoy” means to be filled with joy, peace, and thanksgiving because of the covenant. That is the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). There is nothing in the world but discouragement, anger, and despair. That’s why we must hold onto the word of the covenant and pray.
② Only through prayer are God’s masterpieces created (John 14:12–14). This is called absolute answer. How much do you think Noah prayed while building the ark?
When do you think God gave him the wisdom, strength, and precise plans to build it?
When we look to Christ 24 hours and pray with our eyes on the throne, even our smallest efforts will become masterpieces.
③ Create a flow of prayer in your family. Children live through the prayers of their parents. Do everything through prayer. When problems come, train the whole family to respond through concentrated prayer.
3) Become one who lives as a witness of this covenant of grace. This is the secret of evangelism and missions.
① The Bible calls Noah an evangelist of in his age (2 Peter 2:5).
He did not simply declare judgment. He proclaimed the only way of salvation, the secret of the ark. The ark represents the mystery of Christ. Through the ark, Noah saved himself, his family, and the world. From this came absolute evangelism and absolute missions. Noah carried out the only evangelism and missions of his time (Hebrews 11:7).
② In this time when deep darkness covers the earth and endless corruption and disaster abound, there is only one thing for us to do. Find those who need to receive the true gospel to gain life (Acts 13:48). The Bible says the end will come (Matthew 24:14). There are so many around us who have never once heard this gospel of grace, this covenant of grace.
We should not only participate in church evangelism camps but also make every part of our lives an opportunity for evangelism. That is a true camp.
③ Let your family be used in praying for, giving toward, and devoting to save a nation (prayer gatherings for each of the six continents). This is also why we continue going on short-term mission trips. The economy of light, of missions, and of the future will surely be restored. Especially pray that your children may use their expertise for the sake of world evangelization.
Conclusion– God has chosen each of us by grace, saved us by grace, and called us by grace to serve Him in this age like Noah. Now, build your life and family centered on this covenant of grace. May everything in our lives – our personal journeys, our families, our children, and all we do – become eternal masterpieces made by that grace.
5.11.25 The Family Within the Covenant of Grace