WHAT DO NOAH, LOT, MOSES, AND MARY ALL HAVE IN COMMON?

NONE OF THEM DESERVED GOD'S BLESSING!

Genesis 6:5-9 - And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.  And it repented the LORD that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart.  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repents Me that I have made them.  But Noah found grace (unmerited favor) in the eyes of the LORD.  These are the generations of Noah:  Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 

[Note:  "Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" - and then, he was described as a "just man and perfect in his generation."  The Word of God clearly teaches that NO ONE, apart from the sinless Jesus, is perfect (Rom. 3:9, 23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15)]. 

Genesis 19:15-19 - And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest you be consumed in the iniquity of the city.  And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful (not giving Lot what he deserved) unto him:  and they brought him forth, and set him without (outside) the city.  And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed.  And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:  behold now, Thy servant has found grace (unmerited favor) in Thy sight, and You have magnified Thy mercy....

[Note:  A sinless man does not need mercy from the LORD!  Lot, like all of us, was a sinner!  The LORD was gracious to Lot and his family].

Exodus 33:16-17 - For wherein shall it be known here that I (Moses) and Thy people have found grace in Thy sight?  Is it not in that You go with us?  So shall we be separated, I and Thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.  And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that you have spoken:  for you hast found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.

[Note:  The nation of Israel is a perfect example of what the word "grace" means!  If there has ever been a people totally unworthy of God's mercy and grace, it is them!  Abraham was a Babylonian (from the city of Ur (Gen. 15:7), Moses was a murderer who married the daughter of a Midianite (Num. 10:29), and when Israel's Messiah came to them, they rejected Him (Jn. 1:11) had Him crucified (Acts 2:22-24)!].

Luke 1:28-31 - And the angel came in unto her (Mary), and said, Hail, you that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee:  blessed are you among women.  And when she saw him (the angel Gabriel), she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation (greeting) this should be.  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary:  for you have found favor with God.  And, behold, you shall conceive and bring forth a son, and shall call His name JESUS.

[Note:  The Greek word translated "favored," is charitoo which means "to be made acceptable."  The same word is found in Eph. 1:6 where Christians are graciously made "accepted in the Beloved."  It is a perfect, passive, participle.  Notice in Lk. 1:46-47, Mary identified her Divine Child as her Savior!].

THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE SINNERS!

THE GRACE OF GOD HAS PROVIDED JESUS TO SAVE SINNERS!

THERE IS BUT ONE PERSON WORTHY OF OUR TRUST AND PRAISE:

JESUS CHRIST, THE RISEN KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!