Inevitable Judgment

TEXT: Genesis 6:1-8

INTRODUCTION:

As we read through this passage of Scripture, there have been many questions and controversies that have arisen through the ages.  These questions are, “Who are the Sons of God compared with the daughters of men?”  “Who were these giants that came about as a result of the before mentioned union?”   “How could God repent?”  All you have to do is pick up any book on Genesis, turn to the pages that explain this passage, and you will get various opinions.  In order for us to understand this passage, we must have an adequate answer to these questions.  The answers determine the direction of this passage as well as implications throughout the rest of Scripture.

1.                 Who are the Sons of God compared with the daughters of men?  Are they angels or men?

a.                 Throughout Scripture, both men and angels are referred to as Sons of God.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

Hosea 1:10  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

b.                 There has been no mention of angels in Genesis thus far.

i.                               Chapter 4 deals with the line of Cain

ii.                            Chapter 5 deals with the line of Seth

iii.                         Chapter 6 (in context of 4 and 5) picks up with the same theme.

There are a couple of passages often used to explain this passage from the New Testament.

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Jude 4  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Jude 5  I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Jude 7  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Jude 8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

The Sons of God, therefore, are the godly line of Seth, and the daughters of men are the godless line of Cain.

2.                 Who were these giants that came about as a result of the before mentioned union?

a.                 The Hebrew word for “giant” here is “Nephilim”

b.                 This word literally means, “a bully or tyrant”

c.                 In most other places, the word for giant is “rawfaw” which means “tall.”

Were these Nephilim large people?  They possibly were, but the emphasis is upon their character.  They were people renown for their arrogance and rebelliousness against God.

3.                 How could God repent?

It should be understood that this is an inadequate human term for a perfect and entirely good divine action.  We associate the word “repent” with repentance from sin.  This is the human application to the word.  “Repent” has been described here as “not as a change of purpose but of feeling out of which a new course of action develops.”  God’s purpose and actions are always sure.  God did not come to the place where He thought he made a mistake.  Instead, man is the one who came to the place where God’s sure judgment needed to take place. 

          With these things in mind, the passage reveals some great truths and warnings that must be heeded.

I.                Mankind grows more and more wicked as time proceeds (vv. 1-4)

II Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

II Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

II Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

II Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

II Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

II Timothy 3:6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

II Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

A.      On the surface, because of his influence – ungodly influence (v. 2)

II Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

II Corinthians 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

II Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

II Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

II Corinthians 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

B.      On a deeper level, because of what he is – flesh – with all its naturally sinful, rebellious ways against God (v. 3)

Colossians 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

* Thank God for not leaving us to ourselves, but bringing conviction upon our souls through the person of the Holy Spirit.  It is important to surrender to His working in your life today, because there will come a time when judgment will occur.  If you depart from this life without God, there will be no hope for you.  While you are still here, there is hope, but God’s Spirit will not always strive with you.

C.     In practice, this combination brings an outward rebelliousness against the truth (v. 4)

* The culmination of godless influences and following the natural inclinations of sinful human flesh results in an arrogance and rebelliousness against God in which the end result is final and horrific judgment.

II.            Mankind will receive divine judgment from God for their wickedness (vv. 5-7)

Revelation 20:11  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

III.         Only those who put their faith in God will escape the judgment (v. 8)

* Noah chose to look toward God instead of himself.  Because of his expression of faith toward God, Noah escaped judgment.  He believed God and obeyed God, and he built the ark.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

CONCLUSION:

Preparation for Judgment

Did you hear about the boy who failed all his college work? He wired his mother: "Failed everything; Prepare Papa." His mother wired back, "Papa prepared; Prepare yourself." This is the message a lot of us need in view of the coming judgment. God is prepared. We need to prepare ourselves!

          Are you prepared for what is to come?  Christian, are you living a separated life?  Are you allowing godless influences to creep into your life?  Will you express you praise to God for His mercy toward you in allowing you to escape future judgment?

Unbeliever, will you accept God’s provision for you sin today?  If you do not, you must know that judgment is just around the corner.  Only God’s mercy prevents you from experiencing it today.  However, you never know when the time of God’s mercy will come to an end when you leave this world.  Will you accept Him today?