Genesis 6-8; Luke 3

Genesis 6:5 & 8

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah wasn't sinless. He faced the same battles I face today of fighting not only the corrupt culture of depravity around him, but also the inner battle of wanting to live justly but having a wicked, evil sin nature. The passage doesn't say what specific things Noah did to have God grant him grace. Only that he was righteous before God.

But even though God gave grace to Noah, there was still work to be done. Noah had to obey and follow God's instructions. Despite how odd it seemed to build the ark, Noah still obeyed. He literally worked out his salvation from the flood by building the ark. If Noah just thanked God for His grace but took no action, he would have perished in the flood along with the rest of humanity.

It's not enough to just accept God's gift of grace. There is work on my part that goes with that. It may be very hard work or something that will draw ridicule from those around me. But if I am walking justly, if I am striving to find favor in God's eyes by how I live, He will deliver me from the flood.