I'm reading the verses as they are written.
v.8 Noah found grace - this is the wording in Hebrew and Greek
v.9 You're overly concerned with works - the verse speaks nothing of Noah earning grace so I said nothing about Noah earning grace - we don't need to rewrite the verses to protect grace - the verse is telling us about Noah as he was living in righteousness, walking with YHWH already when he found grace/favor in YHWH's sight when YHWH decided to wipe mankind off the earth.
Heb11:7 looks back at this event as described and tells us
it's a picture of faith - so we have a Noah, a righteous, blameless man who already walked with YHWH doing what God commanded as part of his grace re: the ark for salvation - this is described in Hebrews as faith and more:
NET Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance (salvation) of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
- Noah's faith is coupled with "reverence" with which he constructed the ark. Here's how Genesis describes this:
- 22 And Noah did all that God commanded him– he did indeed. (Gen. 6:22 NET)
- As the narrative continues with how Noah and creatures were functioning:
- 5 And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. (Gen. 7:5 NET)
- 9 male and female, came into the ark to Noah, just as God had commanded him. (Gen. 7:9 NET)
- 16 Those that entered were male and female, just as God commanded him. Then the LORD shut him in. (Gen. 7:16 NET)
- This is the picture of Noah's obedient faith with reverence for YHWH through which Noah condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes from faith
- This faith is elaborated in a narrative that shows it to be obedient faith coupled with reverence doing the work God commanded that resulted in the salvation of Noah and his family
Whether or not certain theologies like it, this is the language we have - Noah in obedient faith worked for this grace salvation.
I think we agree that this righteousness comes from faith. I doubt we agree on what this faith is.
Now, we can go back and say this was just physical salvation from death, but what for? Scripture says it was salvation. Peter uses it as a figure for baptism he says saves through Christ's resurrection (1Pet3:18-22), and to speak of God saving
godly men vs. ungodly men in 2Pet2.
Then, we have Ezekiel that we need to contend with when we're promoting our favored systematic theologies:
NET Ezek14:12-20 The word of the LORD (YHWH) came to me: 13 "Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful, and I stretch out my hand against it, cut off its bread supply, cause famine to come on it, and kill both people and animals. 14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, declares the sovereign LORD. 15 "Suppose I were to send wild animals through the land and kill its children, leaving it desolate, without travelers due to the wild animals. 16 Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own sons or daughters; they would save only their own lives, and the land would become desolate. 17 "Or suppose I were to bring a sword against that land and say, 'Let a sword pass through the land,' and I were to kill both people and animals. 18 Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own sons or daughters– they would save only their own lives. 19 "Or suppose I were to send a plague into that land, and pour out my rage on it with bloodshed, killing both people and animals. 20 Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign LORD, they could not save their own son or daughter; they would save only their own lives by their righteousness.
Just let Scripture say what it says.