that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown (Genesis 6:1-4).
It is obvious in Scripture that angels have the ability to take on the form of men. It was for this reason that we are told in Hebrews 13:2, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Angels are ministering spirits who serve the heirs of salvation (see Hebrews 1:14). They love God, and God loves them. We must learn to be comfortable in the presence of angels because there is a great deal of interchange between them and mankind, especially believers. We must also know the limits of their relationship to mankind, and be able to distinguish the fallen angels from those who have kept their estate and continue to serve God.
In the Scripture quoted above, we see that some angels (which are sometimes called "the sons of God" in Scripture) left their estate to join themselves to women who bore them children. This brought forth a race of super men that God did not create called the Nephilim. Many theologians believe that these were the basis for gods of Greek mythology, and other ancient legends. This super race brought forth a corruption and violence that the earth could not stand, and they, therefore, had to be destroyed.
And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
And the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorrythat I have made them."
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
These are the records of the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God (Genesis 6:5-9).
The Hebrew word that is translated "blameless" in verse 9 is tamiym (taw-meem'), which literally means "having integrity, truth, without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sound, undefiled, etc." We are told that Noah was a "righteous man" concerning his character, but "blameless in his time" is also translated "perfect in his generations." This had to do with his genealogy. It is a reference to him not having the mixture that came from the fallen angels. That is why the generations of Noah are so important here. He was still a pure man.
God created man perfectly for his purpose on the earth. Man was created to have fellowship with God who is Spirit. Therefore, mankind will always have a spiritual yearning for fellowship with God. It is also clear that the Lord, knowing the end from the beginning, always intended to bring forth the new creation man through His Son. The new creation is far superior to the original creation because the new creation man is empowered with supernatural gifts and power. The Scriptures are clear that some will not only do the works that Jesus did, but greater works, as we read in John 14:12-13:
"And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
Christians who are born again by the Spirit of God are in fact a "super race." However, this is not the result of a carnal mixture of flesh and spirit. The Nephilim were Satan's attempt to preempt the new creation, which the Lord was going to bring forth by giving His Spirit to men. When the church becomes all that it is called to be, believers will be considered "men of renown" because of the great works that they do. However, these will be works of righteousness, not violence. They will be done in love to heal and restore, in obedience to the Holy Spirit who is holy in all of His works.