SermonNotes May 6, 2012 FBCam
TheJustice of God in Punishing the Wicked
Genesis19
Today,we find another FIRST in Genesis. Here in Genesis 19 we find thefirst mention of the sin of homosexuality. Genesis 19 stands as animportant lesson concerning God’s Justice: He will punishsinners for their sins.
SodomRepresents the Justice of God in Punishing the Wicked
Thesin of Sodom is the Culmination of Human Depravity. We see this inthe following ways. First, we see the Extent of the sin. Apparently, Lot know how bad the men of Sodom actually were. Thisis true because in Genesis 19:2-3 Lot begs the angelic visitors notto sleep in the town square. “pleasedo not spend the night in the city gate….” The corruption of Sodom is also seen in the extent of the sinpermeating to every male citizen of the city. 19:4. “Allthemen , from everypart ofthe city, both youngand old.
TheType of sin. 19:5 “Bringthe men out so that we can have sex with them”God’s justice is demonstrated in that He puts an end to aculture that has become totally corrupt through homosexuality. Notonly were the inhabitants wicked in this sin, they also were mostlikely desiring to Rape and murder the visiting angels. Theirbehavior also demonstrates complete disregard for the culturalstandards of protecting and honoring travelers who needed lodging andsafety while on the difficult and dangerous roads.
TheNew Testament points to Sodom as an Example of Wickedness. Aninteresting comparison is found in two New Testament texts thatprovide an apologetic for the judgment of God. In Jude and 2 Peterwe find 2 texts demonstrating the Justice of God in condemning sin. Both texts give three examples of the kind of wickedness that Godjudges. In 2 Peter 2:4-8, Peter gives THREE EXAMPLES
Theangels who sinned
TheFlood
Sodomand Gomorrah
InJude 5, Jude gives THREE EXAMPLES
Destructionof Egypt
Angelswho sinned
Sodomand Gomorrah
Notethe inclusion of Sodom and Gomorrah in both lists!
Jesusmentions Sodom twice as an example of judgment. “Itell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than forthat town.”(Luke 10:12, NIV84) “Butthe day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven anddestroyed them all.”(Luke 17:29, NIV84)
Thefollowing prophets all use SODOM as illustration of God’sjudgment
Moses. Deut 29:23
Isaiah. Isa 1:9; 3:9; 13:19
Jeremiah. Jeremiah 23:14; 49:18; 50:40
Jeremiah. Lamentations 4:6
Ezekiel. Ezekiel 16:46-56
Amos. Amos 4:11
Zepheniah. Zepheniah 2:9
Sodomstands for all time as an example of the depth of human depravity andGod’s judgment against sin. It should not surprise us thatthose who are in rebellion against God would rail against thisbiblical event. Anger, ridicule and mocking of the Biblical accountof God’s judgment is prevalent in our culture today.
Homosexualityis the front line in war against God’s Justice. In this war,views in America are changing. David James notes, “Accordingto an April, 2009 article on MSNBC, a Washington Post/ABC pollreleased that month became the first to indicate that the number ofAmericans supporting same-sex marriages (49%) is now greater thanthose who oppose it (46%). Although the two numbers are within thetypical poll margin-of-error of each other (±3%), there doesseem to have been a significant shift in attitudes over the preceding5-year period, when a Post/ABC poll put the percentage in-favor atjust 32% in 2004" (ABI Report “Homosexuality and theBible, by David James,http://www.biblicalintegrity.org/blog/?s=homosexuality)
Notonly are views changing among secular people, views in the Church arechanging as well. Many Christians have been sucked into the secularconcept that homosexuality is a civil rights issue and that those whopractice homosexual behavior are pre-disposed to this behavior frombirth. The battle is whether homosexuality exists because of Natureor Nurture?
Again,in an excellent article, DAVID JAMES writes: “In thishistorically-prevalent view, homosexuality is considered to beunnatural, learned and morally wrong. This is consistent with thesense of justice which says that God would only condemn and judgeevil behavior—thingsthat we might choose to do, rather than those things over which wehave no control – such as our gender, for example.”Http://www.biblicalintegrity.org/blog/?s=homosexuality
KERBYANDERSON also has an excellent article on the topic. He writes,“Scientists may indeed discover a clear biologicalpredisposition to sexual orientation. But a predisposition is not thesame as a determination. Some people may inherit a predisposition foranger, depression, or alcoholism, yet we do not condone thesebehaviors. And even if violence, depression, or alcoholism wereproven to be inborn (determined by genetic material), would we acceptthem as normal and refuse to treat them? Of course not. The Bible hasclear statements about such things as anger and alcoholism. Likewise,the Bible has clear statements about homosexuality.” “TheSin of Sodom,” by Kerby Anderson,http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4219039/k.F893/Homosexual_Theology.htm
Afteryears of indoctrination, most people, and perhaps most Christiansaccept that homosexuality is predetermined,likethe color of your eyes, your race or your blood type. We have boughtinto this idea through relentlessly repeated words that are seldomchallenged. These words are sexual orientation, civil rights andeven the frequently mentioned status of gay or straight?
THISBATTLEGROUND has led to ATTACKS against Christians and the Bible
Attacksagainst the Bible come are coming from these fronts. First, is theNew Athiests represented by authors such as Sam Brown, ChristopherHitchens, Richard Dawkins, and personalities throughoutentertainment, education and media.
Asecond front is led by a new theology promoted by False Christians,or at the very best incredibly misguided and sinful believers whoclaim that the Bible really does not condemn homosexuality. Theyprovide new interpretations of Genesis 19. They say that the sin wasinhospitality – in other words, it was the disrespect that theinhabitants of Sodom showed toward the strangers that earned God’sjudgment. Some also claim that there really was no immorality here. The men of Sodom wanted to interrogate the angelic visitors out offear that they may be intruders. After all, the area was still atwar. Both of these ideas are pure and utter nonsense, and completelytwist the plain and clear meaning of the text. It would be morehonest for these “theologians” to say what they reallybelieve, that they do not believe the Bible or like what it teaches.
Athird attack comes from Gay Rights Activists. Just this week, gayrights activist and speaker DAN SAVAGE made national headlines forhis indecent and grotesque verbal attack against an innocent group ofseveral hundred high school students who were expecting to hear atalk about conquering bullying. “A group of highschool journalismstudents attending a conference called “Journalismon the Edge” inSeattle over the weekend felt they were pushed over the edge bysyndicated sex advice columnist Dan Savage. SOURCE:http://www.citizenlink.com/2012/04/18/students-walk-out-on-dan-savage/
TheWorkshop was supposed to be on how to stop bullying. Savage usedprofane and obscene talk about what he would do with his husband ifhe were on the stage.
Savagemocked the Bible, and ridiculed Christian students who walked out,some of the girls crying.
Hereis some information about this wicked man. Savage STARTED and headsup the “It Gets Better Project.” The movement Endorsedand promoted by the White House. http://www.stopbullying.gov/videos/2010/10/president-obama-it-gets-better.htmlhttp://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/10/22/obama-joins-it-gets-better-campaign-dan-savage-says-make-it-better/tab/print/
SoSavage did not become momentarily unglued. He did not slip. Hisbehavior is consistent. It provides two sad indictments. First,that our Government supports such a preacher of hatred, bigotry andinjustice. This action is NOT new for Savage. In 2000, heinfiltrated the Gary Bauer campaign for President, posing as asupporter. During the campaign he became sick with the flu andboasted about licking doorknobs and office items, and volunteersclean coffee mugs hoping to infect others with his virus.
Thesecond indictment is what happened at the event. About 100 studentswalked out as Savage persisted in his outrageous insults againstthem. However, most of the remaining students at the event CHEEREDwhen Savage insulted the Christian students with horribly vulgarlanguage. This is a sad commentary about the condition of our society
Aswe draw our study to conclusion, we want to examine the lessons fromSodom. Why did God Destroy Sodom?
1. To Save the World. Sodom would have corrupted the Jewish people,whom God chose to be the ones to bring about the birth of theMessiah. Gen 18:19
2. To demonstrate His Justice. Genesis 18:20-21. God “came down”so that Abraham would know that God was righteous in his destructionof Sodom.
Tomany, it seems that God is lacking in LOVE.
Godis not lacking in LOVE. WE are lacking in JUSTICE.
3. To Judge wickedness. I quote here from J B Phillips, “ExploringGenesis.” In this commentary, Phillips provides analysis ofthe depth of wickedness of the inhabitants of Sodom.
a.The sin of Sodom was a Prevalent Thing “Nowthe men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against theLord.”(Genesis 13:13)
b.The sin of Sodom was a Polluted Thing. “Theycalled to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight?Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.””(Genesis 19:5)
c.The sin of Sodom was a Persistent Thing. “Getout of our way,” they replied. And they said, “Thisfellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to play the judge!We’ll treat you worse than them.” They kept bringingpressure on Lot and moved forward to break down the door.”(Genesis 19:9)
4. To Provide a lesson for all time. Sin will be judged! “ifhe condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them toashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to theungodly;…. if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godlymen from trials and to holdthe unrighteous for the day of judgment, whilecontinuing their punishment. This is especially true of those whofollow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despiseauthority.(2Peter 2:6–10)
Culturalacceptance of Homosexuality is the LAST STOP on the EXPRESS TRAINtoward complete moral depravity. Romans1:24-27
Lotillustrates that we cannot improve men’s behavior throughsocial or political means. Lot sat at the city gate (evidence of oneof the city leaders). His lack of godliness could not overcome hishumanistic effort. Compare
“Thetwo angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting inthe gateway of the city.(Genesis19:1)
“Getout of our way,” they replied. And they said, “Thisfellow came here as an alien, and now he wants to playthe judge! We’lltreat you worse than them.” (Genesis19:9)
ADDITIONALRESOURCES:
“TheSin of Sodom,” by Kerby Anderson
http://www.probe.org/site/c.fdKEIMNsEoG/b.4219039/k.F893/Homosexual_Theology.htm
“Homosexualityand the Bible,” by David James. http://www.biblicalintegrity.org/blog/?s=homosexuality
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