God Will Not Spare the Guilty

Transcription

1 God Will Not Spare the Guilty 2 Peter 2:4-10a 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. v Intro Ø Chapter 1 was filled with encouraging Words And Peter tells us to make our calling and election sure And He gives us some qualities to grow in and evaluate ourselves with Ø Chapter 2 is Harsh If Chapter 1 is being chased by a goose Chapter 2 is like being attacked by a bear Peter literally just sounds off on these people that twist the Word of God v Recap Ø The last part of chapter 1 teaches us that the Scriptures come from God He used various men to write it down But it all came from Him Ø And from that point Peter says.. But false teachers arose among the people And He was referring to the people of Israel when God was giving parts of the OT And He says they arise now and will continue to arise At the same time that they were writing the N.T. So there was a parallel of False teachers arising while God is giving His true words to His true followers And the False Teachers are contrasted with the point He makes about the Word of God Not coming from the will of man but the inspiration of God (end of Ch 1) These guys are going to come along with their own agenda Ø (YET) Let Us Praise God this morning: That we have instructions that have come from Him That we do not have to trust in the thoughts of man Ø Our first 3 points last week were: 1) There Will be False Teachers 2) You Can Spot Them 3) Their Destruction is Coming Today: 4) God Has Destroyed Before, Let That be A Reminder 5) God Knows How to Rescue and Judge v Various Characteristics of False Teachers (You can Spot them) Ø False Teachers Remember that these teachers rise WITHIN the church Peter speaks very negatively about them Making it seem as if they would be obvious to spot

2 And they will be for the person that has been trained through studying the word of God But these people are very sneaky so sneaky that many deceive their own selves Ø Why list these Characteristics I want you to see how the apostles view these guys I also want to give you a full list to evaluate from you can always search this chapter 2 I want to Know 1) Not every one of these is true of every false teacher 2) Yet Some are true of all 3) Twisting the scriptures is not the same thing as getting something wrong messing up or differing in interpretation happens there are many mysteries in the Bible. But these guys are twisting the Clear Gospel and adding to it Or they are taking away from the glory of God Look at these characteristics given throughout 2 Peter So you get a better idea of the type of people Peter is talking about Ø Vs 1 secretely bring in destructive (damning) heresies Ø Vs 1 deny the master who bought them (Do not accept His authority) Ø Vs 2 Sensual (sexually immoral) Ø Vs 2 Cause the way of the truth (gospel) to be blasphemed Ø Vs 3 greedy Ø Vs 3 exploit people with false words Ø Vs 10 indulge in lust of defiling passion Ø Vs 10 despise authority Ø Vs 10 Likely Boast greatly against the demonic realm (Like: We can stomp those demons out) Ø Vs 12 Boast proudly over matters they are ignorant about Ø Vs 13 Revel in the daytime Ø Vs 13 revel in their deceptions while eating with you Ø Vs 14 eyes are full of the adulteress Ø Vs 14 insatiable for sin (likely teach a twisted version of freedom in Christ) Ø Vs 14 entice unsteady souls (the ungrounded in the word flock to their teachings) Ø Vs 14 they are trained in greed Ø Vs 15 Forsaken the right way love to gain for wrongdoing Ø Vs 18 speak loud boasts of folly Ø Vs 18 entice by sensual passions the weak in the faith Ø Vs 19 the promise the freedom (likely the idea of let us sin so grace will abound) Highlighting their freedom in Christ Failing to live in moral excellence and godliness Ø 3:3 scoff at the idea of Jesus returning Ø 3:16 the twist the writings of Paul Ø Peter is very Blunt about these guys And that is because He can see them clearly for what they are These people did not and do not make their living off of the apostles They make it off of those that are inadequate in their knowledge of the Word of God After instructing Timothy to Study the Scriptures and to handle them rightly Pauls says 2 Tim 3: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

3 v 3) Their Destruction is Coming Ø their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not sleep Ø Destruction is personified here God is not asleep and therefore neither are His judgments Ø Wake Up and Open Your Eyes to the Majestic Mighty and Powerful God we serve God is not a teddy bear He can be like a lion Ø We should not Be like those the Psalmist speaks of in Psalm 2 The Kings and Rulers were making plans they were raging against God He says they wanted to break His bands from them or rid themselves of His rules and authority The writer says God laughs at them He will mock them Then He warns that His wrath is coming So be wise and fear God Tremble before Him He says Kiss the Son lest He be angry (give honor to the Lord Jesus) Ø Learn and Apply Do not make the mistake to think these words are only for the false teachers Peter is describing them But He is warning His hearers To stay away from them do not be like them be able to spot them Make sure You are where you should be in your WALK with God If you are not Then Run humbly to Jesus Seek His help v 4) God Has Destroyed Before; Let That Be a Reminder 6.making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; This little phrase in regards specifically to Sodom and Gmorrah serves us well It gives us the intention of Peter as He shares these three examples He says Hey look these examples are showing you what is going to happen to the ungodly Ø He gives three examples for the hearers to consider And as He does this notice its like he starts with the greater example down to the lesser But it is also starting with the beginning and making His way forward Ø 1) The Example of Sinful Angels 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; Angels: Angels are the most majestic and powerful of God s creation So majestic and powerful that the very view of them has caused even the Godliest of men To bow down to worship Angels can appear in such might that people lose heart And they fall reverently in worship Not that Godly angels allow this but there are several instances in the Bible where it happened So what exactly is Peter talking about I am not sure of the exact instance He is speaking of but we do know these things from the scriptures There was Pride was found in the heart of Lucifer The Bible teaches that He was cast down from his lofty position And we learn in Revelation that when he rebelled against God A third of the angels followed Him Satan is not in Hell And there are many demons roaming this earth even now

4 We see a multitude even speaking to Jesus and begging Him not to put them away But it is possible that many of those that fell with Him were put into chains Another Instance of Fallen Angels being imprisoned is in Jude Jude and 2 Peter are very closely related in style and substance Jude 1:6 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day There was a time when angels got outside of their own position of authority and went beyond what God was allowing for them So they were cast into a dark punishing prison Application for us: God made these angels as awesome and powerful and smart and mighty beings Yet when they sinned against Him They were not spared they were cast into hell Some at that very moment and others to be cast there at a later time This is their destination Rev 20:10 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. He did not spare the angels Why would He spare those that teach or follow false doctrines Ø 2) The Example of the Ancient World 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; Wow What an example of destruction In those days the sins of the people on earth were so bad The Bible says that peoples hearts were inclined toward evil continually So much so, that it grieved God that He had even made man So God, in His righteous and Holy wrath Sent a flood to drown every man, woman and child on the earth at the time Except for the 8 of Noah s family God saved more animals from the flood than people Now Let me say this.. God has passed the sentence of death to all people So they may die in their sleep, a car accident or a flood it matters not we die.. But, there is something terrible about this destruction brought about by God And it is supposed to be terrible. It is supposed to make us GASP. Think about it God destroyed everyone with a Flood Everyone was drowned Except for 8 I Believe they Had a Chance Peter describes Noah as a Herald of Righteousness It seems that Noah was given the command the to build the ark 120 years before the flood So It would seem likely that Noah Preached righteousness And He likely Lived as a Godly Example And then there was this Huge Object lesson called the Ark

5 So people could see it and ask questions But the people lived very wickedly So God sent a flood Can you imagine that scene People clawing at Noah s boat People grabbing onto whatever they could hang on to so they do not drown Men trying to keep their children from drowning Women holding onto their newborn babies It makes me cringe to talk about or even let my mind think about it If I let my mind continue I can see children separated from their parents Husbands and wives separated I see people floating on pieces of wood for weeks Until they can t last anymore they have no food or water to drink Although they are surrounded by water And These people were just like the people we pass every day They worked in the market place had jobs, had friends Probably helped each other out But their hearts were unbelieving, and therefore wicked and inclined toward evil As all of us were at one point, and some maybe still are What a dark and terrible scene And you know what we should learn when we read about it God HATES sin He will not tolerate it He will destroy it Let s Not think for One Second God is OK with our sin Or that God is fine with those false teachers That are leading His children astray Ø 3) The Example of Sodom and Gomorrah 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); Ø Here we have another example of God s wrath on sin Lot although not perfect, was a follower of God And God delivers him by angels out of Sodom Although HE tarried a little too long Lot had travelled there with his flocks and people when He and Abraham s people and flock Had grown to big So he went toward Sodom and Gomorrah because of the great lands available to feed on Sodom and Gomorrah are described in Gen. as having great sin and a cry has come against them So God had came down to destroy those cities Sodom and Gomorrah were great cities in those days They had a king We even see Abraham helping rescue those taken when Sodom and Gomorrah were defeated Lot had been taken captive as well

6 And the King of Sodom was very appreciative of Abraham But the City was immoral And as we read we see there was a lot of sexual immorality within those cities A lot of Homosexuality tendencies in the city And there were not even ten righteous people in the whole city Therefore God destroyed those two cities Gen 19: Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. Ø What amazes me is how close to the flood this day is When God destroys them, it had been less than 400 years since the flood It had been less than 50 years since Noah had died I think Abraham was approximately 42 years old when Noah died So He could have spent a lot of time with this great great grandfather Abraham had descended through Shem, Noah s son Ø But here they were in judgment Let this serve as an example to all of us Make sure you teach your children about the Lord Do not take for granted they will pick it up on their own Ø Here is Another Example that God Will not be Mocked God can and will do as He pleases with us Ø He is coming again to bring judgment.. He is waiting Let s see why He has waited with His penalty Because He is kind and gracious 2 Peter 3: The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. But be careful when you presume upon the kindness of God Romans 2:4-5 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God s righteous judgment will be revealed. God s Kindness is something we are to faithfully continue in Romans 11:22 22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. Continue in his kindness, or risk being cut off Ø The Lord Will Return And when He does It is going to be scary The Book of Revelation describes a great time of tribulation Where God has 7 judgments followed by 7 more intense plagues followed by 7 more intense plagues And God s wrath will be poured out on unbelieving man While they are eating and drinking and having fun Ø So Peter makes the point God Will judge

7 And if He has then He also. v 5) The Lord Knows How To Rescue and How To Judge 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Ø In light of these examples Peter gives us He says then the Lord knows how to Rescue and Judge Ø Rescue the godly from Trials Just like He did with Noah and Lott He delivered them from destruction in a supernatural way And He can do the same thing for you and me Peter had experienced it after His denial of the Lord God delivered Him He knows how to rescue Ø From Trials This word for trials here is used in a couple ways 1) in regards to temptations How we are tempted to sin daily 2) also in regards to trials that God allows us to go through to refine us God allows us to be tried Sometimes it is Satan tempting us Sometimes we are in a very difficult situation Sometimes we may be sick or lose a loved one Regardless Trials they are difficult Yet He says He knows how to rescue the godly Ø What does He mean here I believe there are three ways God rescues us from trials 1) By the Death of His Son Jesus Christ and Our True Faith in Jesus Jesus has rescued us out of sin and death and darkness 2) By filling us with His Spirit and leading us through trials As we walk in a world of darkness there will be trials at every turn The Holy Spirit within us leads us out of trials and through many of them 1 Cor 10:13 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 3) Rescuing us from wrath and punishment (Saving us in the end) We know that when all is said and done We will have life John 8:51 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death. He rescues His children but He also knows how Ø To keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment How scary this is and is supposed to be Peter says God will keep those that will never follow Him ready for judgment Ø 10 and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Indulge in defiling passion They are worldly. They seek freedom in Christ but use it for their own lusts They say Jesus has set me free from having to follow the rules Therefore I can fulfill the lusts of my flesh These people are worldly they act like they can have Jesus and the world Despise Authority The kick against the Lordship of Jesus They do not want His authority over their life

8 Ø But there will be judgement Ø There is a day coming When our soul will be demanded of us When we they have to give an account of ourselves to God All their joking will not be funny then All their thinking, oh one day I ll get serious about my relationship with God One day I will get Him to forgive me of my sins Ø Don t be an arrogant and sinful person Run to God now and beg for His mercy Or you will be damned to Hell this very day And He will keep you under punishment until the day of judgment Ø Matt 25:41 41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. v Invitation